Give Us a Break 2010 is led by a group of dedicated citizens of West Cumbria who are passionate and committed to make a difference and improve the quality of life for disabled and disadvantaged children and their families and carers.
Their backgrounds vary and include parents, teachers, healthcare workers, local business leaders and industrial management executives.
Vanessa graduated from the University of Liverpool as an Engineer in 1996. She completed her
graduate training with BNFL at Sellafield and became an Engineering Manager at the Sellafield MOX
plant.
In 2001 she was promoted to manage a site team of Engineers whose aim was to improve the
overall efficiency of the site.
After taking a career break in 2003 to raise her 3 children she retrained to become a maths teacher.
She currently teaches at a local public school and tutors up to A level maths and physics in her local
area.
She has both technical and managerial experience and knowledge and experience working with and
teaching SEN children in West Cumbria. She got involved with the charity in 2013 and is determined
to see it through to success.
Jackie formally worked in the nuclear industry in various roles including Health Physics Monitor,
Safety Analyst and latterly as an Ergonomist She left the industry in March 2017 and now works as
an Appropriate Adult within the Criminal Justice System and as a Teaching Assistant in local schools,
working with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
She first worked with SEND children when she was 13 and volunteering at the Howgill Family Centre
playschemes in the late 1970’s. At 18 she gained her National Nursery Examination Board Certificate
and worked in Greece as a nanny. Returning to the UK, she worked within Cumbria County Council
Social Services and Education Departments with both children and adults who had physical and/or
learning disabilities.
As step-mum to the Charity’s founder, and gran to Dawn’s children, she sees the daily strains placed
on families of children with SEND. Jackie believes that the RaynorShine Centre will greatly enhance the quality of life and wellbeing of similar families in West Cumbria.
Jackie’s range of interests include gardening, handicrafts and she is keen on helping children learn skills which will help them to become independent young adults.
Sandra has been with the Give Us A Break 2010 team since January 2013.
She became involved with the charity after being inspired by Dawn and her children's plea for a
short break centre in West Cumbria.
Sandra has worked in the Nuclear Industry as a Quality Engineer since 2000. She lives in Egremont
with her two children Joel and Leonie.
Sandra is very passionate about helping the Charity to obtain its goals. She very much enjoys
working with a team of dedicated people with the common goal of obtaining enough funds to build
and sustain a short break centre for disabled and disadvantaged children in West Cumbria.
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