The BigPinkHeart Team

BigPinkHeart wouldn't exist without the hard work and dedication of some very special people. Find out more about the team below.

Sharon Clephane

The founding Director of BigPinkHeart.  Sharon founded BigPinkHeart in October 2007 when she decided to stop complaining about the decline in social behaviour and to try and do something to bring about a positive change.

Sharon has drawn on her own life experiences in raising 3 children and the challenges this brings, with which most other mothers (and fathers) will also identify!  Apart from drawing on her experiences as a parent, Sharon has also been a member of a team at Parentline.

Denise Smith

Denise recently moved to Stamford after many years travelling around Europe and the Middle East as a service wife. After meeting Sharon and discussing the concept of BigPinkHeart her enthusiasm, passion and inspiration made her realise that this project could only succeed and grow. As soon as she met the people that help Sharon with this wonderful project she wanted to be part of the team, so she volunteered to become the Administration Officer and has played a pivotal role in helping to develop BigPinkHeart and gaining funding to deliver the projects.

Denise has said she feels very privileged to be part of an organisation that puts people and community first, something that will benefit us all – long may the association continue.  BigPinkHeart is honoured to have her on board!

Vicky Funnell

Vicky is one of our Directors and as well as looking after her lovely family and holding down her busy job at RCI, she is also a School Governor and wonderful fundraiser!  Vicky has her own right hand man who helps us at BigPinkHeart, her talented son Ryan who has no end of ideas for fundraising and helping us and other fantastic causes!

Denise Highfield

Denise is one of our Directors and is also a Partner in Howtoboilwater.com, an innovative organisation that teaches cookery techniques and their audience ranges from the undomesticated student to the Corporate world where lots of fun and team building sessions are on the menu!  Denise is a huge supporter of BigPinkHeart and what the organisation is trying to achieve.  

Julie Iles

Julie is one of our Directors and has been a JP (Justice of the Peace) since 2003.  She elected for youth court work mainly because she has two children coming up to teenage years and felt that this would put her in touch with issues and generalities affecting today's youth.  Julie regularly writes articles for BigPinkHeart from her perspective as a JP on the Youth Custody bench and is helping to co-ordinate our You, Me ... We Book Club in Leatherhead, Surrey.

Robin Gildersleeve

Robin is also one of our Directors and has extensive and successful school experience as a teacher, team leader, deputy headteacher, head teacher and school governor.  Following three headships, including one in very challenging circumstances, Robin joined Tribal Children's Services to become Director of the nationally acclaimed Pupils' Champions programme, and was later promoted to the post of Director, School Improvement.  The school improvement team worked alongside hundreds of staff and pupils, helping to raise levels of self-esteem, self-confidence and achievement, in a range of different schools.  Robin is now an independent school improvement specialist and continues to provide hands-on support and challenge to school staff and pupils - coaching, mentoring, training, modelling and problem-solving.  He believes that the focus for his current work remains the same as it always has done - "to help people to succeed and to go on succeeding".  He is convinced that this starts with the establishment of genuine mutual respect and expectations, and the unearthing of individual talents, qualities and skills.  

Libby Morley

Libby brings a wealth of marketing skills to BigPinkHeart!  More from her very soon!

Ben Hickman

Ben came on board with BigPinkHeart while he was on a school's work experience placement with 23ccc.  BigPinkHeart was seeking designs for some car stickers and Ben came to our rescue.  His design impressed us so much and he offered to help us whenever we needed it.  Ben now helps with updates on our website and is our youngest volunteer so far!

Carol Haylock

Carol met Sharon almost at the very beginning of the BigPinkHeart idea being born and fell in love with her idea of a National Day of Respect.  Carol has been instrumental in much of BigPinkHeart’s progress over the last two years and is now a valuable member of the BigPinkHeart team as a volunteer campaigner.  Carol says: 

"I joined BigPinkHeart as a volunteer as I believe that everyone would like to see change in our society and people respecting themselves and each other - but most of the time people are seemingly scared to try and achieve this. 

Working with BigPinkHeart has really opened my eyes to how many people are actually so extremely BigPinkHearted (an adjective I dream of seeing in the dictionary!!)  - these people donate their actions to us - offering much needed exposure for this fantastic cause, so that we can all work together and make these changes in our communities -  I look forward to meeting many more of you!!"

Diane Hill

Diane is a creative designer and talented illustrator from London.  We tasked Diane with rebranding BigPinkHeart in 2009 and we loved her designs so much we decided to use two of them, one for our official brand and the other for our merchandising and all round fun side!!  You can see the 'pumping heart' image on our home page, which shows how the two logos work so well together.

A BigPinkHearted thank you to this inspirational designer!  Diane is another valued member of the BigPinkHeart Team!

Natasha Kamuna

Natasha is our first Youth Ambassador!  This is what she says: "I am surrounded with youth of all different ages and I have a clear picture of what the youth are becoming and I don't like what I see. I want to make a difference in people's lives whether what I say touches them or what I do will change their ideas that is enough for me. Being able to touch someone with a kind gesture is enough to give me warmth in my heart. Clearly, some young people of society have no manners but I think it is important that young people have a voice." We think you will agree with us that Natasha is already a valued member of our team!

Susan Parker

Susan lives in Falkirk, Scotland.  She is married with one son who is taking his first steps into high school in 2008.  She is very interested in what BigPinkHeart is trying to achieve and the work we do with primary and senior schools. 

Susan has worked in childcare and early education for just over 24 years  in a variety of different settings including nannying, creche, day nursery and most recently as a Senior Early Year's Officer in a nursery class based within a primary school.  She loves working with the youngest children and is very passionate about young children's emotional well being and providing them with the tools to become responsible citizens in our society today, and to help them to realise their potential.  Susan feels that the younger we start this work with children, the better for them and indeed our communities.

Susan is looking forward to contributing some useful information to the BigPinkHeart website.

Sean Davoren

Sean is the Head Butler at The Savoy, London's most prestigious hotel, and author of the book 'Manners from Heaven'.  He is also a leading force behind the development of a brand new comprehensive NVQ course in butlering at City and Guilds. With Sean's input BigPinkHeart will be piloting some fun and interesting courses for children and parents.  By the way, Buckingham Palace has been known to employ members of Sean's team, confident in the knowledge that a Davoren trained butler will be one of the best!