Rich Driffield
CEO
I have over 17 years’ experience across the public and third sector. I started out my career working as a Playworker in North Wales, and since then I have worked in a local authority Play Development Team, managed an Adventure Playground in West London, led the development of a new charity in Manchester, and directed income generation and strategy for a number of charities across Greater Manchester.
I am a passionate advocate for charities and community organisations, and I have a keen interest in children’s play and playwork.
Fun fact: I am a long-suffering Wrexham AFC supporter, and I am married with two young boys who keep me on my toes!
Danielle Percival
Head of Family Support
My career to date has been in Residential Care, Health and Education supporting people with Epilepsy, Learning Disabilities and Autism. I have a real passion for ensuring people are treated with dignity and respect whilst achieving a good quality of life. I am very used to working alongside medical professionals, supporting families through life altering times and advocating for those who need a voice.
My role at The Joshua Tree as Family Support Manager provides an opportunity for me to bring my wealth of experience working with families dealing with life changing diagnosis and will help grow the breadth and depth of support we offer to families. I am a great believer that you cannot pour from an empty cup so I will aim to support families and adult caregivers to look after themselves throughout their cancer experience as well as the Family Support Team.
Fun fact: My home is slowly turning into a small petting zoo with a cat, dog, guinea pig and tortoise. With my Son’s love of animals, I’m sure it will not be long before there are more additions to the family!
Sara King
Children's Primary School Support Worker (North Wales)
I have 20 years’ experience of working within various roles of Family Support, where I have gained extensive knowledge and understanding of approaches that influence positive family functioning and boost child confidence, self- esteem and resilience. I am also a qualified Parenting Group Leader and a Mum of three children myself.
My role mainly focuses on supporting Primary school age children, delivering therapeutic interventions that assist them to manage any difficulties they face relating to their experience with cancer.
Fun Fact: I love a good hill walk followed by a hot Radox bath!
Manon James
Family Well-being Co-ordinator (North Wales)
Fun Fact: Dwi'n rhigl yn y Gymraeg (I'm a fluent welsh speaker) and I got married on television and wore a pair of silver Dr Martens!
Lea Jones
Family Support Worker (North Wales)
Angie Challoner
Children's Support Worker
Fun fact: I travelled and camped out in a covered wagon with a team of horses in the Rocky Mountains Canada for a week. Crossed seven rivers and slept under the stars with the grizzly bears cowboy style. I oversaw holding a week’s worth of eggs while we travelled, and I didn’t brake one -phew!
Tina Say
Children's Support Worker
I am excited to bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to supporting our beneficiaries and their families.
Fun Fact: One of my nicknames is Dora the explorer as I love travelling the globe off the beaten track, from climbing up a side of a glacier, learning from indigenous tribes, to seeing orangutans in the wild. I love being outside in nature from the sea to forests.
Ellie Nicholas
Children's Support Worker
At The Joshua Tree my role consists of planning and executing creative, out-the-box events that all families at The Joshua Tree can enjoy. I am extremely proud to be apart of the charity and call The Joshua Tree my place of work, being able to incorporate myself with the families to create memories and build milestones they will cherish and remember for life.
Fun Fact: I have wild camped on the Great wall of China. I have a passion for traveling, the outdoors, anything food related and will often be found hiking and paddleboarding with my black Labrador Trudie!
Gillian Stobie
Family Support Coordinator
I have followed the Charity for many years as I live locally and am very proud to join the Team. My passion is empowering and supporting families and children to have their best lives. I greatly admire the children and carers that use the centre, and hopefully I can be part of the vision to extend the service further to help more families.
Fun fact: I have delivered 30 babies when I was a student Midwife.
Katie Harrison
Family Support Coordinator
I completed my degree in Creative Expressive Therapies (BA Hons) at the University of Derby. As an Arts & Health Practitioner I have developed skills in using the arts to help people in communities to engage in creative activities, to improve their confidence, health, and wellbeing etc.
Fun Fact: I once abseiled down the side of a Cathedral for a children's charity fundraiser! I'm anything arts, crafts, pottery obsessed. I'm at my happiest when I am in my scruffs at the pottery wheel, getting covered in clay.
Amy Wilkinson
Events and Community Fundraiser
Being responsible for creating a calendar of engaging and unique events for The Joshua Tree is where I excel. Let the fun begin!
Fun fact: I love escaping to my caravan in North Wales, when not putting on a party!
Debbie Wilkinson
Corporate Partnership Officer
David Perrin
Head of Operations
Katie O'Malley
Finance and Operations Officer
I live locally so I have been aware of the charity for many years and fell truly honoured to now be part of such an amazing team.
A key element of my work is to ensure that processes are in place to enable the Family Support Team to provide support to our families and provide financial support to the Head of Finance.
Fun fact: I am a keen Plane Spotter and love to visit the viewing area of Manchester Airport or track planes online!
Helen Enescott
Digital Marketing and Communications Officer
Having a background in child development allows me to better understand the impact on children who are going through a cancer journey. Now, using my skills and passion for digital media (obtained from my BSc in TV Production), I get the best of both worlds in a career I love doing and one which hopefully makes a difference to families.
I love creating content which resonates with the audience and having the platform to connect with families affected by childhood cancers means a lot to me. Being able to work with such amazing and inspiring staff and meeting such wonderful families at all the events, makes my job very exciting!
Fun fact: Julie Walters once phoned me up for a chat after my mum sent her a letter about how I wanted to be an aspiring actress!
Brendan Spruce
Caretaker and Maintenance Officer
I became aware of the fantastic work that The Joshua Tree do when my grandson developed a rare Rhabdoid Tumour and take pride in being part of an amazing team delivering support to families as they did mine.
Fun Fact: I am an avid fan of steam train traction engines and Northern Soul music and dance.