Meet the team

Joss Tagg

Young Carers Service Manager 
I manage the Bristol and South Gloucestershire Young Carers team to deliver a range of support to young carers.  This includes being responsible for developing an effective and efficient service, developing future plans and contributing to fundraising, working closely with commissioners including monitoring and evaluation of service delivery.  I am also the Children and Young People’s Safeguarding lead. 

Tracey Close

Operational Team Manager
I manage the operational Bristol and South Gloucestershire Young Carers team to deliver a range of support to young carers. This includes being responsible for supporting and supervising the teams to ensure they deliver an effective and efficient service, quality assurance and monitoring and evaluation of service delivery. I am also the deputy Children and Young People’s Safeguarding lead.

Carol Carter

Senior Young Carers Development Officer (South Gloucestershire) 
I support young carers and their families in South Gloucestershire, and have been working at Carers Centre since 1997.  I provide Carers Assessments, awareness training, one-to-one support, and arrange and attend various activities.  I also line manage South Gloucestershire YC workers, the Activity Worker, some sessional workers, and the young carer's volunteers. In my spare time, I enjoy the theatre, going to concerts and musicals. I am also a carer for my Mum.

Ben Williams

Senior Young Carers Development Officer (Bristol)  
I undertake young Carers Assessments, work with them one-to-one, and support them in group settings. I have worked in a variety of settings over many years with young people, including a Teaching assistant, learning mentor, youth worker and ran my very own adventure playground! I love working with young people to help inspire and support them towards their goals! When I’m not working, I love building Lego, eating pizza and going for long walks with my pug Woody.

Vicki Houselander

Young Carers in School Development worker 
I work as part of the Young Carers team developing the Young Carers in Schools Programme.  My role is to work with schools to help them identify and support young carers by giving training information and advice. My background is in youth work, including running a youth centre, supporting a youth board and working as a Family Support Worker. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading and being outdoors.

Lisa Furness

Young Carers Sessional/Bank worker
I support the Young Carers team in their work with young carers and their families on a sessional/bank basis. My background is in youth, arts and culture and I have previously supported young people working in Creative Youth Network, and managed National Citizens Programmes (for 16-19 years). In my spare time, I’m an avid rugby fan and
support Bristol Bears, made it to the World
Cup in Japan in 2019 and spent two months
in France following 2012 World Cup! 

Naomi Lock

Young Carers Support Worker (Bristol) 
I help young carers and their families in Bristol access the appropriate services and support for them. I undertake Carers Assessments and provide group and one-to-one support. I have previous experience working with children, mainly in schools, and also holiday clubs! I was also a young carer so I understand the juggle of managing school and work, maintaining a social life, and fulfilling a care role.

Holly Abraham

Young Carers Support Worker (South Gloucestershire)
I support young carers and their families in the South Gloucestershire area to access the support and services that are appropriate for them. I undertake Carers Assessments, working with them one-to-one and supporting them in group settings including trips and activities. I’ve worked in a variety of roles with children and young people over the last 12+ years, most recently as an SEMH Teaching Assistant and Pastoral Mentor in schools. In my spare time love to write and perform music, paint and go for nature walks!

Sammie Blanchard

Activities Co-ordinator
I co-ordinate activities for Young Carers in Bristol and South Glos allowing them to have a break from their caring responsibilities and learn new skills.

Toby Blewett

Admin and operational support worker 
I support the Young Carers team with general day-to-day admin. Some of my past roles have included selling sofas at the British Heart Foundation and herding geese at St Werburghs City Farm. I am a creative, imagination-driven person and spend most of my time when not at work making music.