Meet the Team
Grow for Life horticultural sessions are led by our team of friendly session leaders.
Our team are renowned for being friendly, welcoming, encouraging and approachable.
Our staff have extensive experience of working with vulnerable adults. They are all DBS checked, with some trained in mental health first aid, and those delivering sessions are experienced social therapeutic horticulture practitioners.
Alex
Alex Eldridge is our Director. A local GP who is passionate about the impact of gardening on mental health, having seen first hand how it benefits her and her patients. She is now dedicating her time to the charity and enjoying the challenge of steering its direction and supporting our fantastic team.
Eleanor
Eleanor is our Horticultural Therapy Lead. She is trained in social work, horticultural therapy and employment support. She has wide experience across both children and adult social care, including in mental health and disability.
Julie
Julie has worked as a Social and Therapeutic Horticultural Practitioner for the last 6 years. She has worked a for a number of charities, running sessions for a wide range of groups and abilities, seeing up close the benefits of working outside together in nature. Outside of work she can be found in her garden, propagating, nurturing and adding to her Agapanthus collection.
Sam
Sam is our Administrator and Communications Officer. He works part time supporting our team with a range of administrative tasks, as well as managing our social media. He loves getting out in nature, often on a muddy sunset run.
Iraklis
Iraklis hails from Greece and experienced the positive impact of Grow for Life and now gives back by helping to lead and co-lead various gardening groups. He is a passionate cook and loves using freshly grown herbs. He is also our designated Mental Health First Aider.
Katie
Katie is our Finance Manager. Katie has worked in the charity sector for many years and is passionate to use her financial knowledge to help the charity support people transform their lives through gardening.
Trustees
Grow for Life has a small board of Trustees
Tristram
Tristram has over 20 years leadership experience in the not for profit sector including in the humanitarian and conservation fields and as a trustee for numerous charities.
He loves working outdoors alongside others.
Martin
Martin Geake is co-founder of Grow for Life and a Trustee
Martin is now busy-but-retired in Falmouth but continues to be actively involved in the charity he founded.
Ted
Ted Litchfield is co-founder of Grow for Life.
He runs his own garden design and maintenance business and has wide experience of working with young people with mental health issues.
Peg
Peg Bavin Butler is an avid gardener - together with her husband Simon, she grows vegetables, fruit and flowers.
Working for Ripple Effect for the last 18 years has given her a knowledge of sustainable agriculture, gender and social inclusion, charity governance and fundraising.
Hilary
Hilary Long enjoys helping people and organisations to connect and to help each other.
She worked with Genesis Trust Bath as the Community Manager for 9 years.
She is currently at Somerset Community Foundation and is part of the team awarding grants to individuals and groups across the county.
Justine
Justine has been a marketing manager for over 20 years, working in many industries.
She also has a passion for helping out in her local community wherever she can, including foodbanks, being a foundation governor at a local CofE primary school and also being part of Grow for Life.
