Home-Start Basingstoke and Deane

There for parents when they need us most, because childhood can't wait

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Who We Are

Staff

Bethan Rixson

Director of Operations

Bethan joined Home-Start Basingstoke & Deane in October 2018, working as the Mental Health Project Co-ordinator. Prior to this she worked at a local infant school running Nurture provision & providing emotional support to the families. Bethan is looking forward to the challenges & opportunities in her new role.

Bethan is a mother to three grown up children.

Claire Wooldridge

Lead Co-ordinator

Claire joined the team on the 4th December 2017 as Scheme Co-ordinator. Claire has worked with children and families for over 20 years in a variety of different roles and settings in the Community. Her previous roles include Play Leader, Play Development Worker, Nursery Nurse and Nursery Manager. Claire is a mother of three girls.

Gill McMillan

Group, Family & Volunteer Co-ordinator

Gill began her Home-Start journey as a Home-Visiting & Group volunteer in 2017.
Prior to this she had worked as a teacher’s assistant for over 10 years.
Gill joined the staff team as a Family/Volunteer & Group Coordinator in 2022.
She has two grown up children and a rescue dog who she enjoys walking.

Katy Carter

Family & Volunteer Co-ordinator

Katy has been working for Home-start Basingstoke and Deane in 2016. Initially taking on the group co-ordinator role in the Multiple Birth Group, then gradually taking on other groups through the years including delivering the Preparing For School Course. More recently taking on the role of Family and Volunteer Co-ordinator. Katy is a trained NNEB nanny and has 3 children of her own. She was supported by Home-start when her children were very young.

Toni Bristow

Group Co-ordinator

Toni joined Home-Start in July 2026 as Group Co-Ordinator. Toni has always loved working with children and their families and has spent the whole of her working life (16 years!!) in the Early Years Sector. Her previous roles have included Nursery Nurse, SENCo and Pre-School Manager. Toni is qualified to Level 3 in Children’s Learning and Development and she has a Level 2 qualification in Counselling Skills. Toni has 3 young children herself- 2 girls aged 7 and 4 and a little boy aged 1.

Anna-Maria Chiappetta

Office Manager

Anna started with Home-Start in September 2015 as the Scheme Administrator. Having worked within PACEY for 9 years – a charity that supports child-minders within Hampshire. Anna is excited to be given the opportunity of continuing to work within a charity that supports children. She has two grown-up children.

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Patrons and Trustees

James, Earl of Malmesbury

Patron

James, Earl of Malmesbury has been our Patron since the organisation started in 2004

Dr. Amanda Britton

Chair

Amanda was a local GP for 29 years before retiring. She was a lead in safeguarding with a specialist interest in paediatrics and women’s health. Amanda trained as a Home-Start volunteer over 2 years ago and became a trustee both because of her earlier professional links with the charity. She took over the role of chair in November 2025. With her extensive experience in healthcare and a passion for community support, Amanda is dedicated to ensuring that families receive the assistance they need during their most challenging times. Her commitment to safeguarding and her deep understanding of the complexities of parenting make her an invaluable asset to Home-Start Basingstoke and Deane.

Patricia Fox

Vice Chair & Treasurer

Patricia is a qualified accountant and runs her own accountancy practice. She has been preparing the figures for Home Start since 2005.

Patricia has 3 adult children, who were all under 5 when she started with Home Start.

Janette Hewitt

Trustee – Funding & GDPR Lead

Janette has spent over 30 years in the IT and telecoms industries, mainly in the area of marketing and technical support, where she has held various senior management positions. She is a Parish Councillor in Baughurst, Secretary of the Heath End Village Hall Committee and a volunteer adviser at Tadley Citizen’s Advice Bureau. She has been a Home-Start volunteer since completing her training in January 2006.

Zanda Jansone-Silina

Assistant Treasurer

Zanda is a qualified accountant who is passionate about supporting people and making a difference in her community. Alongside running her own practice, she supports the Treasurer in ensuring the charity’s finances are well managed, helping Home-Start continue its vital work with local families.

As a mother of two young children, Zanda understands first-hand how rewarding, but also how challenging, family life can be. She finds it incredibly meaningful to contribute to a charity that has such a positive impact on families’ lives.

Jeffrey Northam

Company Secretary

Now retired Jeffrey’s career was in the London Insurance and Reinsurance markets. He was a Broker then Underwriter in Lloyds of London. Using his experience, he founded and developed a skills training company that provided face-to-face and e-learning courses in London and the USA.

Jeffrey is a trustee of Dummer Village Hall.

Natalie Fletcher

Trustee

Natalie has over 25 years HR management experience gained in Medical Devices & Diagnostics, Life Sciences and Health Care Analytics sectors. She is currently employed as an International Human Resources Director.

Elizabeth Taylor

Trustee

Elizabeth is a practising solicitor and family mediator. She has advised in areas of family law for over 10 years and has managerial experience as a partner of a local firm. Elizabeth is a member of a regional committee promoting solutions to family difficulties without court proceedings and plays an active role in a number of local community groups.

Nicola James

Trustee

Nicola has been a valued and dedicated Home-Start volunteer for the past five years. She began by offering one-to-one support to families and also now supports in the wellbeing group. In 2024, Nicola joined the Board as a Trustee and is proud to lead on fundraising, helping to strengthen and sustain Home-Start’s vital work.

Prior to this Nicola worked alongside our former patron Dr Judith Darmady for thirteen years supporting the Romanian charity the Ungureni Trust.

Sue Bailey

Trustee

Sam Baker

Trustee

Sam is a marketing and communications professional with over 25 years experience. She works for a technology company that provides digital transformation services including AI. Her previous experience was in baby food and nutrition! She has two teenage children and is also a trustee of a local homeless charity.

Garry Parker

Trustee

Garry is a retired IT professional with 40+ years experience across a wide range of business sectors, the last 20 years providing consultancy services in Cybersecurity, IT Risk Management and Data Privacy. He also volunteers for HSBD and is chair of governors at a Hampshire Secondary School.

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Home-Start Basingstoke and Deane recognises the help and support provided by the following organisations

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