staff

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Lucy joined SPACE in January 2020 as a Project Coordinator. With a background in education, she has worked across a range of roles including Early Years practitioner, Reception Teacher, Nursery Teacher, Deputy Manager, and Nursery SENCO, building strong experience in supporting children with additional needs. She studied at the University of Chester before progressing her career in education. In 2024, Lucy became Operations Manager and is currently stepped up as Interim CEO, supporting the charity through its transition.

Lucy is passionate about making a difference to families and feels privileged to be part of a charity that provides such vital support within the community.

Jemma founded the charity in 2014, inspired by her own experience as a parent-carer. After struggling to access the right support and finding a lack of accessible local play facilities, she was driven to create change for families facing similar challenges. She grew the organisation from the ground up and became CEO in 2017. In 2026, Jemma stepped down from this role and now supports the charity in an advisory capacity during its transition.

Alongside her passion and determination, Jemma has a professional background in mental health nursing, working up to management level. She later studied Psychology and Counselling Skills at the University of Chester and has established peer support networks and groups for families.

Jonathan graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a BA in Business Studies in 2004 before completing an MA in Human Resource Management at Northumbria University in 2005.  Jonathan then spent 13 years working in various different HR and People Management related roles within the Oil and Gas sector before taking up his current role as the Director of HR & OD at Muir Group Housing Association in 2018.  As well as HR and People Management, Jonathan also has experience in health, safety and wellbeing, data protection and governance.
Jonathan became involved with SPACE after learning more about the charity at the 2018 SPACE ball.

 Katharine graduated from the University of Birmingham with a 2(i) in Law in 1995. She then went on to complete the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in Chester before qualifying as a solicitor in 1999. After working as a Defendant personal injury solicitor for 12 years in private practice and in-house roles Katharine returned to her home city of Chester. Katharine now works as a Lecturer for the University of Law at their Online Campus teaching across law conversion courses and the Solicitors Qualifying Exams. Katharine became involved with SPACE after getting to know Jemma when their children attended nursery together. She is the Secretary for the Charity, and finds her legal background useful in fulfilling her obligations as a Trustee. 

Louise has been Treasurer of SPACE since it was set up in November 2014. After gaining a 1st class honours degree in International Management and French at Manchester University, Louise qualified as a Chartered Accountant with the global accountancy firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2003. She worked within their audit practice for 8 years, managing the audits of large companies such as the Financial Times and MTV. Louise is currently a stay at home mum to three small children but uses her knowledge and experience gained whilst working as an audit manager to oversee the financial affairs of the charity.