Our friendly staff are dedicated, experienced and passionate about providing individual care and support for our clients. With over 75 staff, full and part-time working across SRSB, RSS and Cairn Home, it is not practical to list all of them here but they all play an important role in enabling our charity to deliver a comprehensive range of high quality services. Our visually impaired staff not only fulfil a very important role in the jobs they do, but they also clearly demonstrate to any potential employer how blind, partially sighted and hearing impaired people can make a valuable contribution to their organisation. We employ Robert McCann our Equipment Advisor, Hayley Martin our Emotional Support Officer, Tony Atkin our Deaf Services Co-ordinator and Jake Clarke our Technology Support Apprentice.
Below, we will introduce you to some of the team:
Joanne Ardern, CEO
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Accountable to the board of trustees, the CEO has responsibility for all aspects of the operations of the Society.
Joanne became Deputy General Manager at SRSB in 2018 and is an invaluable member of our team, having years of experience in the field after joining SRSB in 2001 and taking on the role of Community Advice Team Leader in 2005. Joanne worked alongside our previous General Manager, Steve Hambleton, to support and assist in delivering the charity's services, whilst also supporting all its staff and volunteers. She took over as CEO in 2022.
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Liz Gurler, Operations Manager
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Liz joined SRSB in 1996 as a care assistant at Cairn Home, eventually becoming a Commuity Advice Officer at our Mappin Street Centre in 2001. She became Community Advice Officers Team Leader in 2018 and then Operations Manager in 2021.
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David Ashforth, Finance Manager
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David joined SRSB in 2011 as Accounts Assistant, becoming Finance Officer in 2015. He became Finance Manager in 2021. Please contact finance@srsb.org.uk with any queries.
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Sarah Keegan, Community Services Manager
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Sarah joined SRSB in 2006 as a Community Advice Officer. She became Community Services Manager in 2021. Her role encompasses co-ordinating a wide range of support and advice for our clients of all ages in Sheffield and Rotherham. Please contact info@srsb.org.uk with any queries.
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Steve Loane, Fundraising Manager
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Steve joined SRSB and RSS in January 2021 as Fundraising Manager. He has over 30 years’ experience of fundraising in the voluntary sector, including for homelessness, disability sports, overseas aid and healthcare charities. Before joining SRSB and RSS he worked as an Area Fundraising Manager for Macmillan covering South Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Steve can be contacted by emailing fundraising@srsb.org.uk
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Jane Peach, Marketing Manager
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Jane joined the Fundraising and Marketing Team at SRSB in November 2009 and became Marketing Manager in 2018. Prior to joining SRSB, she worked for Macmillan after moving from the private sector where she worked as Marketing Manager for a manufacturing company. You can contact marketing@srsb.org.uk with any queries
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Sharon Gill and Tracy Fishwick, Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) Sheffield
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Sharon and Tracy share the role of our Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) based at the Eye Clinic in the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, helping to make a difference to the lives of blind or partially sighted people in Sheffield City Region.
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Sharon and Tracy provide information and advice to blind and partially sighted people, family members and carers at the point of diagnosis. Our ECLOs provide emotional support and raise awareness of services that will empower visually impaired people to make informed choices to maintain and develop their independence. |
Amanda Dennett, Manager at Cairn Home
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Amanda joined Cairn Home as a care assistant in 2009 progressing to senior care assistant and then Assistant Manager in 2010 and Manager in 2021.
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Julie Cowlishaw, Assistant Manager at Cairn Home
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Julie joined Cairn Home as a carer in February 2017 and progressed on to Assistant Manager in April 2018. She previously worked for Sheffield City Council in the Safeguarding Children’s Service (Child Protection) for 13 years.
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Helen Robinson, Assistant Manager at Cairn Home
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Helen became Assistant Manager at Cairn Home in 2021.
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