Our Trustees

We believe every child and young person has great potential and our aim is to help them break through the difficulties which their disability may present to unlock this.

Sparkle Trustees are volunteers who give a vast amount of time and bring with them their own unique professional and life experiences. Their primary focus is to ensure the charity is able to offer an excellent standard of care for children, young people and their families. Here are some of our Trustees that make this happen.

 

 

Dr. Sabine Maguire
Founder/Chair

A former consultant paediatrician at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Sabine has been the visionary and driving force behind Sparkle and highly influential and instrumental in establishing Serennu to deliver care and treatment alongside leisure and family activities and facilities to children in the region and their families.

As the current chairperson of Sparkle, Sabine provided the vision, concept and direction for joined-up care and leisure to children with severe and complex disabilities to enable them to engage in new opportunities, building new skills and confidence and reaching their full potential.

She led the campaign to found and fund Serennu and now continues to develop innovative programmes and projects, work with parents, young people and other partners to bring about lasting changes to the lives of children with disabilities and their families for the better.
 

 

Joan Sheppard
Parent

Joan has been involved as a Sparkle Trustee from the beginning, and was part of the 1991 consultation that led to the report “The Need is Obvious.”for a new integrated children’s centre.

As a parent of a child with disabilities, Joan’s motivation to be involved and make a difference has always been to ensure that future children and families don’t have the same experience as she had.

Prior to having her children, Joan was a computer systems analyst at Rolls Royce and Alcan. She now works part-time at Rodney Parade as a match day steward / first aider.

She also actively continues to volunteer her time with Girlguiding, and Scouting.

 

Noel Williams
Treasurer

Noel has been involved in Welsh based children’s charities for over 25 years as both a Trustee and Treasurer.

Noel is retired Chartered accountant who has worked in industry as Group finance director of a listed company and later on in practice as managing partner of regional firm of chartered accountants.

Although now retired from being a partner in the accountancy practice, Noel still works as an Expert witness from time to time, and enjoys playing golf and tennis. Noel also likes to fill his time gardening and walking in the countryside and exploring cities and countries.

 

Martin Gerrard
Trustee

Martin was born in Newport and studied Geography at the University of Southampton and subsequently qualified as an accountant. Now retired, Martin previously worked in senior finance roles in the NHS in Gwent throughout his career.

Martin has supported Sparkle as a Trustee and fundraiser from the start, from the lobbying and building stages of Serennu, and for some years thereafter, including him scaling the heights of Kilimanjaro in 2010. Martins other interests include sport, mainly football, rugby, cricket and speedway, local history, wildlife and collecting ‘anything and everything'.

 

Janet Kelly
Secretary

Janet trained in Dublin as an occupational therapist in 1980 and has spent her entire career working with children and young people with disabilities and developmental difficulties.

After a short period working in Ireland following her graduation Janet came to Wales and spent the majority of her time working in Gwent, first as a practicing OT and then as head of the OT service until her retirement in July 2020.

Janet is now a trustee of the Sparkle charity where she continues to be passionate about improving the services and facilities that are available for children, young people and their families living in the Gwent area.

 

 

 

Rebecca Harwood Lincoln
Trustee

Rebecca is a Business Advisor and Company Director for Harlin Limited helping start-ups and small and medium sized companies with their brand strategy and business growth.

She has worked in the eyewear industry for 25 years and has in-depth knowledge of domestic and export sales and marketing, having opened new markets for numerous companies and brands. Her non-executive director roles include being a school governor for over 20 years.

Currently she is the Chair of Governors at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury, and she is a Trustee of EdUKaid. She is a former Trustee of Salisbury Area Young Musicians.

In her spare time Rebecca enjoys baking, gardening, running, pilates and being an usher at her local art centre.

 

 

Nicole Garnon
Trustee

Nicole Garnon is a former editor of the South Wales Argus and its weekly associated newspapers. 

She worked as a journalist for more than 30 years, starting as a trainee in the North East of England before moving to South Wales where she worked as a general reporter, health specialist, news editor, assistant editor and deputy before being promoted to editor. 

Throughout her work Nicole was involved on reporting the need for Serennu and in supporting the early appeal to raise money for Sparkle

 

 

 

 

 

 


 





 

 

Becci Wright
Trustee

Becci has recently joined Sparkle as a parent trustee. Born and bred in Newport, Becci is passionate about supporting local families and children with additional needs. Having a child with ALN herself, she understands the joy and struggles it can bring.

Becci's background is in education and is currently a teacher at a local primary school. She has previously worked as an ALNCo and Deputy Head in Bristol. 

 

 

 

 

 



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Serennu Children's Centre
Cwrt Camlas, Rogerstone
Newport, NP10 9LY.

Caerphilly Children's Centre
Cwrt Llanfabon, Heol Las,
Caerphilly CF83 2WP.

Nevill Hall Children's Centre
Brecon Road, Abergavenny
NP7 7EG.

 

Sparkle(South Wales) Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales (1093690). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (04238990).

Registered address: Serennu Children’s Centre, off Cwrt Camlas, Highcross Road, Rogerstone, NP10 9LY.

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