The Team

Previously living and working in Siret from 1991 – 1994 the team of UK volunteers returned home to raise funds to support the growing Scoala Pentru Viata Romanian team manage and develop the work both at the project and within the Children’s Neuropsychiatric Hospital.

The UK Team

Ruth Brown BA PGCE PGCE , Trustee – a teacher specialising in reading and writing, Ruth lived and worked in Siret for nearly 2 years,. Now living in Glasgow she gives much support with fund raising and publicity.

Dave Emptage NVQ, Trustee – dedicated to working with people with profound and moderate learning disabilities and sensory impairment in long stay residential homes and educational settings since 1989. Dave volunteered in Romania for two years from 1992, bringing his experience and music to the great appreciation of the residents, staff teams and the local community. Now living in Lancaster and working in special needs education, he uses his experience and music to continue to raise finance, awareness and skill sharing on his return trips to Siret.

Katie Goodier MA PGCE , Trustee – now a special needs teacher working in Glasgow, teaching children with special needs having volunteered for over two years in Siret from 1992 and been actively involved since.

Professor William Gould PhD, Trustee – Professor of History at Leeds University, Will volunteered in his gap year from 1991 – 1992. In later years returning to Siret to help develop the project where he met and later married his wife Olivia. They now live in Harrogate and ensure good communication and translation between the UK and Romanian teams.

Sylvia Gurr MA UKCP (Acc.), Trustee – experienced in working with people with profound learning difficulties and sensory impairments. Sylvia volunteered in Romania for approx. three years from the beginning of 1992, assisting in the coordination and development of the project, she now visits regularly to support the Romanian team and oversee the work. Sylvia has also worked in mental health and homelessness in London during which gained her Masters in Integrative Child Psychotherapy. Now a Child Psychotherapist and Child Clinical Supervisor she works in the NHS.

Lizzy Hartley MA (hons) DipSW, Trustee – a Social Worker in Child Protection and experience in mental health Lizzy brings her knowledge and expertise of independent living and safeguarding to the team having volunteer in the hospital in 1993 for over a year

Roger Mason Bsc (hons), Trustee and Treasurer – volunteered in 1994 at the children’s hospital and now oversees the book keeping and accounting for School for Life Romania.