Who Are We

Clare Isherwood – Founder, Trustee, Project Lead

I have always felt passionate about art and creativity.  I studied for a BA (Hons) in Art and Design and then gained a PGCE Teaching Certificate.  I have extensive experience as a facilitator and teacher of art and design to an adult audience.  I love visiting art galleries and exhibitions with my family as it allows me to teach my children to look at the world in a creative, inspiring way.  I believe everyone has the capability to be creative, but lots of us don’t yet know it.  We all have an innate need to express ourselves; learning new skills and testing ourselves aids positivity.

My family and I live, work and play in Glossop. 

Let’s take a pencil for a walk and see where we end up!

Rhoda Badge – Additional Needs Co-Ordinator

Rhoda has been working with the GAP family for over two years, focusing on the sessions that cater for adults with additional needs.  Rhoda qualified as a speech and language therapist 25years ago, and has since worked in a number of settings, mainly working with young people with autistic spectrum conditions and their families. “Communication is a fundamental skill that we all need, and I enjoy helping people to develop their abilities at whatever level, using a variety of means, to become an effective communicator”.

 “My family have grown up in Glossop, and we enjoy making the most of the outdoor space available to us on our doorstep. My son has a learning disability, so this gives me an alternative perspective to the sessions that we offer from the participant viewpoint.

I love that I can be involved with providing a unique service in Glossop, which allows me to be creative, flexible and fun. Using the arts, whether creative, music or movement is a perfect medium to develop self- expression, and interactive social skills”.

Elle Bromley – Trustee, Young Person’s Development Worker, Project Lead

Elle is a qualified experienced youth worker, who also loves arts and crafting!  Elle gained her Post Grad diploma in Youth and Community work in 2005, from Bradford College, while working for York Youth Service. Elle joined GAP in 2019 funded by Children in Need.

“After many years in York, supporting lots of young people, in a variety of settings, I moved to Glossop in 2011 with my husband. In Glossop, I started my family and am now a Mum to 3 little people who definitely keep me busy!  I have worked in recent years in Glossop for DCC. and for a youth charity in Oldham.   Since qualifying I have always kept up to date with training and developing my knowledge.  I love working with and supporting young people, helping them to explore new ideas and achieve their potential.  Arts and Crafts have always been a hobby of mine, which have developed into a little online business. I am so pleased to have the opportunity to work for GAP and to combine my loves of youth work and crafting!”

Catherine McNicholas – Wellbeing Support Worker

I have a wide range of life experience. I grew up in the Northwest in Wigan, moving to London in the 1980s. I have worked in the Social Care Profession particularly in mental health field in a variety of roles and settings since 1993 such as residential group homes, day care, community outreach and community mental health teams. My last role being East London Area Manager for Centres for Wellbeing for a large Charity.

Prior to this I worked in France and Switzerland in ski resorts for an organisation offering ski holidays to children who may not be able to afford the experience.

I am experienced at delivering services in a community setting ensuring that services, organisations, groups are accessible to everyone and that they meet the needs of the community it serves.

In 2018 I decided to move to Glossop and had the opportunity to assess what interests me and what direction I want to take my new life. Moving to Glossop working less and living more I’ve never looked back. I love the town its people and the Hills and often think I’m so lucky to live in such a lovely place. I enjoy cooking, mooching around charity shops and garden centres. I love to read and have found new hobbies of gardening and sewing crafting and going to galleries.

Rachel Shore – Neurodivergent Development Worker, Project Lead

I started my career journey back in 2002 training as a Creative Therapist. After setting up 2 creative drop-in groups in Stockport I was able to go on to complete teaching training. This enabled me to specialise in teaching adults a range of creative subjects. All of my teaching has been focused on working with adults from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, from 2012 to 2022 I was an art and creative writing tutor at Back on Track, an education charity based in Manchester.

Since 2008 I have also worked on a freelance basis as an Arts Engagement Practitioner. This has involved designing and delivering a number of arts projects with a variety of charities in Greater Manchester, including Arts Recovery in the Community, 42^nd Street, Manchester Action on Street Health, Acorn Recovery and Centrepoint to name a few. In more recent years my engagement work has been exploring therapeutic art making with nature in outdoor environments.

I truly believe, no matter our background, we are all creative beings and that creativity is about immersing ourselves in exploring ideas and enjoying the creative process. I feel fortunate that I have worked with so many uniquely talented and inspiring individuals over the years. I`m looking forward to lots of arts based adventures with Glossop Arts Projects in the near future.

Kay Burnett – Finance and Admin Office

Originally from Edinburgh, I have lived in Glossop since 2006 and have always loved the community feeling here –  I especially like that there is a Scott round every corner!  I have over 40 years experience in Admin and have been working with GAP as the Finance/Admin Officer since January 2023.  I have been a serial volunteer since 2004, currently being the Secretary/Booking Officer for Friends of Victoria Hall which I have been since December 2020.  I love going to the cinema and reading in my spare time.

Mark – Volunteer

I volunteer at the Arts and Minds classes for neurodivergent adults. Following retirement from my main job, I spend as much time as possible engaged in creative activities. After a lifetime loving art, without ever being fortunate enough to make a career from it, in retirement I am able to indulge myself. I paint, make peculiar small sculptures and also jewellery, mainly from silver, copper, jet etc, some of which I sell from my (very) small business, Albion Arts.

I consider it a privilege to volunteer for GAP and I hope I am able to encourage and inspire people a little. I certainly gain much for myself, working with some lovely, interesting people in the wonderful GAP project. Long may it continue.

Eva – Volunteer

I spent my childhood in Stockholm. I trained and worked as a Speech and Language Therapist in a Learning Disabilities Team. I enjoyed life in Sweden but then LOVE struck! Graham and I got married and we settled in Sussex. Our three sons grew up near beautiful Ashdown Forest (Winnie the Pooh’s One Hundred Acre Wood). I was fortunate to retrain in the creative field as a Textile Artist. Graham was asked to relocate to Manchester so we moved to lovely Broadbottom in 2014.

Not knowing anyone “up North” I was delighted to start volunteering as GAP was starting to offer regular sessions in 2015. It’s been great seeing GAP evolve and expand.

Clare is an ace Art Teacher. She inspires us to play with both new and familiar art and craft techniques at Arts For Wellbeing. Everyone is experimenting at their own pace. We learn about famous artists and also new trends. Every term has a “theme”. There’s usually an end of term party celebrating our attempts and newfound skills.

As a volunteer, I make sure everyone is greeted and offered their favourite cuppa in the friendly atmosphere at Victoria Hall. I assist Clare and show how to use art equipment and applying design ideas. It’s a pleasure meeting local people from all walks of life, many of whom become regulars at our sessions.  I’m grateful for sporadic staff training over the years.

Eva Thomas
Textile Artist

Lindsay Allott – Trustee

I am a Counsellor at Hope Street Creative Counselling in Glossop. I Trained as a primary school teacher in London and have worked as a SENCO. I have been involved in various local charitable organisations and was Chair of Friends of Manor Park for many years. I am very proud to have previously volunteered with the GAP group in Hadfield and miss the brews, the chat, and the laughs. I am excited about being a trustee for GAP as it will allow me to support their invaluable work.

Gail – Trustee and Volunteer

Since being a young child, I have always had a passion for Art and have been extremely lucky to have always had this in my life. In 1981 I qualified as an Art Teacher and then went on to teach Art in Manchester for 5 years.  I then moved out to Germany to carry on teaching for the Ministry of Defence Schools based out there.  I worked in Germany for 29 years in a number of schools, and also worked as an Art advisory teacher for the authority in some of their schools around the world. Since my retirement I have enjoyed more time to create my own personal artwork.  In 2022 I moved to Glossop where I discovered Glossop Arts Project – a real gem in the community!  I was very keen to get involved and have been volunteering there since November 2022.  The project is a fantastic community resource for Glossop and its surrounding areas, and I am so pleased to be part of this creative and heartwarming group.

Vicky Collins – Trustee

I am a child protection social worker and prior to that I worked for many years as a family support worker. My work keeps me very busy but I am passionate about supporting GAP as my role of trustee.

I am grateful to be able to give back to GAP as the group and wonderful workers and volunteers have given my daughter so much.

My daughter has enjoyed attending GAP and is a huge advocate for the group.

Barbara Hastings-Asatourian – Trustee

I became a trustee for GAP in 2024.  I am a retired nurse teacher,  and live in Whitfield where I am now also  a local councillor.  My career in the NHS spanned 50 years as a nurse, midwife, health visitor and finally nurse teacher. I am never happier than when I’m caring. I am also a yoga teacher and understand the importance of self care. I  have developed a personal interest in art and crafts, and first hand experience of the therapeutic effects of becoming absorbed creative activities.  

I also have a professional interest in art for well being and working with local community groups.   Becoming a trustee  of GAP feels like a perfect fit.  I’m excited to work with the lovely GAP team.

Karen Smith – Wellbeing Support Worker

I have had several different careers over the years as I enjoy learning new things! I spent ten years as a community sign language interpreter, and then retrained as a hearing therapist. I spent the next seventeen years working in the NHS as a hearing therapist with adults. I then got itchy feet again and retrained as a person-centred counsellor, qualifying in 2021. It didn’t take me long to realise that I prefer to have a more supportive role rather than being a counsellor, so I’m excited to join the team at GAP as the Wellbeing Support Worker at the Arts and miNDs group sessions.

As well as paid work I have taken on various voluntary roles over the years, including many years supporting women seeking asylum in Greater Manchester. My current voluntary work is mainly around campaigning/lobbying to improve the buses in Glossopdale.

I have lived in Glossop for the past twenty + years, and enjoy gardening and getting out into the countryside.