Meet the Team
The Fathers Plus team brings together leading experts in father and male inclusion from the fields of early years, learning and health.
If you would like to talk to any of the team about how we can support your service to be more inclusive then send us a message or phone 0845 130 7225.
Roger Olley
Roger was one of the first male health visitors in the North East and has over 35 years experience in the NHS and social care systems. His work has impacted significantly on the development of policy and practice regarding work with fathers.
Roger was part of the DfES working group which produced guidelines on involving fathers in schools. He is co-author of the accredited ‘Developing Men Friendly Organisations’ programme which is impacting significantly on policy, practice and delivery of services, by various agencies and organisations throughout the UK.
Roger is in great demand in a consultancy / advisory role and has spoken or delivered training at over 300 conferences, workshops or staff development sessions. Roger has developed ‘Father work’ in a variety of settings including prison settings, Sure Starts, Youth offending teams, health settings, disability groups and Children Centres.
Roger is the father of a delightful daughter.
Eileen Botterill
Eileen joined Fathers Plus in January 2005 and has worked in a number of projects of Children North East. As Information and Resource Worker for Fathers Plus, she is responsible for managing and maintaining information systems for the service as well as promoting Fathers Plus exclusive resources.
Eileen’s experience and training includes Housing Management, IT and has a business and finance background. She spent a number of years doing voluntary work in a primary school setting and has a particular interest in deaf studies and deaf awareness issues.
Eileen is a proud mother of two children.
David Van der Velde
David joined Fathers Plus in January 2005 and has been instrumental in developing the service and setting up the Including Men Networks across the country.
David is a trained counsellor and has delivered play therapy in a primary school setting, couple counselling with Relate and therapeutic work with families and children in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. David has a background in IT and continues to direct a technology company set up under the E-Business foundation programme providing information management to not for profit and civil society organisations.
David is the father of four lovely children aged 2 to 16
Charlotte Dack
Charlotte joined Fathers Plus in 2007 with a degree in education and training and a ten year practitioner background in family learning within schools, libraries, museums and children centres.
As Workforce Development Coordinator she has been instrumental in developing the Fathers Plus training packages, men friendly resources, practitioner networks and conferences.
She recently set up the popular Family Man Schools Outreach Programme and delivers the sessions to men and their children in schools across the North East.
Charlotte is now one of the lead trainers for Fathers Plus, specialising in education and learning.
Tess Hudson
Tess is a project worker in the outer west of Newcastle. Supported by Newcastle Children's Fund, her role is to support dads to get involved more in their children's learning through organized activities and courses for dads/male carers and their children.
Tess has worked as a teacher in the formal and informal education sectors. Her background also incudes organizing and facilitating projects in the voluntary sector, particularly in the arts.
Mike Turley
Mike Turley is a founder of the North West Fathers Network and a partner in the North West Fathers Consultancy which works in partnership with Fathers Plus to deliver services in the North West of England
Heather Harkin
Heather Harkin worked for Fathers Plus for several years in a local sure start programme, as a Father Support Worker, engaging large numbers of men into the project.
She then became a Parent Support Adviser for two years and has just recently re-joined the team as a Senior Project Worker.
Heather has delivered training to a number of practitioners and organisations around the country and her background is in sales, education and youth work.
Danielle Todd
Danielle joined the Fathersplus Team in 2006 after completing her degree in English and History.
As Young Parents Worker for Fathersplus she works with mums and dads 19 years and under and their children, focusing mainly on the needs of Young Fathers and their role as a parent.
She is based in a Sure Start Children's Centre, working across eight centres in total, offering 1:1 support, groups, courses, training and signposting to other services.
She developed the "It's a Dads Life" Calendar featuring the young dads she works with across the Sedgefield Cluster.
Chris O'Connor
Chris joined Fathers Plus from Sunderland City Council. He has a degree in Criminal Justice, and brings with him experience of successful Local Authority Project Management.
Chris is responsible for the day to day running of Fathers Plus, managing existing projects and developing new areas of business.
A native of Northern Ireland, Chris moved across to the North East in 2004 after serving as an officer in the British Army. His recent experience includes working in the Criminal Justice system, safeguarding children and child protection, as well as managing a pilot project aimed at developing community cohesion through proactive work with young people and adults.
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