More About us and Our Team
The services offered by Dartmouth Caring are delivered by small team of highly professional staff supported by the charity’s trustees.
We work alongside statutory health and social care providers and other voluntary and community sector organisations.
Dartmouth Caring was founded in 1989 as a community support organization in Dartmouth. Initially established to provide assistance to older residents, it has since expanded its services to encompass a wide range of support, including social activities, transport, and home visits. Over the years, Dartmouth Caring has become a vital resource, fostering a strong sense of community and promoting the well-being of individuals across different age groups.
YOUR DARTMOUTH CARING TEAM
Nick Hindmarsh
Manager & Coordinator
I became Manager of Dartmouth Caring in August 2016, co-ordinating the work of the charity, its volunteers and staff, as well as overseeing fundraising in order to deliver the Trustees’ strategic aims for the benefit of all our many clients.
I have lived and worked in the Dartmouth area since 2010. We have a great community here but one that faces significant challenges in terms of service provision and geographical isolation.
Dartmouth Caring is a charity that aims to plug some of these service gaps and to give a voice to our clients.
We have a great team and a vision we all share, along with a very real passion to see the Charity succeed.
Katherine Allen
Support Worker and Deputy Manager
I have worked at Dartmouth Caring since March 2011 and became Deputy Manager in 2020.
Having managed the patient transport service and the fundraising organisation for the charity for some years, I became a support worker in January 2018. I thoroughly enjoy my role which varies day to day. The work is challenging but rewarding and I have learnt a great deal. I very much enjoy working with our clients and volunteers, and continue to learn a lot from them.
Karen Blake
Office Administrator and Transport co-ordinator
I work on the front line of the charity, meeting clients in the office and answering the phones, and frequently being the first port of call for clients calling in. My experience at Dartmouth Caring does allow me to answer most questions and to quickly refer on those who I cannot help.
I also run our weekly Lunch Club, order the food and pop along to enjoy the camaraderie with all our fantastic clients and volunteers. We try to make sure mealtimes are an enjoyable event that bring our clients together. I count myself really lucky to have such a varied and enjoyable job.
Natasha Branton
Support Worker - Memory Cafe - Lunch Club
My career has predominantly been in the health care sector.
Since joining Dartmouth caring in 2015 I have been involved in various aspects of Dartmouth Caring’s support in the community which includes, helping to run the Memory cafe, supporting Carers in their caring role to look after their loved ones, Dementia liaison support, as well as helping to run the lunch club with Karen.
Every day is a different challenge in my job and I enjoy going out and meeting people in the community.
Kate Cooke
Social Prescribing Link Worker
I have worked for Dartmouth Caring and the Young Carers Group since 2011, and since 2020 I have been working as a Social Prescribing Link Worker, a role that is conducted in partnership with Dartmouth Medical Practice.
Before moving to the South Hams, I had a career in Portsmouth working with the Social Services team so I have a sound understanding of the work and support that Dartmouth Caring provides.
Andie Day
Palliative Care and Cancer Liaison Nurse
I joined Dartmouth Caring in October 2017. My role involves supporting patients who may have a cancer diagnosis or a life limiting illness.
I work very closely with Dartmouth Medical Practice, different Oncology centres and Rowcroft Hospice to provide advice to patients, their families and carers.
My experience as a nurse includes working in Oncology and Palliative Care since 1995, both within the NHS and the independent sectors. I am passionate about end-of-life care and ensuring that patients are supported and enabled to be in their preferred place of care.
Buffy Matheson
Support Worker and Memory Café
I have been working and volunteering for the charity since 2011. I have always worked in the caring profession, and was a nurse for over 20 years before I moved to Devon 17 years ago. I love my job as a Counsellor and Support Worker, helping to run the Memory Cafés.
I thoroughly enjoy wearing several different “hats” in my varying roles and I feel both lucky and privileged to be doing this job and working with the team at Dartmouth Caring.
Celia Stevens
Support Worker - Palliative care support and ViP Group
Working as part of the team at Dartmouth Caring, we offer help, support and advice in all its forms to the elderly and vulnerable all around town and the surrounding area.
Since 2022 I have been working to support the Palliative and Cancer care services Dartmouth Caring operate, working closely with Andie Day, patients and Dartmouth Medical Practice.
Every day is different and I really enjoy seeing that my input can make a difference to people.
I also oversee the Visually Impaired Reading Group that takes place on the first Thursday of every month.
Sarah Dorsett
Community support
I relocated to Devon in 2020 and have a background in youth, community and partnership work in a wealth of diverse communities, managing a range of multi-agency projects.
I worked for South Hams CVS /TQ6 Partnership and have partnered with many organisations in Dartmouth. I have a community brief at Dartmouth Caring helping with the Friday Hub at Townstal Community Hall. Please get in touch if you would like to be involved.
Leah Rodriguez
Home Help Co-ordinator
I joined Dartmouth Caring as the Home Help Co-ordinator in September 2023. My role involves managing the Home Help team to support new and current clients to assist them in maintaining their independence at home for as long as possible. We can help with cleaning and general housework, shopping – for you or with you, companionship, support with attending appointments, organising household paperwork and allowing respite for carers.
I have lived in Dartmouth my entire life so it is rewarding to work somewhere that supports local people and their carers.
Lucy Woodward
Support Worker and Memory Cafe
I have lived in Devon all my life, and have been a bus driver in Dartmouth and the surrounding area for the last 20 years.
While joining Dartmouth Caring in September 2023 may not have been the most obvious career move, it has enabled me to nurture my passion for serving our community and to maintain contact with many of my passengers. My background has also given me strong firsthand experience of the many problems local people face due to the town’s location and geography.
Working here has been both a joy and a privilege, each day is different and I get to meet so many interesting people. I am looking forward to seeing my role at the charity develop and evolve in the future.
April Faulkner
Community and Volunteer Engagement Manager
I joined Dartmouth Caring in September 2023 in this new role for our organisation.
I have worked for over 20 years in the charity sector with a background in fundraising and charity management. I’m excited to be using my experience to help fulfil ambitions for our next stage of growth and to fully utilise our wonderful community space in Dartmouth Health and Wellbeing Centre.
Our strength is in working together so I’m looking forward to developing new community partnerships, groups and activities, to make a difference to those in need. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of Dartmouth Caring and my role to support each and every one, and to grow our volunteer base, is extremely fulfilling.
It is wonderful to be part of a team who are dedicated to helping the most vulnerable within the community of Dartmouth and surrounding villages.
Petra Kurucz
Finance Officer
Hi, my name is Petra, originally I am from Hungary.
I travelled extensively through Europe and came to the United Kingdom to live and work 7years ago. I started working at Dartmouth Caring in April 2023 as Finance Officer to hone my financial skills and expand my experience.
I’m currently enjoying this challenging role and learning every day. I’m looking forward to broadening my knowledge even further in the future with Dartmouth Caring and to supports its clients.
DARTMOUTH CARING TRUSTEES
Charles Sutherland
Vice Chair
After a varied career – in accountancy, engineering, finance and banking – in different parts of the UK, my wife Pam and I moved to Dartmouth in 2002. I have served Dartmouth Caring as a Trustee, Treasurer and have been the Vice Chair for the charity since 2015.
I have also been a member of Rotary since 1978 and spent about 10 years as President of Dartmouth Rotary. I was also briefly a Trustee of the Flavel Arts Centre and continue as a friend of Dartmouth Community Orchard.
Peter Adolphus
Treasurer
Having qualified as a chartered accountant, I spent most of my working life in London, spending the last 20 years there running a firm of building contractors with over 200 staff and a turnover of over £30 million.
My wife Sarah and I settled in Dartmouth in 2016. A member of Rotary and a volunteer driver for Dartmouth Caring, I am reminded every day by the people I meet just what the charity has achieved over the years. The dedication and professionalism of the staff hits you immediately and is a major reason why I applied to join the Trustees.
Dee Nutt
Chair of Trustees
Dee has been living in Dartmouth for over 25 years and has been involved with Dartmouth Caring since 2006.
From her previous experience in the health service she has helped the charity over the last 17 years to evolve and become one of Devon’s leading health and social care charities serving the community of Dartmouth and the locality.
Delia Kempley
Trustee
I moved to Dartmouth in 2005 after a career as a solicitor in London. My mother has lived here for over 45 years, and I was a frequent visitor from my home town of Leeds.
Once in Dartmouth, I retrained as a counsellor, but found myself drawn back to the law and am now working as a solicitor once again. My three children are all at school locally and, with my twins now at secondary school, some of my time is freed up to get involved in matters close to my heart.
With my background in commercial property, I hope that my position as a Trustee will help Dartmouth Caring navigate smoothly to their new premises in the Health and Wellbeing Centre. In addition to this, having a young family as well as elderly parents, (both of whom are now both in local care homes), I am increasingly aware of the needs of a wide range of the community, and it is a privilege to be able to help in some way.
Caroline Martin
Trustee
I joined the dynamic team at Dartmouth Caring in October 2019. With experience working in a variety of sectors, my career has taken me in a number of different directions, including the Banking industry, Education, running my own children’s book business, as well as working as a one-to-one carer and lending a hand with my husband’s copywriting business.
In between I have served as a School Governor, a Parish Councillor and helped launch the monthly Stoke Fleming Community Kitchen lunch. I hope I can make a positive contribution to Dartmouth Caring which is such an important asset to the community.
Dr Frances Davidson
Trustee
I moved to Dartmouth in 2013 after living in London for 40 years, training and then working as a Doctor. I retired from inner city General Practice after 30 years supporting a very diverse population in South East London.
Since living in Dartmouth I have been interested to learn about the differences between rural and urban health and social care alongside the changing needs and expectations of the local population. I appreciate the local difficulties in light of limited NHS resources.
I want to support the work of Dartmouth Caring, who provide an increasingly important service in our community, and hope my background will provide additional expertise to the Trustee Board.
Address
Dartmouth Caring
Dartmouth Health & Wellbeing Centre
Wessex Way
Dartmouth
Devon
TQ6 0JL
Registered Charity: 1187326
