Our people
Our team
Leanne Dodd
Visiting Services Lead
Leanne leads our recruitment and volunteer support and enables all our applicants to become volunteers finding them…
Penny Bland
Grants & Projects Lead
Penny leads our work on fundraising grants and a number of performance improvement projects; she works remotely…
Tracey Greener
Operations Lead
Tracey manages our home placements and the contracts and visiting agreements with key stakeholders as well as…
Diana Spence
Visiting Services Advisor
Diana works with Tracey and Leanne supporting all our placements and volunteers as we continue to grow across…
Nicky Jeffrey
Finance Manager
Nicky manages our finances part time and she is also a Wag volunteer, visiting a lady in…
Our Patron
Her Grace, The Duchess of Northumberland, became our Patron in 2018.
Best known for redeveloping The Alnwick Garden, the Duchess of Northumberland has served as Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland since 2009. An avid dog lover, the Duchess has also been key to the development of the Elderberries Programme at Alnwick, a social project bringing people together to socialise and build friendships.
Her Grace told us:
“Being a lover of dogs, I understand and appreciate how they can enhance life for their owners and elderly friends. Loneliness is a killer and if dogs can help to address this scourge of the 21st century then I am fully supportive and I am honoured to be a Patron of such a worthy initiative.”

Our trustee board
Diane Morton
Chair & Operations Director
Chair & Operations Director, Diane, retired in 2010 from her role as Group HR Director for Northumbrian…
Alison Hall
Director and Company Secretary
Alison is a solicitor working for Hay & Kilner in Newcastle.
Doug Morton
Risk Director
Doug’s career began in 1976 as an engineering apprentice in the public sector
Suzanne Tait
Finance Director, Trustee
Suzanne Tait is Finance Director of BW Medical Accountants Limited, a Newcastle based specialist accountancy, tax and…
Sean Churchill
Trustee-Director
Sean Churchill is Regional Sales Manager for Arco Ltd, has worked for Arco since 1984 and has…
Sophie Carvin
Trustee Director
I’ve always been motivated by making a difference to people. I’m Founder and Principal Coach at Deror,…
Richard Blackett
Member
I have worked in the financial planning industry since I left University with a BSc (Hons) in…
Our ambassadors
John Mowbray
Chair University of Sunderland Board of Governors
John Mowbray OBE is Chairman of the University of Sunderland’s Board of Governors and Co-Chairman of the North East Cultural Partnership.
James Ramsbotham
Chief Executive, North East of England Chamber of Commerce
As Chief Executive of The Chamber, James heads up the region’s biggest business group and leads campaigns for businesses as well as providing support services, including training and global trade advice for its 4,000-plus members.
Our advisors
Dr Tim Nuttall
Animal Health & Wellbeing Expert Advisor
Tim is Head of Dermatology and a Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Veterinary Dermatology at The Royal…
David Ryan
Animal Behaviour Expert Advisor
David is certificated as a Clinical Animal Behaviouralist and has a combined practical experience at the top…
Our assessors
Cris Brown
North Shields
I am a dog trainer with over ten years experience. I offer training classes in Walker and…
Karen Gibson
Brandon, Durham
I have been lucky enough to share my life and love with many dogs and also to…
Mechelle Jacques
Consett, County Durham
I have run training classes for the last eight years, ranging from pet obedience to fun agility…
Caroline Penistone
Leeming, North Allerton
I am a dog trainer with over 20 years experience. I offer training in Leeming, Northallerton. I…
Kay Richardson
Stockton
KAY UNAVAILABLE UNTIL MID APRIL : CONTACT THE OFFICE PLEASE I have always valued the enjoyable time…
Heather Stevens
Richmond, North Yorkshire
For around 40 years, I have been a trainer and behaviourist and specialise in all forms of…
Vicky Welsh
Chester le Street
I have been a dog trainer and animal behaviour consultant in the County Durham area for the…