The Team

At The Phoenix Project, our team is fun, energetic and enthusiastic — but above all, they are caring and committed. We want the people we support to feel relaxed, valued and happy when they’re with us, and we understand the vital role a dedicated, positive staff team plays in creating that environment.

Training & Professional Development

As an organisation, we place great importance on the ongoing learning and professional development of our staff. To ensure the highest standards of care and support, our team completes a wide range of mandatory training, including: Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Adult Basic Life Support, Food Hygiene and Autism Awareness.

All new staff members are required to complete the Care Certificate if they do not already hold a relevant Health and Social Care qualification, ensuring a consistent foundation of knowledge and best practice across our team.

As part of our ongoing commitment to improving and evolving our service, team members also undertake specialist training to enhance support for individuals with learning disabilities and autism. This includes qualifications in Makaton and Positive Behaviour Support.

In addition, staff participate in role-specific training to ensure they are confident and competent in their areas of responsibility. For example, our Wood ‘n’ Things team has completed extensive training in the safe use of woodworking tools and machinery, maintaining a safe and professional workshop environment.

We are a part of Hampshire’s Autism Ambassador scheme and have our own in house Autism Ambassador. http://www.ascambassador.org.uk/

As an organisation we are also working towards becoming Autism accredited by the National Autistic Society. You can find more info on this here: https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/autism-know-how/autism-accreditation

Volunteers

The Phoenix Project is always looking for people wishing to volunteer their services, whether that is a few hours a month or several days a week. We are always keen to welcome people with a specific skill, such as art, cookery, dance or public speaking. We like to keep our timetables flexible and current so that we can use staff and volunteers to their full potential.

Our volunteers have been hugely important to our service and we recognise it is with their support that we have achieved what we have as an organisation. We have been lucky to recruit some fantastic volunteers to our team and we value the skills and commitment they give us extremely highly.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please look through our volunteer handbook and complete the application form below.

If you would like to discuss volunteering further or have any questions, please contact either Sam or Mandy at the centre.

Volunteer Downloads

Application Form
Volunteer Handbook

The Trustees

Janet Newton

Chair

Mandy Sellers

Trustee

Aurelia James-Neau

Trustee

Nichola Barton

Trustee

Vivienne Hein

Trustee

Info coming soon...

I’ve always worked in roles where I advocate for neurodivergent people, so becoming a trustee for The Phoenix Project felt like a meaningful way to use that experience in a different way. I care deeply about people being treated with kindness, dignity and understanding, and about making sure everyone has the right support to live a good and fulfilling life.

I joined the Phoenix Project as a Trustee in May 2025. I moved to the Isle of Wight four years ago having retired from working at Gatwick Airport for 33 years in Senior Operational and HR roles. I now have some free time, and I wanted to do something worthwhile and rewarding and found the Phoenix Project. It offers me the opportunity to get involved, utilise my many years of experience in a corporate environment whilst continuing to learn personally and professionally about this charity and the care industry. It is the first time I have been a trustee and it’s a privilege to work with such a talented and highly dedicated team. The objectives of the Phoenix Project are impressive and stretching and the client’s care, experience and development are at the centre of all we do.

I am a Community Learning Disabilities Nurse working on the Isle of Wight. Providing specialised healthcare, support, and advocacy for individuals with learning disabilities helping them live healthy, independent and fulfilling lives.

Giving time as a trustee using the skills and knowledge I have gained in my career to support and help shape the opportunities and services offered through the Phoenix Project.