Meet the team
Simon Rands
Director of Operations
Simon is responsible for day service activities.
Simon has spent over twenty years working within Community, Residential, Respite, Educational and Fostering environments and has experience working with Children and Adults of all ages from Infant to the Elderly.
Simon’s work with young people includes those in Main Stream Education, SEN and those with Profound Multiple and Life Limiting Conditions, Pupil Referral Units, Young Offenders, Community groups and Young Carers.
Previous employment has included being a Care Farm Manager and Practitioner, Personal Tutor (FE College), Curriculum Lead Tutor for Land Based Studies (FE College), Behavioural Team Lead Tutor (FE College), Private Consultant/Practitioner (Care Farming), Price Trainer (Fostering), Positive Behavioural Support Advisor (Fostering).
Jackie Parsons
Volunteer Coordinator
Jackie looks after all our volunteers
Jackie grew up on a farm on the Marlborough Downs. After moving to Somerset she worked in banking & industry before teaching Business & Management at Yeovil College.
After taking time out to raise her family she then worked as a manager for Somerset Library Service where she enjoyed working with volunteers from all walks of life and appreciated the benefits they bring to an organisation and also how much they themselves gained from volunteering.
Jackie is thrilled to be part of ARK and is really enjoying getting to know our lovely volunteers
Nigel Bell
Director of Business Development
Nigel is responsible for developing the commercial side of ARK
Nigel was in the Royal Navy for 28 years, ending his career in 2014 as a qualified Social Worker. During his time in the Royal Navy, Nigel supported a generic service user group with a variety of personal issues including mental and physical health, disability and personal issues.
A large part of his career was spent supporting serving personnel and their families through trauma (with life changing injuries) experienced with the war in Afghanistan, with two years spent directly supporting those returned to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
Since leaving the Royal Navy, Nigel has been working with a local Fostering agency, in enabling foster carers to support and nurture young people, overcome a variety of personal difficulties and traumatic life events. Nigel is a Fellow of the Dartington School of Social Entrepreneurs, which has empowered him to set up this Land Based therapeutic environment.
Roxy
GubGub & BoBo
Nanny Catherine & Billy the kid
