Meet the Team
Co Founder
I work in an advisory capacity to the trustees and also get involved helping run and support the events.
I’m a Co Founder of the charity. Following the death of Bodie in 2012 we realised that there was very little support for families bereaved of a child and we set out on a mission to change that through forming the charity.
I bring Lived experience and a great passion for fundraising and events
Seeing the difference, it makes to the families we support knowing that we are giving them some hope and something to hold onto. I also love seeing our events run with great success.
Bodie inspires me in everything we do and decision that is made. I’m also inspired by the passion, commitment and hard work of the whole team.
When Bodie died I promised him that we would do good things in his name. At the time I had no idea what this actually meant. Every family who walks through the door at Bodie’s House inspires me to keep pushing forward to raise more money and provide more services. Our children and young people have inspired me with our Addie the elephant and made me more determined than ever to make things easier for them.
I have always loved sport, playing and watching. I still love to exercise, mainly through running
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I once sang at The Royal Albert Hall in front of a full house.
CEO and Co-Founder
As co-founder we set up the charity in 2013 after becoming bereaved parents in 2012. Although we began as a fundraising charity, we soon realised that there was lots we could do to make grief feel less isolating. I have been working with families since 2017 and have met so many special bereaved families and heard about their amazing children. I worked initially as a bereavement project manager and became the CEO is 2021 as the charity started to grow.
I work as the CEO and ensure that the foundation runs smoothly, we have enough funds to pay for all of the services we offer and that we continue to make Bodie’s House a safe place to share our grief. I work hard to listen to our families, to grow our services based on what they tell us. I also facilitate Creative Grief for mums.
After becoming bereaved parents in 2012, following the death of Bodie, we set up the charity in 2013 to offer more support. I found it hard at first to accept being a bereaved parent as I grieved my old life. I know firsthand that rebuilding our lives takes time and a lot of hard work and so I want the team at The Bodie Hodges Foundation to be there to support bereaved families during this very difficult time.
I worked for the NHS for 13 years in their training team providing self-development and leadership training. I was also a coach and offered sessions to line managers and leaders within the NHS. I love strategy and action planning and within my role as organisational development advisor I was able to support teams to forward plan and work on achieving their goals. I ran my own training and consultancy business for 5 years up to Bodie’s death working with leaders, line managers, as well as in the community running confidence building workshops and life skills to young parents. All of my skills and experience helped my role as CEO but I am still always learning new things.
I love achieving our goals as a team. We are a very focused team and love meeting together and planning our services and how we can offer more to our families. I know how hard every bereaved person fights to make it through each day, learning how to live and grieve and I never forget this. All of our peer support groups are so rewarding as we see them come together and share, offering support to one another. Knowing that we are not alone in our grief is a very special part of Bodie’s House.
When Bodie died I promised him that we would do good things in his name. At the time I had no idea what this actually meant. Every family who walks through the door at Bodie’s House inspires me to keep pushing forward to raise more money and provide more services. Our children and young people have inspired me with our Addie the elephant and made me more determined than ever to make things easier for them.
I love reading historical fiction and being transported back to ‘the olden days’, my girls love to dance and so you will find me at lots of dance competitions supporting them. I also love a trip to the theatre to watch a musical!
After a trip to Australia a Bola spider travelled back with me in my case and we named her Betsy the Bola spider! We took her to Cotswold Wildlife Park, and they agreed to take care of her.
Lead Bereavement Counsellor Education and development
My career began in 2002 when I worked for a local children’s hospice. I then moved into the NHS, where I spent 18 years in therapeutic support roles. I qualified as a counsellor in 2007 and worked extensively in the field of bereavement throughout my career, with a particular passion for supporting children and young people. In 2019, I joined the Bodie Hodges Foundation as the Lead Bereavement Counsellor, where I was responsible for setting up and developing the bereavement service.
In my role at the Bodie Hodges Foundation, I provide bereavement counselling for both adults and children, offering tailored therapeutic support during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Alongside this, I deliver bereavement education in schools across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. I work with staff and students following the death of a pupil, helping them navigate loss, understand grief, and feel supported as a school community.
I was drawn to The Bodie Hodges Foundation because of its commitment to supporting bereaved families. After spending many years working in bereavement—particularly with children and young people—I felt a strong connection to the charity’s values and vision. The opportunity to join as Lead Bereavement Counsellor in 2019 was incredibly meaningful, as it allowed me to use my experience to shape and develop a service that could make a real difference to families navigating profound loss. It felt like a natural and purposeful next step in my career.
I bring over two decades of experience working in therapeutic and bereavement support roles, beginning in 2002 within a children’s hospice and continuing through 18 years in the NHS. Since qualifying as a counsellor in 2007, I have specialised in bereavement, with a strong focus on supporting children, young people, and families through complex and life‑changing loss.
My background has given me extensive experience in trauma‑informed practice, safeguarding, and delivering compassionate, person‑centered support. I have developed skills in assessment, therapeutic intervention, and service development, which were essential when establishing and growing the bereavement service at the Bodie Hodges Foundation. I also bring a deep commitment to collaboration, working closely with families, professionals, and partner organisations to create a safe, supportive, and accessible environment for those who need it.
The most meaningful part of my work is supporting adults, children, and young people as they navigate their grief. Being able to make a difference during such a difficult time—by offering hope, understanding, and a safe space for them to express their emotions—is incredibly rewarding.
I am inspired by the people I work alongside in our team, and by those who raise the vital funds that keep our services running. Most of all, I am inspired by the families I support. The strength and honesty of adults, children and young people who are facing the unimaginable continually motivates me. Their resilience, courage and openness—and their willingness to share their stories—encourage me to give my very best every day.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I love looking after our horses and being around them—it’s a big part of my life and brings me a real sense of calm. I also enjoy being out in nature walking the dog, which helps me recharge and find balance.
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If I’m not with people, I’m probably with horses.
Lead Bereavement Counsellor
I’ve worked as a counsellor since December 2020 and in bereavement since September 2021.
I am a Lead Bereavement Counsellor. I carry out family assessments, provide bereavement counselling for parents and siblings, and help to facilitate support groups. I also support the rest of the bereavement team with their work and the families they support.
I have been passionate about working with and supporting families bereaved of a child for a long time and had been searching for a place where I could use my skills and experience. When I found the Bodie Hodges Foundation I knew it was the right place for me. I started work here in September 2021 as a sessional counsellor and soon became an employed bereavement counsellor.
Throughout my working life I have always worked with and for others, from my earliest work supporting older people through the library services, to rehabilitation work in acquired brain injury, and now in counselling work. I have always tried to work with compassion, empathy and understanding in all the work I do, especially now as I support families and individuals in navigating life through grief.
Seeing people right from the earliest moments of their grief, when they are often vulnerable and feel lost, and for them to choose to trust us to support them through this is an often humbling and meaningful experience. It is incredibly meaningful to me to see how people learn to carry their grief, their child, and their experiences through their lives in so many different ways.
The work we do here at Bodie Hodges Foundation is an important part of my life. I have found inspiration from the many people I have met through the charity, from the Hodges family and their desire to build something so hopeful and positive in honour of their son Bodie, to all the wonderful families I have met through the charity and have supported. They have helped me to learn and grow as a person and as a counsellor. We are lucky to have such a passionate team and supporters in our work who are also incredibly inspirational individuals. I have also been lucky enough to have a wonderful family who have always inspired me, particularly in how we have navigated our own grief together.
I love reading both fiction and non-fiction and have been a passionate literature fan my whole life! I also enjoy art and baking, walking, music, and comedy, and most of all being with my family. Favourite emoji (if you had to choose one): A quick check of my phone says my most used emoji is the ‘facepalm’, make of that what you will!
A quick check of my phone says my most used emoji is the ‘facepalm’, make of that what you will!
I used to sing in an a capella group!
Fundraising and Communications Manager
I have been with The Bodie Hodges since September 2022 Before joining I worked at another local charity in a similar role supporting adults with acquired brain injury. I have over 10 years’ experience of working in the charitable sector, including volunteering for a national parenting charity when my children were younger.
I lead and coordinate on all our fundraising events as well as writing and supporting with funding bids. I also manage our social media channels and newsletters. Part of my role is to engage our supporters to give and to also develop new ways we can secure funding. This isn’t just down to me and I work closely with Lucy our Corporate and Community Fundraiser and CEO.
Having worked in the charitable sector for a while, I knew of the charity and the amazing work they did. I wanted a change from my current role at the time and a new challenge so seeing that there was a post available felt that it was meant to be!
Storytelling is a really important part of fundraising and this is something I have developed during my time at The Bodie Hodges Foundation. I love being creative, creating engaging content which has enabled me to lead on new campaigns and projects. My experience from working at previous charities means I have seen how sometimes certain ideas don’t work, and that’s ok. Being able to adapt and try something new is all part of being a fundraiser.
Knowing I am securing funding so families can access our services is extremely rewarding. Being awarded a new grant, receiving feedback from event attendees or simply meeting someone new who has heard of us from seeing a post on social makes me feel proud.
Our families. To be part of The Bodie Hodges Foundation is really special. Over the last few years more of our families are getting involved with the charity, some setting up their own Forever Loved Fund or choosing to take on a challenge to raise funds for us. Being able to get to know them more and hear about their child is such a privilege.
I love baking, I find it really relaxing and will always bring some treats into work! I started running in 2024 after completing Couch 2 5k, and ran my first half marathon in September 2025 in Newcastle. It was challenging but I found it really enjoyable and super proud of myself! One of my favourtite things to do is going for a woodland walk with family and Hoggle dog, my Boston Terrier!
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I have five tattoos, two of which I got to celebrate the births of my children. My daughter was born on the winter solstice and my son on the autumn equinox.
Corporate and Community Fundraiser
3.5 years
Corporate and Community fundraising, including Bodie’s Business Supper Club, Charity of Choice partnerships. Go Bright For Bodie days, all running events and stewarding, event planning and coordination, Community ‘In Aid Of’ events, charity networking, and Feet to the Beat running club.
When working at Ashfield Academy I met Nick Hodges who would share stories and updates about the charity. I started to follow the charity, and volunteered at a Sports Dinner many years ago. I then saw a job for ‘Fundraising Assistant’ come up, which I applied for, and have now progressed to Corporate and Community Fundraiser.
Great social skills, an ability to talk to anyone, compassionate nature, idea creation, and knowledge of children and young people.
Knowing that the fundraising that I have stewarded, encouraged or set up is directly funding the services that we provide.
The families that access our services inspire me to keep going, coming up with new fundraising ideas, and trying to engage new supporters. In today’s economy, it’s hard to fundraise, but knowing where the money goes encourages me to keep trying and conveying our message to the community.
My two little girls keep me very busy, and I love taking them out for walks in nature, picnics, and anything that burns off their energy! I also attend a weekly adult gymnastics session which I LOVE, and has empowered me to have more confidence in my physical abilities.
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I have 3 pet chickens – Cracker, Chick Chick and Ruby. They lay the most delicious eggs!
Team Admin
Started with The Bodie Hodges Foundation September 2024
I do bits of everything, lots of data and excel spreadsheets mainly!
I have been a supporter of The Bodie Hodges Foundation since it’s very beginning, having been neighbors with Donna and Nick when I was growing up. When the role came up at The Bodie Hodges Foundation, it felt like it was meant to be, like a full circle moment. I started at the very beginning with the charity, by bag packing at the local supermarket with my mum on a Saturday morning all those years ago, to now being part of such a fantastic team, being able to do something I am passionate about every day.
Before working at The Bodie Hodges Foundation, I worked as a Senior Referrals Coordinator at one of the biggest independent fostering agencies in the UK. There I learnt about my passion for people and wanting whatever job I did to be about more than just a job, but the impact it can have on those around me and helping others. Having had knowledge and understanding of the charity and it’s values before working with the team, I knew The Bodie Hodges Foundation was a place that truly cared about what they do and the people they support. I have skills in finding and presenting data (using excel spreadsheets especially!) that I use to support the teams in all different departments.
I love that my role is about supporting others to do their role, it is most rewarding to me when I help others.
Our purpose inspires me. Our aim that no family is left to grieve alone truly is important to every member of our team. I am inspired by the shared passion every person in our team shows every day. It makes me proud to be part of a team filled with such passion for what they do.
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy walking and LOVE a true crime documentary
The 😭 emoji, it sums up my emotions perfectly
A member of Kasabian once sang my favourite Kasabian song (Goodnight Kiss) acapella to me at a Man U v Leicester football match.
Bereavement Counsellor and Student Placement Coordinator
Since March 2022. Student Placement Coordinator September 2024.
I am a Bereavement Counsellor, and I coordinate our Student Counsellors who are on placement with us.
When I first saw The Bodie Hodges Foundation were hiring counsellors I called Nicola Rhodes and instantly knew I wanted to work here. I vividly remember our call and the way Nicola spoke about the charity and her passion for the Bereavement Service is what brought me to The Bodie Hodges Foundation.
Before working at The Bodie Hodges Foundation I was a Behaviour Mentor in an SEMH school whilst studying counselling alongside. Both that role, and my current role involve building relationships, giving people a voice, and accepting them unconditionally. I am proud of my calm and compassionate nature and I am lucky to be able to bring those characteristics to this role.
Sitting with clients is the most meaningful and rewarding part of my work. It’s a privilege to build therapeutic relationships and offer a space where clients can speak, feel, and be however they need to be — and be accepted for it. I think that is something truly special.
The vision and dedication of all involved with The Bodie Hodges Foundation inspires me on a daily basis. I am inspired by the way the charity strives to grow, improve, and best support families bereaved of a child. Donna Hodges inspires me. I often sit and talk with Donna and I go away learning something or thinking of something knew. Donna has a great way of sharing knowledge and ideas. Emily Burns and Nicola Rhodes inspire me as they lead the Bereavement Service with compassion alongside planning and implementing change.
I love sport and music. I spend a lot of time running. My most precious times are running through fields with my dog Edie.
My most used emoji is the crying laughing face – I send it to anything remotely funny though. Sadly, I am rarely crying with laughter. My FAVOURITE emoji is the salute emoji on iPhone.
In 2016, I spent four months playing cricket in Trinidad as an overseas cricketer.
Bereavement Counsellor
Associate counsellor for 4 years prior to this position
I am a Bereavement Counsellor, and I am the lead for CYP counselling and coordinating peer support groups. I work with bereaved parents and siblings, offering 1:1 counselling, and facilitating support groups.
I have a passion for supporting families and have worked in various settings leading me to wanting to work in bereavement. Starting off with a role as an associate counsellor within this service, I quickly knew that I wanted to become part of the Bodie Hodges Foundation team.
Throughout my career I have gained a wide knowledge and experience of working with adults and children/young people in different settings. From training as a Nursey Nurse, Hospital Play Specialist, and then on to become a counsellor, using my skills, compassion, and empathy to support bereaved families and help them to navigate their grief journey.
Meeting the families and developing a trusting relationship, allowing them to share their thoughts and feelings at a very difficult time following the death of their child. I find it especially rewarding working with the children and young people to help them express and explore difficult emotions and find ways to help them to understand and navigate their grief and the changes within their family.
I am inspired by the vision and passion of the Bodie Hodges Foundation and the ongoing commitment to support our families.
I love to go to the gym, spend time with family and friends, and travel the world!
Laughing 😂 or thumbs up👍are my most used emojis on my phone!
I love the film Elf and can recite a lot of the scenes, I still laugh out loud after watching it 20+ times!!