We believe in the power of charities
What our team thinks of working at Lamplight
- Chloe Van Schalkwyk
- Administrative Assistant
- Chloe joined Lamplight after using it for several years at Cardiff Mind. She now sorts out the finances, looks after our social media, and will be the friendly person arranging your Annual Review each year. You may also come across Chloe’s name as she assists our Growth Partner with initial enquiries. As you can tell, Chloe likes to wear many hats when it comes to work. Chloe doesn’t get much opportunity to use her Zoology degree at work, but will give us a fun fact every now and then.
- Claire Moore
- Technical Support & Community Builder
- Claire previously worked at a local charity for 10 years where she helped to implement a Lamplight database system. She went on to maintain and manage the product as an end user, data analyst and system administrator. She has worked in finance, payroll and IT and provided software support to colleagues, family and friends. Claire continues to volunteer with local groups, and when time allows she enjoys embroidery and other needlework crafts.
- Clare Elgar
- Head of Implementation & Training
- Clare is based in our West Sussex office in Chichester. She joined the company in October 2009 after working for 5 years as a manager in a retail sales environment. Clare volunteers regularly doing street outreach and has travelled abroad to take part in different volunteer projects. She has a degree in Management, during which she spent a year specialising in HR in the voluntary sector.
- Emma Ward
- Implementer and Trainer
- Emma joined Lamplight in 2021 and has a wide range of experience in implementing and training on different systems, with various groups of people, and understands the frustration that can come with change. Emma worked for the NHS for 5 years, starting in a patient facing role and moved into project delivery. Most recently, Emma undertook the role of Project Coordinator working on two large projects across the main hospital sites in Liverpool. This role primarily focused on outpatients where Emma delivered bespoke training across the different areas in the hospital, along with coordinating the system build, looking at data migration and advising the helpdesk.
- Hannah Royle
- Developer
- Hannah joined Lamplight in 2021 and is based in the North West. Hannah has 10 years’ experience of being a project manager in the Private Education industry with an awarding body that supported colleges all over the world. Here Hannah led the transition to a new database that would enhance and streamline the learner management journey. Hannah brings with her knowledge of implementing systems, the importance of good data entry to ensure usable reporting and helping end users get the most of their new systems.
- James Sparrow
- Deputy Head of Implementation & Training
- James has worked with & led small charities his whole life. Most recently Oasis Liverpool, building partnerships to make use of surplus food, starting a debt advice network, and community cooking ventures. Previously with a West-mids Interfaith Network, brokering relationships, managing conflict, and developing infrastructure to foster resilience. James has paid or voluntary experience with asylum-seekers and refugees, Foodbank, Home-Start and as a trustee/chair of several charities.
- Katie Eley
- Implementer and Trainer
- Katie joined Lamplight in 2018 and is based in Liverpool. Previously she spent 5 years working in Learning and Development for a national autism charity. Her role there included data reporting, database management and basic IT training for support workers. In this capacity Katie also organised a collaborative film project with service users to celebrate their achievements. Katie is active in her local gaming community and has a Masters in Screenwriting.
- Lewis Atkinson
- Implementer and Trainer
- Lewis officially joined Lamplight in 2019 after five years working as an associate. He has a varied skill set and background. Based in Northumberland he was a teacher of IT for nearly 20 years before a brief spell in sales. In 2003 Lewis helped to found and develop an IT based charity and social enterprise based in the North East, initially as a training project and then, as it developed, a 2nd tier charity that provided IT services and support to the regional and national voluntary sector. Lewis has a wide range of experience implementing websites and databases in addition to consultancy, training and a technical background in networking
- Libby Brookes
- Data and Migration Manager
- Libby has wide-ranging experience in the voluntary sector. Having trained as a teacher at Homerton College, Cambridge, she spent 4 years with VSO in China training English teachers. Since then she has also worked for Save the Children Fund and Oxfam. More recently she spent several years as a commissioning officer for Cheshire East Council, where she helped charities with their funding applications and finding the most appropriate ways to capture and monitor data. She has a good understanding of how frustrating this can be! Libby also has an MA in International Development from the University of East Anglia.
- Matthew Parker
- Director
- Matt has over 20 years experience in the voluntary sector, first as a youth worker and administrator at a youth charity, and then working with a number of charities helping to set up new projects, fundraise, and evaluate their work. Nowadays he also volunteers at the local nightshelter, which he helped to set up, runs a maths club at the local school, and is a trustee of a charity that funds work with children in Kenya. Matt has also spent time as a board member and chair of a small local charity. Matt studied Maths at Keble College, Oxford, and gained a Masters in Social Policy at the London School of Economics, and is a ISO 27001 Certified ISMS Lead Implementer. He has been programming databases since he was 12 years old, and co-founded Lamplight in 2004.
- Richie Bowsley
- Deputy Head of Implementation & Training
- Richie joined Lamplight in 2021 and is based in Liverpool. Richie has been working in the charity and third sector as a paid employee & volunteer since 2004. He completed a DipHE in Youth and Community Work and worked in both the public and non-profit youth sectors, developing and managing several projects across Northwest England. In 2010, Richie worked with Volunteer Centre Liverpool to rationalise volunteering infrastructure by developing and implementing a new volunteer matching platform. He is passionate about using data to support charities and organisations reach their potential and make a positive impact on the lives of beneficiaries.
- Rusel Broadway
- Implementer and Trainer
- Rusel worked as a support worker at the local night shelter for 6 years, where they implemented Lamplight. He has experience in teaching IT to adults, support work for people with learning disabilities, residential care and, in a previous life, was a computer programmer for many years. He also has volunteered at a substance misuse charity. Rusel has keen interests in theatre, computers, lasers, radio (presenting a local breakfast show on Monday mornings). He also records radio dramas.
- Sarah Parker
- Director
- Sarah co-founded Lamplight in 2004 with Matt and began working at Lamplight full-time in 2007. In recent years she has retrained as a lawyer and is now a practising barrister. Before coming to Lamplight Sarah gained a PhD in Philosophy and then worked in the heritage sector where her role involved the implementation of a complex museum database. She has volunteered as a reading assistant at a local school and was involved for many years with a charity supporting a children’s home in Kenya. Sarah is the Chair of the Board of Lamplight.
- Sundus Abdule
- Technical Support & Information Security Officer
- Sundus’ journey started as a volunteer at a local community centre, where she quickly found purpose in helping others. That experience grew into a two-and-a-half-year role supporting the centre’s AIG (advice, information, and guidance) services. Sundus worked as both an adviser and in marketing support, helping people access essentials like foodbanks, welfare advice, housing support, and education resources. Sundus holds a degree in Information Technology in Business System Design, and while most of her experience has been community-based, Sundus also contributed to digital projects—like UX design for Lamplight’s redesign. We’re excited to have Sundus on board full-time.
- Susan Tait
- Growth Partner
- Susan joined Lamplight in June 2016 after 4 years in a senior leadership position at a national childhood bereavement charity. While there she managed clinical delivery and contributed to the expansion of services across the country. She fully understands the increasing pressures that charities are under, particularly when it comes to accountability to funders and the efficient delivery of services. Susan previously held a number of roles within the telecoms industry, having started her career in banking. Working for Lamplight combines her technical and operational experience with her passion for supporting charitable efforts nationwide.