Our Team
Kate Nation
Managing Director
Kate has worked with at-risk children and young people since the age of 18, across a range of local and international settings. After returning to Cambridge, she joined Romsey Mill as a Young Women’s Worker, a charity dedicated to overcoming disadvantage, challenging injustice and promoting social inclusion among young people, children and families. Through this role, Kate gained first-hand insight into the complex challenges faced by young women.
Noticing a widespread lack of confidence, Kate piloted a one-off event, Cambridge Meets Brazil, a family fun day that engaged young women from the youth support programme she led. The event’s success and its positive impact on the young women involved sparked the idea for Turtle Dove.
Kate feels most alive when riding a motorbike, horse riding, dancing or spending time in the favelas of Brazil.
Sarah Khan
Alternative Education Lead
Sarah brings 34 years of combined experience across hospitality, youth work and education.
She is deeply passionate about ensuring all young people, particularly young women, have equal opportunities to become the best version of themselves and to truly thrive.
Trained in Performing and Community Arts, Youth Work, Forest Schools, Teacher and Trainer skills, and as a registered ELSA, Sarah has worked with young people with a wide range of educational, emotional and mental health needs. Through this work, she has supported individuals in navigating complex challenges and developing the skills and confidence needed to overcome them.
Witnessing the remarkable journeys of the young people she works with continues to inspire Sarah to help break down the barriers that can limit growth, achievement and the potential to inspire others. She also delivers the Alternative Education Programme.
Outside of work, Sarah can usually be found in her garden, workshop or studio, embracing creativity, reinventing furniture, clothing and interior spaces. She loves music, singing, dancing, going to gigs, sharing meals with friends and family, and enjoying good hospitality.
Aimee Clasby
Chef and Apprentice Youth Support Worker
Aimee brings her passion for supporting others in her role as a youth support worker, where she continues to develop her skills through an apprenticeship with Turtle Dove.
As a trained chef, Aimee is inspired by the support she has received from Turtle Dove and is motivated to empower young women in the same way.
Cooking has been a central part of Aimee’s life since childhood. She began learning alongside her mother and grandmother from the age of two, and has worked as a chef since she was 16. In her role, she supports young women in learning simple, practical cooking skills that encourage independence. Aimee also provides in-house catering for Turtle Dove events.
Aimee’s long-term goal is to establish her own business, combining her catering expertise with her commitment to helping others by creating employment opportunities for those in need.
Aimee enjoys going to the gym, taking long walks, spending time with her family, and playing the drums.
Jessica Evans
Communications
With over 25 years of experience supporting senior executives and businesses, Jess works as a freelance business operations manager. She thrives on streamlining organisations and improving processes to help businesses run more effectively.
As a certified NLP Trainer, Jess is passionate about empowering people to elevate both their businesses and mindsets. She enjoys identifying challenges and developing practical solutions that enable individuals to focus on what they do best and truly enjoy.
Jess’ commitment to supporting the younger generation and addressing the challenges they face led her to Turtle Dove. She strongly believes in the power of mentorship and meaningful opportunities to uplift young women as they step into employment.
Jess enjoys going to the gym, live music, bars and restaurants with friends, and travelling to soak up the sun, proudly describing herself as ‘solar-powered’.
Ruth Nation
Fundraising/Corporate Partnership
Ruth, the sister of Turtle Dove’s founder Kate, supports the organisation as a casual event staff member. In 2024, she joined the team part-time to support the Young Women’s Conference and assist with overseeing corporate relationships.
With over 12 years’ experience as a gymnastics coach, joining Turtle Dove offered Ruth a change of scenery while aligning closely with her passion for supporting young people through alternative educational opportunities.
Ruth enjoys gymnastics, dancing, weight training, and anything musical – she’s not very good at sitting still!
Alice Cantor
Events Coordinator
Alice has built a dynamic career across teaching, art and heritage, and software development.
She brings a unique balance of creative chaos and meticulous organisation, an approach that plays a key role in her event planning process. Alice has delivered a wide range of events throughout her career, from intimate craft evenings to wading through paperwork for international trips. Alice brings diverse groups of people together and creates memorable experiences.
Alice is often exploring the world, scuba diving, or impulsively diving into new creative hobbies.
Saffron Buckley
Peer Mentoring
Saffron is a peer mentor at Turtle Dove, supporting Faith, Aimee and the Young Women’s Development Work by attending weekly peer support sessions with the young women. She also acts as a buddy at events, helping to build confidence and provide encouragement to those she supports.
Alongside her role at Turtle Dove, Saffron works as a Care Assistant in a residential home. This experience strengthens her understanding of the needs of participants at Turtle Dove’s Intergenerational Events. Having received support from Turtle Dove herself in 2017, Saffron is delighted to return in a mentoring role, now supporting young women in the way she once was.
Saffron loves riding motorbikes and owns a off-road bike. She has a strong interest in psychology, enjoys getting lost in a good book, and is an animal lover who enjoys caring for her cats.
Rachel Bakes
Business Owner
Rachel is a trained patisserie chef, having completed her training at Le Cordon Bleu, and is the proud owner of her baking business, Rachel Bakes.
With a passion for creating beautiful patisserie, she specialises in elegant dessert tables and afternoon teas.
Over the past several years, Rachel has worked closely with Turtle Dove, crafting and delivering freshly baked treats for a wide range of events.
When she’s not in the kitchen, Rachel enjoys spending time with her dog, staying active and seeking out the best local bakeries wherever she travels.
Clare Brading
Operations Coordinator
Clare has extensive experience across the education sector, working from Early Years through to upper Key Stage 4. Most recently, she served as an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant, while also contributing to a large Cambridge based events company. She firmly believes that strong relationships are fundamental to personal growth and development.
In her events role, Clare has supported families and young people as they embark on their first job opportunities. By helping to develop the company’s Training School, she has played a key role in guiding young people as they build confidence and grow into their new positions. It was through this work that she was first introduced to Turtle Dove.
Outside of work, Clare can often be found in a muddy field, either walking her dog or playing rugby with her team.
Faith Munday
Young Women’s Development Worker
Faith is the Young Women’s Development Worker at Turtle Dove Cambridge, working with young women to build confidence, provide training, and create meaningful opportunities within a supportive and engaging environment.
She has a strong background in education and inclusive support, having previously spent five years working as a teaching assistant supporting children with a wide range of additional needs. Through this work, Faith developed a deep commitment to creating safe, encouraging spaces where young people feel seen, supported and empowered.
Alongside her role at Turtle Dove, Faith runs a monthly community craft café, bringing people together through creativity, connection and shared conversation. This reflects her belief in the importance of community, belonging and informal spaces where confidence can grow naturally.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature, cooking, gardening, and, just as importantly, eating good food.
Event and Casual Staff
We are supported by a strong network of experienced youth workers, trainers and teaching staff, all of whom also bring valuable hospitality experience. By working alongside the young women at events and workshops, they offer practical skills, guidance and encouragement that are essential to the work we do.
We are always keen to add to our team - drop us an email if you would like to find out more or get involved at hello@turtledovecambridge.com.
Volunteers
From ironing our uniforms to supporting events and helping with administrative tasks, we are incredibly grateful for our dedicated team of volunteers.
If you would like to find out more about how you can get involved, get in touch with us here.
Laura Atkin
Director of Education and Safeguarding
Laura brings over ten years of experience in education, where she has taught, mentored, and held pastoral roles supporting young people through some of the most formative stages of their lives. Her work has centred on helping them build confidence, navigate challenges, and recognise their own potential, always with a calm, compassionate presence that young people gravitate toward.
At Turtle Dove, Laura channels this experience into creating meaningful, person‑centred support for young women. She offers guidance that reaches far beyond what traditional school settings can provide, from building self‑esteem and communication skills to helping young women feel valued, capable, and empowered in their next steps. Her approach is grounded in patience, empathy, and a genuine belief in the strengths of every young person she works with.
Outside of her professional life, Laura is committed to her own wellbeing and growth. She enjoys weight training at the gym, finding both strength and balance in the routine. She loves travelling and discovering new places, and she treasures time spent with friends – usually involving great food, plenty of laughter, and the occasional spa day to recharge.
Sallyann Woodthorpe
Director of Strategy and HR Advisor
As an HR leader, Organisational Development Lead in the NHS, and certified coach, Sallyann specialises in supporting individuals, teams and organisations to grow and thrive.
Passionate about mentoring, she is committed to developing future generations and strengthening communities. Her NHS journey began with recruiting and supporting apprentices – an experience she particularly cherished. Sallyann also spent eight years volunteering as a Group Scout Leader and section leader.
A catalyst for action, she has also chaired the Friends of Hinchingbrooke Country Park and has experience in writing funding bids, alongside creative and crafting skills.
If you can’t reach Sallyann, she’s probably catching a plane for an extreme day trip or painting in a field somewhere.
Advisors
Ali Rice
Operations Advisor
Ali runs her own consultancy, helping organisations review, develop and grow. She focuses on increasing brand awareness, attracting new customers, transforming customer experiences and refining systems. Her success lies in her attention to the often-overlooked details that are essential for building sustainable, thriving organisations.
Before launching her consultancy, Ali held a variety of senior roles in the private sector. She spent 12 years as Managing Director in the Childcare and Leisure sectors, leading one of the UK’s largest and most successful activity day camp operators. Since 2020, she has been working with public service organisations, strengthening her passion for creating value through sustainable growth with with a strong focus on people.
Ali’s approach is simple: every individual she works with is at the heart of every decision and solution she delivers.
Over the past 20 years, Ali has contributed to numerous boards and committees.
She also enjoys a busy and happy family life with her husband and three children.
Monika Jerszynska
Project Management Advisor
Monika is a experienced project manager with over 15 years of cross-sector experience, leading full product life cycles in both operational and product-focused roles. At People Powered Retrofit, she specialises in replicating sustainable business models.
Her background includes senior leadership roles at Bridgemark Education and the Oxford Prospects and Global Development Centre, where she fostered interdisciplinary collaboration across academia, policy and industry. She has also combined her creative skills as a graphic designer with with project management, notably as Project Development Manager at a Manchester-based CIC, a role that earned her a Manchester City Council International Women’s Day Award for Environmental Impact.
As an Advisor, Monika brings strategic insight and a broad network to support Turtle Dove’s mission.
Malcolm Williamson
Business Advisor
Malcolm is an innovative entrepreneur with extensive senior-level experience across the service sectors, He has held roles including UK Commercial Services at the Automobile Association, Managing Director of a Hogg Robinson Group PLC subsidiary global events business, and Commercial and Enterprise Director at UK business support provider Exemplas. He has also founded, grown and successfully sold his own businesses in marketing, design and publishing, and works as a producer of professional theatre and concerts.
Over the past 15 years, Malcolm has focussed on supporting UK SMEs and entrepreneurship, working as an independent business consultant, coach and mentor. He has a strong passion for the Third Sector, particularly social value creation, and has worked extensively with social enterprises.
Malcolm supports Turtle Dove in its continued development and growth, helping to make a positive difference in the lives of young women.
Laura Sheffield
Ambassador (Legal and Hospitality)
Laura brings over 15 years of experience leading successful hospitality businesses, including her own venture, Corazon, which featured acclaimed Mexican restaurants in Soho and Westfield. Now pursuing a career in commercial law, she combines her legal ambitions with deep expertise in design, marketing, and business management.
Passionate about supporting small businesses and social enterprises, Laura is a dedicated Turtle Dove Ambassador, inspired by our mission to create stability and opportunity through hospitality.
This Texan-turned-Londoner enjoys running, baking American pies, and spending time with her nephews and her beloved black labrador, Huey.
Safeguarding Support
We work closely with safeguarding consultants and experts to support the work of Turtle Dove Cambridge. If you would like to learn more or are interested in supporting us, please get in touch at hello@turtledovecambridge.com.
