Meet The Team

Julie Hardy

Chair/Thrive Practitioner

Julie has a lifelong passion for horses and dogs having spent most of her life around animals. Her interests also lay in wildlife conservation particularly bugs and butterflies. She started the care farm in 2007 with a desire to share her passion and knowledge with those who can’t access animals and the countryside and understands the benefits that they offer particularly for those who have suffered trauma or struggle with confidence.

Qualifications

  • Level 4 Teaching Certificate City & Guilds 2013
  • Level 3 City & Guilds Horse Care & Management
  • Level 2 Horse Care
  • British Horse Society
  • British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust (BHEST)
  • Level 3 Driver/Attendant
  • Safer Handling & Restraint – June & July 2015
  • Level 3 Emergency First Aid – 2023
  • Child Protection – July 2017
  • CEVAS (Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme) – December 2018
  • Emergency Mental Health First Aid

 

Sarah Watson

Head

Sarah has a passion for animals, history, gardening and art. Her hobbies and interests include Animal psychology and training, animal care, researching, drafting and making historical costume.

Sarah has been teaching for many years in a variety of settings including Pupil Referral Units, and Special Educational Needs schools.

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) Archaeology, 2ii, Bournemouth University, 2000.
  • Professional Graduate Certificate in Education, Canterbury Christchurch University, subject specialism Maths 2013
  • Qualified Teacher in the Lifelong Learning Sector 2014
  • Team Teach training current from 2004-2022.
  • Thrive family training, short course, 2020.
  • Designated Safeguarding lead
  • Fire Warden
  • GDPR Advanced
  • PRICE (positive approaches to challenging behaviour)
  • Health and Safety for Managers
  • Safer recruitment in Education
  • Level 3 Emergency First Aid – 2023

Karl Hardy

Support Worker

Karl is a keen fisherman, enjoys woodwork, and the natural world. He can often be seen photographing insects and birds to keep us updated on what we have living on the farm.

Qualifications

  • Recently retired after 30 years in The Metropolitan Police
  • Former Emergency Planner and Health & Safety Advisor for The Metropolitan Police
  • NEBOSH qualified
  • IOSH qualified
  • AQA Unit Award Certificate co-ordinator
  • Level 3 Emergency First Aid Trained
  • Counter Terrorism Advisor to Retail, Local Authority, Education and Faith Premises

Hayden Taylor

Trainee Teacher/ Thrive Practitioner

 

Hayden is a Post Graduate University Student, specialising in History. He is a keen gamer, yet loves animals, the outdoors and is incredibly knowledgeable of politics, history and geopolitical business. 

Qualifications

  • GDPR
  • Safeguarding Children – Level 1
  • Safeguarding Adults – Level 1
  • Catering – Level 2
  • Degree in History
  • Thrive Practitioner
  • Level 3 Emergency First Aid – 2023

Polly Roper

Farm Manager/Thrive Practitioner

Polly is a keen and experienced horse rider and sailor. She has been riding for around 30 years, serving in the ‘Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery’. Polly has spent much of her work-life helping young people. Away from her animals, Polly enjoys painting and loves all things Disney, she can often be heard singing her favourite Disney tracks to her horses.  

Qualifications

  • Equine Studies
  • NVQ Horse Care
  • BTEC – National Diploma in Animal Management and Animal Husbandry 
  • Self-harm Awareness and Prevention Training 
  • Mental Health Awareness
  • Community Sports Leader Award

 

Mary-Lou Bovelle 

Support Worker/Thrive Practitioner

Mary-Lou is a Support Worker at Chalkhill Farm and has worked with children for most of her life. Mary-Lou loves animals and nature and is a passionate photographer, she can often be seen giving photoshoots for our more camera loving four-legged friends.

Qualifications

  • CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (QCF) Early Learning and Childcare Pathway
  • Level 3 Family and Relationship Counselling
  • Communication in Health and Social Care or Children’s and Young People’s Settings
  • Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention
  • Mental Capacity Act – Basic Awareness V3  
  • Level 3 Emergency First Aid – 2023

William Hardy

Volunteer Support Worker

William is the son of Julie and Karl, and one of our Volunteer Support Workers. He has keen interest in Engineering, Cars, Equine, Nature, Science, Cooking and Art. He is currently employed as an Engineering Apprentice, but spends his time with us when he has some free time!

Qualifications

  • Certified to identify Loneliness and Isolation
  • Level 3 Production and Design Engineering
  • PREVENT & FGM
  • GDPR
  • Safeguarding Children – Level 1
  • Safeguarding Adults – Level 2
  • Currently learning a Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training

Callum Miles

Volunteer Support Worker

Callum is an ex-student from Chalkhill Farm who now works as a Volunteer Support Worker. Callum loves caring for animals, owning many himself such as dogs, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. 

Qualifications

  • Level 2 Diploma in Work-based Horse Care (Horse Care and Riding)
  • Level 2 Certificate In the Principles of Horse Care
  • Intermediate Level Apprenticeship in Horse Care in the environment and land-based sector
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides Using Variable Geometry or Broadcast Sprayers
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides