Back in 1993, days after their son Ed was born, Ian found himself redundant from his role in the property surveying sector.  Helen, whilst on maternity leave, had new intentions of teaching rather than her role in the financial sector.  Faced with a major change in prospects, it was time to sit down and make a plan.  How could they manage with two small children, everything financially stacked against them and looking at prospects of a new career?

Helen returned early to her financial services role full-time and studied for two A’Levels in the evening, to get her onto her first degree. Ian stayed at home to look after the children whilst completing his surveying diploma by correspondence course.   Enjoying the role of primary childcarer, Ian registered as a childminder with Helen supporting when not at university.  They were very popular child-carers and within a short time, not only worked closely with Nottinghamshire Social services to support children with Special Educational Needs, but in 1994 West Bridgford Infants’ asked them to set up their kids’ club in school – this was one of the first in the Rushcliffe area and still successfully operates today, providing school age children with care before and after school and in school holidays (www.wboosc.com).

Over the years, both Ian and Helen, continued to work with the children and study, whilst balancing their own home life and family responsibilities.  Ian changed his career, becoming a qualified teacher at both primary and secondary level and Helen developed her skills, working across both kids club and nursery, gained many childcare qualifications leading up to her Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) and Masters degree.  She became a successful trainer and assessor in NVQ playwork, and assessor for Northampton university Early Years Professional status candidates.  In 2020, her massive efforts in training staff and successful development in children’s learning, were recognised by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth with an M.B.E. for services to children and families in Nottingham.

Despite all this considerable hard work, family has always been the essential focus with many shared experiences.  The outdoor life holds great importance with cycling, camping, skiing being woven into the family calender.  Back in 2009, the family took a year out and back-packed around the world – at the point of leaving the UK, Ed was 15 and Milly 12.  The experiences these young people had in countries such as Vietnam, Australia, Canada, Laos and New Zealand have inevitably given them huge insight into how to help others be the best they can be.

Inspired by their parents zest for life, hard work and success and dedication to providing the best opportunities for children, Ed has become our wboosc kids’ club manager and Milly our Playroom manager.

Ed is overall in charge of the day to day running of wboosc kids’ clubs, working closely with Helen who is the operational planner and financial organiser for wboosc.  Having worked with the playroom family from school age in washing pots after school and supporting a child with additional needs, he has developed his passion of working with children.  His own intellectual development has lead to him with qualifications in a level 5 leadership & management diploma, level 3 early years qualification and a degree in business management (innovation & enterprise).  He is a talented individual, keen on sports having been a ski instructor in Austria for a number of years, working with schools to both teach skiing and support evening fun activities.  With a love of driving, Ed passed his PSV license to ensure that the playroom and wboosc children could enjoy the wider environment of play off-site.