Our staff

Abigail Lock

CEO

Abigail joined Back Up in January 2020 with broad experience gained from a variety of organisations across the private, public and third sector. This includes Scope and the Equality and Human Rights Commission.  Abigail grew up as a child carer, this lived experience makes her appreciate the truly transformative impact that Back Up has on people’s lives.  Abigail is a passionate proponent of community and is keen to champion the amazing work of volunteers, as well as the peer led approach to Back Up’s services. She has day to day responsibility for ensuring that Back Up and its people thrive, through the development and delivery of the strategy, in consultation with the board and key stakeholders. Outside work, Abigail loves open water swimming and is an avid traveller who is always up for an adventure.

Kevin Filby**

Director of Services

In a career spanning more than twenty five years, Kevin has worked in a variety of roles supporting disabled children, young people and adults.

Starting as a community support worker, he went on to gain experience in a range of different settings covering health, social care, education and information, advice and guidance services.

As his career has developed, Kevin has managed individual projects and services as well as geographically spread programmes across the UK in both the private and voluntary sectors – including developing new services whilst supporting organisational growth and design.

Kevin remains passionate about high quality services and achieving good outcomes for the people we support.
In his spare time, you can catch Kevin following his local football team, playing the guitar (very badly!) or on long walks with his partner and their dog, Bailey.

Andy Masters*

Head of Services Strategic Partnerships

Injured in a rugby accident, Andy first got involved with Back Up through volunteering in the office. In that time he worked across the team, gaining a great insight into how the charity operates whilst becoming a wheelchair skills trainer and group leader. Andy became an Outreach & Support Coordinator, before moving into management of the Outreach team followed by Head of Services. He is now Back Up’s Head of Services Strategic Partnerships, developing our work across the UK. Andy is still an avid rugby follower with his match day hospitality at Twickenham gaining legendary status amongst the team.

Ally Ward

Volunteer Development Manager

Ally is our Volunteer Development Manager and takes a lead, across Back Up, on the management, training and engagement of Back Up’s wonderful team of over 300 volunteers. Ally has seen Back Up grow hugely since joining in 2008. She is motivated by working with volunteers and ensuring the volunteering experience is the best it can be. Outside office hours, Ally is kept busy by her two children and enjoys family time with them and her partner, although loves child free time when she can get it!

Sophie Elwes*

Head of Services

Sophie first got involved with Back Up after meeting some wheelchair skills trainers at Stoke Mandeville while she was an inpatient there. They told her about the ski course and she signed up as soon as possible. It was a life-changing experience for Sophie and she has been a Back Up groupie ever since. She joined the outreach and support team in 2016 and now works as our Services Manager – taking overall responsibility for the five services at Back Up – family, mentoring, CYP, vocation and courses. In her spare time she spends as much time waterskiing and wakeboarding as she can!

Lizzie Tench

Outreach and Engagement Coordinator - West Midlands

Lizzie has been involved with Back Up since 2014 as a Wheelchair Skills Trainer, and as a Mentor since 2017.

She is the Outreach & Engagement Coordinator for the West Midlands Region with responsibility for teaching wheelchair skills and delivering peer support at the Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries in Oswestry, and for the support of people with spinal cord injuries in the wider West Midlands community.

Lizzie was a Children & Families Social Worker before being injured in a cycling accident in 2012,which resulted in a T12 incomplete spinal cord injury. Lizzie went on to compete internationally inParacanoeing and Paratriathlon before retiring from parasport in 2018. Lizzie is an animal lover, andenjoys handcycling, outdoor swimming, water-skiing, learning Italian, books, films, travelling, livemusic and being out in nature

Becky Hill

Vocation Specialist

Becky has been involved with Back Up in many different roles for many years. Her first engagement with the charity was on a water-skiing course, in 1991, a year after her injury. She has been hooked by the Back Up bug ever since. Becky has been a fund-raiser, group leader, mentor and trustee, becoming Chair over two terms, and was awarded Third Sector Chair of the Year in 2014. With her HR professional background she is passionate about supporting people back to work post injury and group led the very first Back to Work course and has been the trainer for a lot of the courses over the last 15years. Now she considers herself as having her dream job, as Back Up’s Vocation Specialist. Becky is married to Paul and lives in Dorset, where they together run Endeavour UK, an inclusive tourism business with an accessible holiday home and offering safari trips of a lifetime.

Melanie Burnside*

Courses Team Leader

Mel has both supported and been supported by Back Up for over 25 years. Following her spinal injury in 1996, she has been involved in the charity as a mentor and various other roles. Mel has 3 sons, 2 cats, a puppy and spends any spare time she has with friends and family. Mel is a keen genealogist and can be found frequently listening to audio books of all genres. Mel tries to get to the gym when possible and enjoys a long push around local parks with her boys. Mel is loving her role as Courses Team Leader and is proud to work for Back Up and support the life changing work that they do.

Rich Osborn*

Regional Outreach Team Leader, Scotland

Rich is a member of our Outreach and Support team, responsible for conducting wheelchair skills and patient education sessions at the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries unit in Glasgow. As part of his role, he also provides telephone support and visits patients and staff in general hospitals and outreach clinics throughout Scotland. This is to further promote the services of Back Up and what we can offer. Through his love of adventure sports, he sustained his injury through a scuba diving accident in 2009. However, that wasn’t stopped him because when he’s not working, Rich can be found blowing bubbles and taking in the underwater beauty off the coast of Scotland, regardless of time of year!

Chris Yeates*

Regional Outreach Team Leader

Chris looks after wheelchair skills and patient education sessions at the NSIC Stoke Mandeville as well as supporting patients and staff at other hospitals in the region. Chris was involved in a road accident in 2006 which resulted in a complete C6 spinal cord injury. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife and two sons and has become a master of negotiating his wheelchair around his toy-filled living room.

Alice Ridley**

Services Manager

Alice first learnt of Back Up when they supported her family after her cousin sustained a spinal cord injury on a school rugby trip in South Africa. In 2019, Alice embarked on a career change after 10 years as a Professional Dancer, travelling the world with various shows. She wanted to use the skills she had developed over the years with her lived experience to help support other family members whose loved ones have sustained a spinal cord injury. Within her role as Mentoring Team Lead, she also runs the day-to-day coordination of the Family Mentoring Service, connecting family members who are often feeling isolated and alone to others who understand. In her spare time, Alice loves adventure and often will be found wild swimming or hiking in the Lake District with her Husband.

Jacques Liebenberg*

Mentoring Coordinator

Jacques looks after volunteer mentors and their mentees. Jacques sustained an incomplete spinal injury at L1 in 1993 while he was in the South African Army. He likes to keep up to date with new developments in wheelchairs and other mobility equipment. He has been known to do some wheelchair maintenance in the office. Jacques is also an amateur braai (BBQ) master when the weather is nice enough to do it. Jacques enjoys travelling with his wife and has done the long haul to New Zealand multiple times.

Roman Maczkiewicz*

Mentoring Coordinator

As part of the Mentoring team working alongside Alice and Jacques, Roman helps to look after and support volunteer spinal cord injury mentors and mentees. Following a spinal cord injury-related illness in 2018 and an 8-month stay in hospital, he became aware of the work of Back Up and started as a volunteer fundraiser for the Trusts team. He then became interested in mentoring and once trained became a volunteer mentor, which led to him becoming a member of the staff team in 2022. When not working Roman who is married and has 2 grown-up daughters loves attending live music gigs and sporting events. He is also a keen fair-weather hand cyclist and is the secretary of the Hand Cycling Association of the UK. His Polish heritage is important to him and being bilingual has also been very useful. His not-so-secret guilty pleasure is to have the occasional single malt whisky with just a splash of water.

Michael Hipwell*

Regional Coordinator, London and South

Michael  helps manage relationships with the 11 UK spinal centres and ensures inpatients and staff are informed about and have access to Back Up services.  Michael broke his neck at C6 playing rugby in 2000 and then toured the world playing wheelchair rugby for Great Britain. After settling down to family life after the birth of his son, Michael began volunteering at Back Up before joining the staff team in 2008.

Helen Fincham*

Regional Outreach Coordinator Wales

Helen joined the Back Up team in 2022 as the Outreach and Engagement Coordinator for Wales delivering wheelchair skills and peer support in Llandough Cardiff for individuals affected by a spinal cord injury and their families.

Helen became paralysed at level c5/6 in 2016 because of transverse myelitis which is inflammation on the spine. 

Helen used Back Up services as an inpatient in Cardiff. Thanks to the 1 to 1 mentoring she gained knowledge and a few tips for more independence as a tetra from someone with lived experience.

Helen enjoys spending her free time with friends and family, loves make-up, shopping, travelling, and any excuse to dress up, eat and have a good time at social events. 

Stephen Unsworth*

Regional Coordinator - North Region

Injured at C4/5/6 vertebrae, Ste first got involved with Back Up over 20 years ago. With confidence and self-esteem at an all-time low, he was pointed in the direction of Back Up through the Northwest Regional Spinal Unit. 

A reasonably new member of the Outreach and Engagement team, Ste is the Regional Coordinator for the North – although he has also been with us as a volunteer Wheelchair skills trainer for 15-plus years. His position at Back Up sees him running Wheelchair skills and Patient education sessions at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough and Southport Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, Merseyside. 

It proved to be an inspiring move and the Multi activity course Ste went on in his words ‘was life changing’. 

Since then, and with the support of his family and friends he has regained his confidence, gone on to study to gain a degree in Media at University, enjoyed travelling across Europe and beyond, played Wheelchair sports, climbed Snowdon as a participant in the Snowdon Push and kayaked the length of the Great Glen in Scotland to raise funds for Back Up!  

Tony MacGrath*

Courses Coordinator

Tony started volunteering for Back Up in 2017 as a Mentor, and then in early 2022 started volunteering as a Back Up Lounge Host, focusing on the Arts, Crafts and Gardening Lounge! In May he started another exciting chapter at Back Up by becoming our Courses Coordinator. He describes the role as an ‘exciting adventure which has just been a joy from day one’. Tony believes that Back Up is one of those charities that holds family values at its heart, and says he knows that every single member of the team, and the course participants, feel part of this supported family which enables people affected by spinal cord injury to live life to the full.

Nicole Scott**

Family Support Team Leader

Nicole first came across Back Up after her husband had a spinal cord injury following a motorbike accident in 2009, so she understands the importance of supporting family members. She then volunteered for a number of years, first as a mentor, then buddying on courses and latterly as a group leader on various courses. Nicole joined the Back Up team in August 2021 working within the Family Support team. Outside of work Nicole enjoys playing (plus enthusiastically supporting from the sideline) her local hockey team, socialising with family and friends and walking her dog, Elliott.

Dominic Ridley

Family Support Coordinator

Dominic joined the family support team at Back Up in January 2024. His first exposure to Back Up was shortly after his wife’s cousin had a spinal cord injury in 2015. Experiencing the effect Spinal Cord Injury has on the whole family and the work Back Up does has inspired him to want to support other families. Before joining Back up, Dominic spent over a decade working in musical theatre and singing on cruise ships. In his spare time, Dominic enjoys specialty coffee, football, travelling and hikes with his wife and adding to his record collection.

James Needham 

Outreach and Engagement Co-ordinator 

James is the Outreach and Engagement Coordinator for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.  He first heard about Back Up in 2004 as a patient in Sheffield Spinal Injuries Centre following an RTA, where he sustained a C6 spinal cord injury.  Inspired by hearing staff talk about things they had done whilst volunteering with the charity, less than a year post injury he was skiing down a mountain in Sweden and getting involved in a multi-activity course in the Lake District.  The Back Up bug had taken hold!

James began volunteering for Back Up as a wheelchair skills trainer and group leader in 2006.  The skills he developed as a volunteer gave him the confidence to get back in to full-time employment where he enjoyed a career in Primary Education before joining the Back Up team in September 2024.  The support he received from Back Up in his early days post injury stays with him to this day and he hopes he can now provide that for others facing a similar situation.

When not working, James enjoys spending time with family and travelling with his wife, particularly to Canada to visit family.

Katie Mitchell 

Vocation Coordinator 

Katie joined the Vocation team at Back Up in September 2024. She has worked in a variety of support roles in charities such as St Mungos and Mind, helping people with their physical and mental health as well as finding suitable housing and work. She loves to get to know new people and use creativity to overcome barriers. Before beginning her charity career, she worked as an actor in London and still uses those skills every day. Never let it be said that Drama is a soft subject! She is currently training as a Psychodynamic Counsellor following a lifelong passion for psychology. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and going on hikes with her partner and dog.

Lucy Swatton 

Volunteer Development Assistant 

Having volunteered at a variety of charities for over a decade, Lucy was very excited to join the Back Up Team in September 2024. She hopes to use her knowledge from volunteering to help Back Up volunteers feel welcome and heard. Alongside her role as a Volunteer Development Assistant, she is studying for her MSc in Global Ethics and Justice, and she can often be found studying in cafes with her dog, Milo. When she’s not working or learning, she enjoys watching films, taking walks with her dog, and volunteering.

Mathew Salerno 

Mentoring Coordinator 

Mat is new to the charity sector and is part of the Mentor Coordinating team, he is passionate about empowering others and fostering a supportive community. Transitioning from an engineering background, He is eager to learn about spinal cord injuries and bring a problem-solving mindset and a fresh perspective to the charity sector.

In his spare time, you can find him cycling and running, embracing the great outdoors and staying active. He also enjoys keeping up with the latest in technology, always eager to explore how innovation can improve lives.

Sally May 

Courses Coordinator 

I have worked in a wide variety of charities over the last 20 years from the tiny to the huge and I love the variety that working in a charity brings!

I started at Back Up in September 2024 in the courses team and am very excited about this new adventure! Everyone has been so welcoming and friendly: it really is a lovely place to work. When not working I’ll either be reading, dancing, doing yoga or at a restaurant with friends

Suzanne MacLeod 

Outreach and Engagement Co-ordinator 

Suzanne is a registered Learning Disability Nurse and Social Worker and has worked within the NHS, social care and advocacy charities for over 30 years. She has an ISCI following Cauda Equina Syndrome in April 2021 and retired from the NHS the following year.

In the spring of 2022, Suzanne signed up for the What’s Next course and describes this as one of the defining moments in her journey. To learn about SCI and that she was not alone was reassuring and she no longer felt isolated. The opportunities and hope provided by Back Up courses, the lounge and interactions with others who have a SCI has been invaluable and life changing. Suzanne has volunteered with Back Up as a mentor and courses group leader, has twice conquered Yr Wyddfa in The Push and taken part in the Spinal Circuit.

Suzanne has spent the last 18 months getting acquainted with her ‘new me’ and has an ‘I bloomin’ well still can’ noticeboard overflowing with photographs and memories to prove it! She has rekindled a love of adventures, has dabbled in wheelchair basketball and handcycling, and is currently a terrible Ukulele student!

Clare Francis 

Family Support Coordinator 

In January 2024, my husband and I were involved in a motorcycle accident that profoundly changed our lives. Since the accident, my husband has been in the hospital, and after undergoing intensive rehabilitation at the Llandough Spinal Unit in Cardiff, we are now navigating a new chapter together as he adapts to life as a wheelchair user. He sustained multiple spinal fractures, with a complete injury at T10.

While he was in the hospital, I immersed myself in research to better understand spinal cord injuries. During this time, I connected with the amazing staff at Back Up, whose support and guidance gave me invaluable insight into what the future might hold. Through their mentorship and resources, I found not only hope but also a community, and this experience inspired me to join the Back Up team. I am passionate about using what I’ve learned — and continue to learn — to support others living with spinal cord injuries, as well as their families, as they embark on their own journeys. I believe that hope and knowledge are the keys to moving forward.

Outside of my role, I’m happiest outdoors, whether hiking up a mountain or relaxing on a beach with our dogs. Family is everything to me, and we’re eagerly anticipating the arrival of our first grandchild next year. I’ve also recently taken up yoga and mindfulness, which have become essential practices for maintaining relaxation and balance in my life.

Floran Steeples 

Family Support Coordinator 

Floran first came across Back Up after her sister sustained a spinal cord injury during COVID. Since her sister’s injury Floran has experienced Back Up through the lens of her sister’s experience before catching the Back Up bug and volunteering as a buddy on a wheelchair skills course and then finally joining the team!

Outside of her work life, Floran is an athlete, representing Great Britain in handball. When she’s not on the court, she’s her sister’s loyal “personal taxi”, helping her pursue whatever adventures or activities come her way.

Andy Russell 

Communications and Marketing Manager 

As Joint Head of Marketing and Communications, Andy works with the wider team to raise awareness of how Back Up is helping the whole spinal cord injured community. Injured as a student, Andy has benefited personally from a number of Back Up courses over the years, and has worked as a volunteer on a number of occasions prior to joining the charity. Away from work and he is a keen traveller, enjoys watching cricket and has a season ticket at West Ham United.

Jack Phillips

Communications Coordinator

At Back Up, Jack works in the Communications and Marketing team as a Communications Coordinator. This diverse role covers everything from social media to video editing – all to ensure that Back Up’s content resonates with people affected by spinal cord injury. With a background in video game industry PR, Jack also looks after the charity’s gaming fundraising efforts!

In his spare time Jack loves travelling, climbing mountains, ambient music, and creating digital art.

Sean McCallion*

Head of Fundraising

Sean is our Head of Fundraising and is responsible for delivering our fundraising strategy and supporting his great team to meet their targets. He loves getting out of the office to meet our supporters and spread the word about our work. Having been involved as a volunteer and staff member for over 15 years, Sean has seen Back Up grow immensely and has been a key part of that change. At weekends, when he’s not spending time with his baby daughter, Sean enjoys getting outdoors: handcycling, swimming, sit-skiing and, with help from some willing friends, he has also made it to the top of the UK’s three highest peaks.

Emma Pearce

Head of Partnerships

Emma joined Back Up in 2022 and leads the Corporate and Trusts and Foundation Team.

Helen McCallion**

Events Manager

Helen manages our Back Up fundraising events. She has been involved with Back Up since 2008 and met her husband through working at the charity. As a busy mum of 2 small children, she enjoys spending time outdoors gardening and playing tennis or cycling with the kids as well as getting together with friends and family.

Ann Shallcross

Supporter Care Assistant

Ann joined the Back Up fundraising team in October 2023. She’s worked for a few not-for-profits before and was delighted to join Back Up. Her time outside of work is taken up with teenagers and supporting local environmental organisations.

Lucy Robinson*

Corporate Partnerships Manager

Lucy feels very passionately about helping people return to employment. She believes it is an important way to tackle disability, equality and inclusion within society. Lucy also enjoys helping other teams deliver effective services to improve the lives of people affected by spinal cord injury, particularly working with children and young people. Lucy also makes functional ceramics such as mugs, teapots and bowls.

When she’s not behind a computer or covered in clay, you’ll find her gardening, travelling or attending a fabulous event in fancy dress.

Holly Butler

Trusts Fundraiser

Holly joined the Back Up fundraising team in February 2021. She has enjoyed a varied career, including previous experience of trust fundraising, and finds it rewarding to play a part in supporting our life-changing services. Outside work, she is a proud mum, enjoys being outdoors, and is looking forward to being able to socialize and travel again.

Emily Clacy*

Community Fundraising Coordinator

Emily has been involved with Back Up since the year 2000, when she discharged herself from hospital for a week to go on one of our multi-activity courses in the Lake District! She thought it was the best rehab experience she could have had and it was here that her love for Back Up started. After volunteering for the charity for many years through mentoring, group leading and organising fundraising events, Emily has now joined the fundraising team to support our community fundraisers and is excited to be working for a charity that she is so passionate about. Emily will also be driving our Ambassador Scheme forwards and helping others to promote the valuable work we do to transform the lives of people with a Spinal Cord Injury. As a busy mum of two, when she gets time (!), Emily enjoys going to the theatre and seeing live bands, mindful drawing, learning Spanish and planning events for the local school as part of the PTA.

Natalie Bonnelame

Events and Challenge Assistant

Natalie became a part of Back Up in October 2023, taking on the role of an Event and challenge Assistant. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Events Management. Apart from her professional pursuits, Natalie is a mother to a young daughter. In her free time, she navigates the bustling life of parenthood and indulges in her passions for travel, going out with friends and cooking. An aspiring goal on her horizon is to secure a weekend radio slot on Capital XTRA FM, where she can share the latest tunes with listeners.

×

Milly Thompson

Events and Challenge Assistant

Milly has been a part of the events team at Back Up since October 2023, helping to plan and deliver our special and challenge fundraising events. She has previously worked in corporate partnerships at an international charity, as well as in operations roles in the social research sector. In her free time, Milly likes to hang out with friends and go on long walks around London. She is also on a quest to find London’s best bakery – recommendations welcomed!

Salvatore LaMonica

Head of Finance and Operations

Salvatore makes sure the office runs smoothly and keeps everyone on budget. He is the most avoided person in the office when the budget time comes, and the person most in demand when there’s an operational issue. He is much beloved by all the team for helping them with all their technical mishaps. Better known as Salvo, he brings some classic Italian style to everyday office life.

Beatriz Fernández

Operations Manager

Bea is Operations Manager at Back Up, where her main responsibility is to ensure that everyone on the team has everything they need to excel. With her juggling and organisation skills, she manages to maintain an efficient workflow while ensuring that everyone’s needs are met.

Her passion for helping others and her unwavering commitment to Back Up’s mission drive her to make sure that every member of the team feels supported and empowered to do their best work.

George Rhind-Tutt

Operations Administrative

George joined Back Up in October 2023. He previously spent time working in hospitality and in an administrative role for a music charity. George offers administrative support in the office, coordinates office volunteers, and makes sure that everything runs smoothly. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, playing the piano and watching football.

Aneta Matyasik

Finance and Operations Administrator

Aneta joined Back Up in December 2018. She is responsible for the smooth running of the office and general health and safety.
Aneta coordinates the volunteers and supports with the recruitment process. She also looks after the suppliers invoices and payment processing on Sage. In her free time, Aneta enjoys hiking, gardening and salsa dancing.