Meet the Team

Ruth Lingard, founder and director of Fledglings, has extensive experience working with disabled children and families. She has post-graduate qualifactions in teaching, social work and family therapy and has worked in special schools, local authority Social Services departments and in three major teaching hospitals in the UK. Her award winning information book 'A Child First' was published in November 1997, since when she has been involved in developing Fledglings' service. Ruth is a full-time unpaid volunteer. In the New Year's Honours list 2005, Ruth was awarded the MBE 'for services to disabled young people'. Ruth has two married sons and a stepson.

Ruth Webster has recently joined us as Services Manager to help streamline our operations to ensure that, as the number of families coming to us for help increases, our services will continue to run as smoothly as possible. Ruth's background in the commercial world and her personal experience of disability will bring new perspectives and efficiencies to our work, and we are all looking forward to working with her to grow and improve the service we provide. Ruth has two teenage daughters.

Katie Woodcock, who joined the administrative team in 2007, has a psychology degree and a very lively interest in music. In her spare time Katie has volunteered for a young people's charity and also teaches percussion to community groups. Her exceptional computer skills have greatly helped us to improve our e-communications in recent months.

Toril Bugge, who originates from Norway, joined Fledglings in 2009 with a background in telecommunications and recruitment. Toril deals with Fledglings' purchasing and customer orders. Toril has a lively 2 year old daughter.

Karen Ford-Richardson is responsible for maintaining, compiling and reporting accounts information and joined our team in November 2008. Karen has worked in an accounts environment for over 25 years and has gained accounting experience from many different employment sectors, but this is the first time she has worked for a charity. Karen says that working for a Charity like Fledglings develops our own deep sense of appreciation and motivates us to help build on the support we are currently able to provide. Karen has a grownup son.

Rose Le Doux, the most recent addition to the Fledglings' team, has a degree in history and French. Rose has previous experience working in import/export administration. Until recently Rose and her husband (a French pastry chef) ran a busy café and catering company. Rose has a cute and cheeky toddler.

Pauline Harding worked as a volunteer for Fledglings for several years before joining the team. Pauline packs and despatches your goods very efficiently twice a week, and helps keep the office clean and tidy. In addition to a multitude of other roles Pauline also makes our lovely Fledglings Bibs and Feeders. Pauline has three grownup sons and several young grandchildren.