Meet The Team
We have a wonderful workforce of 22 staff members and one Adventure Dog! All the team are qualified in Outdoor First Aid, Managing Actual and Potential Aggression, Makaton, Epilepsy Awareness and Safeguarding.
Terry Harris-Ellis - Director and Senior Outdoor Instructor
Helen Harris-Ellis - Director and Education Coordinator
The Adventure Service was established in 2011 by Terry and Helen Harris-Ellis. The pair met whilst working in Social Care in 1999. Since then, Terry became a Health and Social Care Manager and Helen a Further Education Lecturer, specializing in people with learning disabilities.
Both Helen and Terry are keen outdoor enthusiasts who have spent years developing the skills and knowledge to lead The Adventure Service. They have both passed the Royal Yachting Association Level 2, Basic Skills in Dinghies.
Terry is an experienced Bushcraft Practitioner holding the Bushcraft Competency Award, is SPA trained, an Archery Instructor, Mountain Leader and Mountain Bike Leader. He holds the British Canoeing 2 Star Award, site-specific instructor for abseiling at Millersdale Viaduct and weaselling at Stanage Edge, Black Rocks and Higger Tor. Terry recently gained the Paddlesport leader and powerboat level 2 and the RYA Safety Boat training.
Terry is also trained to deliver Managing Actual and Potential Aggression training to the staff team and delivers in-house training for the Skills for Care, Care Standards Certificate, Safe Guarding and Support Planning. He also delivers training for outdoor skills to the staff team.
Helen holds a BSc (Hons) in Social Sciences (Sociology/Social Psychology) and is a qualified teacher as well as a Level 3 Forest Schools Practitioner. Helen is working towards her Hill and Moorland Leader Award and has recently qualified as an Archery Instructor. She has also completed her IOL Bushcraft Competency, Canoe 2 Star and FSRT (Foundation Safety and Rescue Training).
Mala Ramsamooj - Day Service Manager (Mansfield Woodhouse) and Senior Outdoor Instructor
Mala is the manager of the Mansfield Woodhouse Day Service and has worked at The Adventure Service since 2011.
She has two degrees: BA(Hons) Silversmithing & Jewellery and BA(Hons) in Media; Production & Communication.
Mala is a qualified Hill and Moorland Leader, Paddle Sport Leader, Archery Instructor and holds a Mountain Bike Leader Award. She has also earned her British Canoeing 2 Star Award, whilst also completing FRST Training and Weaselling Training.
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She has also recently completed her IOL Bushcraft Competency.
Sarah Francis - Day Service Manager (Top Valley) and Outdoor Instructor
Sarah is the manager of the Top Valley Day Service in Nottingham, which opened in 2015.
She has had an interest in the outdoors from an early age and through her involvement as a volunteer group leader for the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Sarah holds a Mountain Leader and Archery GB Instructor Award, while more recently gaining her British Canoeing 2 Star Award, bushcraft competency and completed Weaselling Training.
Lynne Whittaker - Outdoor Instructor
Lynne joined The Adventure Service Team in February 2015.
She has a Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools.
She also has her Trail Cycle Leader, Archery GB Instructor and a has Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Working with Individuals with Learning disabilities.
She loves going on long walks with her dogs and her favourite passion is Bushcraft. She also loves baking and brings us lots of treats, she has even met Paul Hollywood!
Lee Ellis - Outdoor Instructor and Chief Maintenance Engineer.
Lee has worked at The Adventure Service since it opened in August 2011.
He is a keen outdoorsman who possesses a wealth of information about bushcraft and the outdoor environment. He even earned Bushcraft Competency in 2017.
He is a qualified Level 2 Mountain Bike Leader and Hill and Moorland Leader, as well as an Archery Instructor and is trained in Weaselling.
Margaret Lamb - Outdoor Instructor
Since starting work at The Adventure Service in September 2014, through a Sure Trust program, Mags has become a permanent member of the team.
She has gained a Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Working with Individuals with Learning Disabilities, as well as Makaton Skills, Managing Actual and Potential Aggression Training and an Outdoor First Aid qualification.
Amanda Clifton - Outdoor Instructor
Amanda joined us in October 2017 as our new Day Service Instructor. She has previously been an instructor in the Sea and Marine Cadets and has also helped at various outdoor places.
She has always had a passion for the outdoors!
She has got her 1 and 2 star in kayaking and is now a Paddle Sport Leader. She has recently been working towards her Hill and Moorland. She also does work within the Education sector of our business, coving other instructors groups, when they are unavailable.
Louise McNaught - Trainee Outdoor Instructor
Louise joined The Adventure Service at the end of October 2018, after working at Mount Cook Adventure Centre as an Outdoor Activity Leader.
She would deliver activities such as archery, indoor climbing, high ropes, bushcraft and more.
She also spent some time travelling and worked in places such as Canada and Australia.
April Uylatt - Trainee Outdoor Instructor
April is an active and engaging person, who joined us in October 2018.
Before joining The Adventure Service, April worked as a receptionist/clerical assistant for Newark Hospital.
She has had lots of experience in the outdoors as she has volunteered for Girlguiding over the last 14 years. She has already completed her MAPA and Safeguarding training.
Dave Craggs - Trainee Outdoor Instructor
Dave has joined The Adventure Service in October 2017.
He has spent many years living outdoors at shows and festivals around the country, teaching and performing circus skills.
He enjoys many activities and sports including walking, cycling, climbing and various martial arts. He can also do the splits!
He has recently completed his Canoe 2 Star Award, as well as completing his Mountain Bike Instructor Award Scheme (MIAS) Level 2. He has just completed his FSRT training too.
John Lyle - Trainee Outdoor Instructor
John started at The Adventure Service in May 2019 as a Trainee Outdoor Instructor.
He found his love for the outdoors when he was in his early 20’s. He is passionate about bushcraft and survivalism.
He will be working towards his Bushcraft Competency and Hill and Moorland Leader, which he is very excited about.
Fleur Hunter - Trainee Outdoor Instructor
Fleur started at The Adventure Service in May 2019.
She likes to travel and has been to many places such as South Africa, New Zealand and Chile. She is a horse-riding instructor and used to work in Spain at a dressage yard.
She is currently working towards her Mountain Leader and Climbing Wall Instructor and is hoping to gain valuable experience at The Adventure Service.
Lee Whitworth - Activity Support Worker
Lee is known as Young Blood here at The Adventure Service due to his charm and young looks!
He joined us in 2015 and enjoys being in the outdoors and having fun.
Since being here he has done a range of training such as Managing Actual and Potential Aggression, Epilepsy Awareness and Safeguarding. He has also taken part in Cutting Tools, Fire Lighting, Skills for Care and Natrual Navigation and Water Collection training.
Clare O'Malley - Day Service Activity Support Worker
Clare started volunteering for The Adventure Service in December 2018. She attended some of our training evenings and got a real feel for the place. Helen and Terry were impressed with how she was getting on and employed her as an Activity Support Worker in January 2019.
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She has a degree BSc (Hons) in Psychology and a BA (Hons) in Community Justice. She has also had some experience of working with people in a group setting, similar to here at The Adventure Service.
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She enjoys being outside in the fresh air and is looking forward to learning new things with us.
Luan Windley - Activity Support Worker
Luan started as a volunteer at The Adventure Service in October 2016. Since then he has become a permanent member of staff.
He helps organise activities, support clients and helps with equipment checks.
Luan has a goal to become an Outdoor Instructor.
He has completed his Outdoor First Aid Training, Makaton Training and Epilepsy Awareness Training and more recently, his Canoe 2 Star Award and FSRT.
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In May 2019, Luan won the Young Apprentice of the Year Award at the Mansfield and Ashfield 2020 Awards.
David Crowson - Activity Support Worker
David started with us as a volunteer and was then employed as an Activity Support Worker in May 2019.
He has worked in both Mainstream and Special Schools and has a lot of experience with working with young adults with learning disabilities additional support needs.
In his spare time, he enjoys mountain biking and walking his two dogs.
Lauren Ingram - Head of Marketing
Lauren joined The Adventure Service in November 2016 as our Social Media and Digital Marketing Apprentice.
She has begun to study a Digital Marketing Level 4 with Learning Unlimited, following the success of her Level 3 qualification with East Midlands Chamber.
Her job is to find new ways to promote the business through using Social Media tools such as Facebook, Website, newsletters, flyers and picture/video content.
She was recently nominated by Helen and Terry for Apprentice of the Year at the East Midlands Business Awards. The three of them attended the award ceremony at The Nottingham Belfrey, where Lauren went on to win Nottinghamshire's Apprentice of the Year!
Amy Handcock - Administrator
Amy joined the Adventure Service as an Administrator in 2013 on a Work Choice Programme through Shaw Trust.
Amy works in our office making sure all the paperwork is in order and supporting staff with resources.
Amy's confidence in her own abilities has grown from strength to strength both in and outside the office.
She even joined the fundraising abseil event and completed two independent abseils!
Amy now continues to better her computer skills by doing an online course (European Drivers Licence).
Lenka Middleton - Financial Administrator and Adult Short Breaks Coordinator
Lenka moved to England in 2002.
She has worked in research, customer services, logistics and has taught ESOL.
Now Lenka supports The Adventure Service with their financial affairs and offers advice on natural crafts and foraging!
She has recently become our Adult Short Breaks Coordinator, she now has the responsibility of booking venues and activities for our weekends away.
Lenka has completed multiple training days such as natural remedies, canoeing training and outdoor first aid. She also sometimes joins the Day Service for cover.
Broc - Adventure Dog
Broc joined TAS in Dec 2014 from Ireland and quickly settled into his new role of Adventure Dog here at The Adventure Service!
He enjoys long walks, chasing squirrels, sitting on comfy chairs and getting lots of attention from the Adventurers.
Lucky Broc also gets to go out with the groups from time to time when he’s not keeping the admin staff company in the office.