Secretary

I am a coaching psychologist and community health and wellbeing manager for Redruth in Cornwall. My passion has been working with mental health for years and creating equal opportunities in deprived areas. I have worked in the 3rd sector for years and am bringing my knowledge and passion to this wonderful project :). As with my compadres in Diam Rek, I am an avid surfer and spend a lot of my free time somewhere in the sea! I also love trail running and generally spending time outdoors in nature.

Head of Senegalese Operations

I am from Ziguinchor and based in Abene, Casamance. I have been involved in humanitarian work for several years, with the main focus providing sanitation of cuts and wounds in rural Senegalese primary schools.

I met Finn in Winter 2022 and we spoke about working together to facilitate the vision of Diam Rek. I have helped to discover some of our rural based recipients and register Diam Rek as a legal organisation in Senegal.

My goal is to help Africa; to continue bringing more and more wheelchairs each year and in the future also be able to help with the organisations work in Europe.

Treasurer

I am a self employed carpenter and saxophonist/vocalist for band ‘Wild O Yo’.

I have travelled a lot and it made me realise how privileged I am. I have always felt that I wanted to help those that don’t have the opportunities that we in the western world are so fortunate to have, and so when Finn asked me if I would like to be part of ‘Diam Rek’ I got very excited.

Although there are challenges ahead I am excited to find solutions and hope we can make a difference to those who don’t have the same support that we are used to in the UK.

Let’s make small changes with big impacts on peoples lives!

Director

I try to spend as much time as I can travelling or in the water and have used a manual wheelchair for the last five years.

The idea for ‘Diam Rek’ came about in 2022-2023 whilst I was travelling in West Africa. I would often meet people who were intrigued about how and why I was travelling and throughout the trip I ended up spending time with a lot of other wheelchair users.

Almost always the people I was hanging out with were using wheelchairs in very bad condition and the impact this has was something I could personally relate to. I decided that the next time I came to Senegal I wanted to bring good quality wheelchairs that fitted the user and were suited to the terrain.

Team Member/Head of Surf Camp

I’m super proud to be part of an organisation set on creating a real difference in the rural communities of Senegal.

In my current role at The Wave Project, I oversee surf therapy programs, using the healing power of blue spaces to support those struggling with their mental health. With years of experience across the development sector, I’ve focused on driving change in mental health, youth empowerment, and disaster relief.

My studies in global development and the environment have deepened my commitment to sustainable, bi/multilateral efforts. Having worked on WASH projects in Uganda and travelled (and surfed) across East and West Africa, I’m excited to contribute to Diam Rek’s journey.

Filmmaker

I'm happiest when I feel part of the natural landscape, and connected to its stories. Rock climbing is where I usually find my quick hit of this connection, but I'm continually discovering more ways to find this sense of belonging.

I'm passionate about diversifying access to nature, telling stories that make more people feel more welcome in, and connected to the land around them. 

I'm based in Bristol, I love to travel, and I'm passionate about telling stories through film.