I’m Rebecca, now 51, raised in Gotherington, surrounded by wonderful countryside and what felt like lots of freedom. I now live in my own home in central Cheltenham. 

I have been caring for my parents, with my sister, for the last two years and am now in a position to lend quite a few hours a week to help others too.

For the last four years I have also been supervising a disco for adults with learning disabilities, which is an absolute joy, this is one or two evenings a week. I am also an Adult Mental Health Support Worker for the same organisation. 

Previous work experience includes running a climate change charity for 6 years. I have also organised festivals and many fundraisers for charities. One role particularly close to my heart was working for Nature Watch, an animal welfare organisation, as a manager and researcher.

Before covid, for a change and to spend more time outdoors I spent 6 years running a wonderful pet care business. My business, Wild About Pet Care, was the first 5* Dog Boarding establishment in Cheltenham and I have so many fond memories from this time.  I am also relaunching this initiative, but in part, simply offering cat visits and some house sitting www.wildaboutpetcare.co.uk.

In addition, this year, I became a Director for 'Nurture Hub Therapy Service'. This is a strictly not-for-profit mental health support service offering low-cost counselling and support to parents with SEND children and young people that are looking for specialist support from people who understand.

In my own time, you will usually find me tending to my allotment, enjoying a walk in our beautiful countryside, playing bridge/cribbage/scrabble or rummikub, watching comedy, or advocating for animal welfare and the environment. And of course supporting my parents.

Friends and family would describe me as having a very cheerful disposition, thoughtful in detail, reliable and kind; they are all very much in support of me embarking on this new initiative!