ABOUT
Meet the Team
Ruth Stephens:
CEO and founder
Having been involved in church leadership, and with over 10 years experience in children’s ministry, I have become increasingly aware that our ministries need to be more accessible to those who have had complicated backgrounds. In our churches and Christian ministries, people are serving tirelessly to support others and often it is hard to engage people who have experienced a lot of trauma, particularly if that trauma was early in life. I believe that those who support people who have experienced such adversity, need to be better equipped by receiving guidance and training to become trauma informed.
After a career as an Occupational Therapist (OT) working with many adopted and fostered children, I am passionate about equipping others to be a support to those who have experienced such traumatic circumstances.
I hold an MSc in Attachment studies and during these studies I gained valuable tools with which to understand and support those who have relational trauma.
My happy place is enjoying coffee out with friends!
![Tracy photo[46].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ecccbb_3157541387e543909d7b2f41a4f4b5e2~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_110,y_0,w_2094,h_2533/fill/w_320,h_387,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Tracy%20photo%5B46%5D.jpg)
Tracy Bennett:
Associate Trainer
I am a Therapeutic Social Worker passionate about empowering children, individuals, and families to thrive. My background is in fostering but over the last four years, I have specialised in working with community organisations providing training in trauma informed practice and running empowerment courses and workshops for individuals and families aimed at breaking cycles of generational trauma and building individual and community resilience.
I love learning and alongside my Honours Degree in Applied Social Studies, I also hold a Diploma in Social Work, a Diploma in Therapeutic Parenting, a Certificate in Parent and Child Therapy, and am currently undertaking a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.
I am continually bringing into my practice current research findings from the fields of Attachment and Neuroscience which bring hope, and my practice is non-hierarchical, strength based and underpinned by sound theoretical models which have practical applications.
My happy place is the beach!
Faith Spinks:
Associate Trainer
I have worked with young people in different capacities across my career as a teacher, through my work in the charity sector, and even had the amazing opportunity to live and work with young people in Brazil. I have volunteered as a youth worker in my church for the last 7 years and do voluntary respite care with some youngsters who are in foster care. Alongside Join the Dots I also work with a wellbeing charity going into schools to support those youngsters who are at risk of becoming disengaged.
Our churches should be a safe space and so I am passionate about supporting our churches in better understanding the impact of trauma and equipping them to better support those who are hurting. Working with young people and seeing their struggles I’m particularly passionate that churches are equipped to better reach our youth and ultimately that they would be able to discover God’s love in spite of their trauma stories.
My happy places are lost in a good book, outdoors walking, and watching the great game of tennis.
Beth Tumbridge:
Associate Marketing Administrator
My background includes about ten years in administrative roles within charities, as well as some time working in the education sector. These experiences have given me a good understanding of how trauma can affect people, and I'm really keen on supporting those facing challenges. I'm particularly interested in how we can all learn to be more trauma-informed in our work and create supportive spaces.
My happy place is in a swimming pool, or being on, in or near the sea!
Helen Barker:
Trustee
Bio coming soon!
Laura Ryder:
Trustee
With a background in financial management, I have more than twenty years of experience working within the charity and public sector. I have held various senior leadership positions, and more recently, work with a variety of not for profit organisations providing strategic business planning, coaching and interim director support through my own consultancy, SSCBM. I am passionate about supporting Charity CEOs and Senior Teams with the pipes and plumbing of organisations, helping the purpose, plan, process and people of their organisation to thrive from the inside out.
My best self care tip would be to break down a problem or overwhelming situation into much smaller steps. Often times, we want to problem solve to the end solution, but we can't see the way ahead clearly enough. Mountains are conquered one step at a time, and often when we go gently with ourselves and with others, we too can make small steps in the direction we want to go….
My happy place is skiing!
Josie Holt:
Volunteer
I am a passionate volunteer and advocate of JTD who loves to see lives transformed by God's healing power. I hope to see more and more people informed and educated on the effects of trauma and learn how not to re-traumatise survivors.
With 23 years experience as a secondary school teacher mostly of students with SEMH and SEND, additionally I have been involved in a wealth of youth, community work and supporting adoptive parents.
My happy place is: curled up reading a book!