About our service

Our Student Support Service is here to support blind and partially sighted students aged 11+ to get the most out of their secondary, college and university education.

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to thrive in education. That is why we have produced a range of resources and information for students (including mature students), parents and carers and professionals, on everything related to 11+, post 16 and university education.

We hope that you can find most of the information you are looking for on our web pages, but if you can’t or need more bespoke information then we can provide one to one information and support via our support service.

Or call our student support line on 0203 757 8040. Our line is manned every Tuesday and Wednesday between 10am and 4pm. Outside of these hours, you will be asked to leave your name, number and a short message and a member of our team will return your call.

“Thank you for all your support and always being there to help. I truly appreciate all that you have done for me. It has undoubtedly made a difference in my confidence having you there to support me. I truly appreciate all that Thomas Pocklington Trust does for students.” Nafeesa, student

Meet the Student Support team

We are really proud of our service. Come and meet the team and find out just what drives us!

Tara Chattaway

Tara is Head of Education and helped to set up the service.

She has worked in the charity sector in a range of policy, campaigning and service delivery roles.

She is really proud of our Education offer and how far our service has come since its launch in April 2020.

Likes: running, music, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Alex Henderson

Alex is a Student Support Coordinator. Alex provides advice and guidance via our Student Support Service and is responsible for developing maintaining our Student Support webpages. Alex is passionate about Assistive Technology and led on our ‘Give me access to college’ campaign.

He is passionate about supporting students with their educational aspirations and is registered blind.

Likes: Latin and ballroom dancing, rock climbing, LotR, Star Trek, fitness, personal development and banoffee pie.

Dislikes: mushrooms!

Aaron Lee

Aaron is a Student Support Coordinator and provides advice and guidance via our Student Support Service. Aaron is responsible for developing resources and information to support students through key education transition points.

He is driven to empower young people to capture their full potential. He is visually impaired.

Likes: Museums, heritage and history, volunteering, Criminal Minds, listening to music, spending time with friends and student engagement.

Dislikes: When contestants on ITV’s The Chase take the lower offer!

Fiona Waterspring

Fiona is a Student Support Coordinator and provides advice and guidance via our Student Support Service. Fiona has responsibility for our student engagement work and manages our Student Voices volunteers and our Facebook student community.

Fiona has a degree in English and is passionate about widening participation in education, especially for people with disabilities. She has previously worked as a Student Ambassador and as a mentor at a summer camp, among other roles. Fiona is registered partially sighted.

Likes: Cats, cooking, castles and Planetary Science.

Dislikes: Star Trek (Sorry, Alex!)

Sarah Oakes

Sarah is a Student Support Assistant and helps with our case work by researching the answers and ensuring that the coordinators have the information they need. Sarah is also responsible for writing and looking after our website content.

Molly Hobbs

Molly is an Education Coordinator and is responsible for developing our offer to professionals who work in the education sector but may not have the experience or knowledge of working with blind and partially sighted students.

Molly has worked with the Student Support Service since the very beginning. She loves being part of the Education Team here at TPT and has enjoyed watching the service evolve into what it is today.

Likes: baking (especially birthday cakes and cupcakes), painting, daytrips and enjoying a cup of tea in the garden.

Dislikes: banoffee pie (sorry Alex!)

Krupali Parshotam

Krupali is an Education Policy Coordinator. Being registered blind, Krupali understands the minefield education can be, so as education policy coordinator she hopes to influence positive change for blind and partially sighted learners.

Likes: cooking especially baking, spending time with family and friends, dancing, and a good HIT workout session

Dislikes: bananas and bugs/creepy crawlies