Meet the Staff

Julie Bayford

Julie's career began in childcare before becoming involved in youth work and completing her degree in Informal Education in 2010.
Julie started working for Phoenix in 2011 as Youth Participation Leader. She soon learnt lots about deafness and began learning BSL soon after, although the young people still help her learn all the time! She immensely enjoys helping the young people develop their skills,  grow in confidence and become independent young adults. After stepping up as Acting CEO during a time of transition for the charity, Julie has now accepted the role permanently and looks forward to the exciting challenges ahead.

Gail Munro

Gail worked in London for 25 years and then decided to become a house mum, bring up her 3 children.  After several years Gail wanted to learn a new skill and as she was already helping and supporting a deaf friend, she decided to learn BSL level 1 & 2. Gail starting volunteering at Phoenix in 2013 and became a permanent member of staff as our Administrator in 2014.

Laura Bone

Laura started learning BSL level 1 as a hobby in her spare time and loved it so much she continued on to level 2 & 3. She has previously worked as a communication support worker at Bedford college and has worked with us at Phoenix since 2015. She enjoys working with the Deaf community and the young people as well as currently teaching BSL here at Phoenix.

Volunteers

Beryl Whyatt

Beryl has been with Phoenix since 2013, previously she had worked for the BBC and took early retirement from there to administer a national dance charity.  Her daughter put her in touch with Phoenix who, at that time, needed ‘a bit of help with admin’ and she’s been with us ever since.  Ironically, just as she started to volunteer with us, a virus left her permanently deaf in one ear so she has some small appreciation of what it means to be hearing impaired.

Christine Dillnutt

Christine has been with Phoenix as a volunteer since 2014. She is the secretary to the Trustee Board and is usually in the office on Tuesday mornings. Christine is a hearing aid user and also a volunteer for Herts Hearing Advisory Service.