Who we are
Claire & Sam
Activity Station was set up in January 2014 by Claire Eaves and Sam Hurst, who both live in the London Borough of Richmond-Upon-Thames and are passionate about supporting people with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Their combined experience, gained from caring for their disabled sons and working with people who have disabilities, is over 35 years.
Heidi Mansfield
Heidi has been a trustee for Activity Station since 2016. She runs the Children With Disabilities service / Crofters AFC and supports the charity with guidance and safeguarding.
Hester Larkin
30-year career spanning both pharmaceuticals and nuclear medicine across Europe, Middle East & Africa, including over 12 years of experience in senior leadership roles in the industry with both Dupont Pharmaceuticals & BMS.
Hester is the founder & Managing Director of Hester Larkin Associates Consulting where she provides consulting services to diagnostic imaging, pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
She has held several Executive Board Director positions in the UK and Belgium . She currently sits on the Board of 3 UK Charities :
British Cardiac Research Trust, Modern Muse & Activity Station.
She also is a Non Executive Director (NED) of an Australian biotech Company :Radiopharm Theranostics ( RAD)
With a legal background Ms Larkin has experience in governance, risk, & UK Charity law.
Humphrey Hawksley
Humphrey Hawksley is an author, commentator and former BBC World Affairs Correspondent. He has a son with special needs.
Christine Chittick (Chair of Trustees)
Christine Chittick has been a trustee of Activity Station since 2017. She is chairperson of the charity and responsible for financial matters. She is a former banker, was a school governor for 20 years and currently is a live music event promoter.
Coral Allen
Coral Allen has been a trustee of Activity Station since 2017. She was formerly a Trustee for the charity Kids Kidney Research for over 20 years. She is a studio potter and provides pottery classes for our users.
Activity Station is a winner of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
The MBE for charities
Activity Station was thrilled and honoured to receive The Queens Award for Voluntary Service on 2nd June, 2022. It is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE. The Award aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities. We would like to thank all our facilitators, carers and parents who have supported the charity from 2014 until today, without whom this award would not have been possible.”
Our Mission
We also aim to work with local and national organisations, including charities to ensure that their experience and expertise is passed on to Activity Station activities and social events wherever possible.
We are a not-for-profit organisation and both currently volunteer our spare time to Activity Station.