Who we are

image of Claire and Sam

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.

Image of Humphrey Hawksley

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.

Image of Hester Larkin

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.

Image of Humphrey Hawksley

Humphrey Hawksley

Humphrey Hawksley is an author, commentator and former BBC World Affairs Correspondent. He has a son with special needs.

Picture of Christine Chittick

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.

image of Claire and Sam

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

To provide people with disabilities access to a range of fun and inclusive activities and social events in their local area that they can choose from.

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.