Meet Our Team
Joanne Barnes
Chief Executive Officer
Hi my name is Jo Barnes and I am the Charity Manager here at Play Inclusion Project. My journey with the charity began back in 2005. I was studying for a degree in Childhood and Youth Studies and a friend of mine encouraged me to sign up as a volunteer, to gain experience working with children and young people. I have honestly never looked back.
​
I joined the staff team in 2007 as a Preston Link Project Worker, funding changes saw that role evolve into Preston Activities Coordinator in 2011. In 2015 I took over the role of Charity Manager and built my own, what I like to call, PIP family - a team of skilled, qualified, passionate, caring (and a little bit crazy) people.
​
In my spare time I am kept busy spending time with my husband, our two children and 2 house rabbits. I enjoy reading, watching crime thrillers, going to gigs and a good old night out with the girls.
Malin Broughton
Finance Officer
My name is Malin. I joined Play Inclusion Project at the start of 2014, covering a maternity leave as a group coordinator in the Preston area and taking on the finance and admin tasks. I was made Finance Manager at the start of 2015 after some changes to the leadership team.
Over the years I have planned and delivered groups across all our areas but nowadays I am mostly office based which is keeping me very busy. Play Inclusion Project has grown significantly over the years, with many families across Blackpool and Lancashire accessing our services. We also employ a huge number of support staff for our weekly, weekend and holiday clubs. This is all carefully overseen by our amazing team of area managers, who always go over and above with great passion; providing an inclusive, caring, and supportive service to our whole PIP family. I am honoured to work alongside such outstanding individuals, and I thoroughly enjoy our in-house office days together.
When I’m not at work, I enjoy spending time with my darling husband, beautiful children, and Tay our dog in the outdoors - usually walking in the lakes or out with our boat. I am a keen singer and a longstanding member of a community choir, who perform regularly at local venues throughout the year. I also try and fit in some holidays abroad, and travel to Sweden at least once a year to see my family and friends.
Sharon Robinson
Training & Recruitment Officer
My name is Sharon and I have worked at PIP for 4 years in various roles. I started in 2019 as the Preston Coordinator and now I am the Recruitment Officer. I deal with staff training, and recruiting staff and volunteers, amongst many other things.
I have 2 gorgeous daughters and an American Bulldog called Lola.
​
I have many interests including wild swimming, holidays and surfing and I have been learning Spanish for over 2 years.
Beth Longstaff
Behaviour Support Specialist
Hi my name is Beth and I am the Behaviour Support Specialist / Training Officer at Play Inclusion Project. I started at Play Inclusion Project in 2022 as a support worker and after a few months I was successful at getting the position of Blackpool Area Manager. After twelve months as the Area Manager I was then promoted to Behaviour Support Specialist / Training Officer.
I left school in 2013 and since then I have worked in various different settings with children, young people and adults all with complex, multiple and profound Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities. Alongside this I have completed seven years studying at University where I obtained a Foundation Degree and BA Honours in Teaching and Learning Support, a PGCE with QTS in Primary Education, and a Masters Degree in Education – Special Educational Needs. The combination between theory and practice is something I have always found valuable and I was fortunate to gain experience at a local Special Education school for nearly ten years while I completed my studies. I have a passion for helping to remove barriers for children/young people who have additional needs through various different proactive strategies.
Luke Fuentes Moreno
Blackpool Area Manager
Social Media, Website & Marketing Manager
Hi my name is Luke and I’m the Blackpool Area Manager, also run the Social Media Platforms for Play Inclusion Project as well as complete & update all Risk Assessments. I have been at Play Inclusion Project for 2.5 years and have worked up from Support Worker, to Group Supervisor and in June got offered Activity Coordinator for Wyre.
I came with lots of experience after working at Red Marsh School in Thornton, and I am still so lucky I get to see many of the children at our groups.
When I’m not working at Play Inclusion Project you will see me all singing & all dancing at Blackout Theatre Company, which I help run. Blackout Theatre Company put on productions and run classes for children ages 4 to 18. I also love a good musical, family, friends and my dog Lily.
Ruby-May Jones
Preston Area Manager
Hi, my name is Ruby-May and I am one of the Preston Area Manager here at Play Inclusion Project. I started as a volunteer at PIP in 2017 at the age of 17 and by the age of 19 I became a Group Supervisor then got promoted to Area Manager in 2021 I have had the priviledge of working in all areas and meeting some amazing young people and staff! When I’m not at Play Inclusion Project I like to colour, spend time with my friends and family and I love a good boogie!
Sophie England
Preston Area Manager
Hi my name is Sophie and I am the Area Manager for the younger age group in the Preston Area. I started volunteering for Play Inclusion Project in 2014 as a support worker then work my way up to Group Supervisor, Group Leader & then I got promoted to Area Manager in 2019 after completing my BA Hons Degree in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion with applied Drama.
​
Outside of Play Inclusion Project, I also work with Tramshed Theatre Company which is an inclusive theatre company in Blackpool who recently performed on "Big Night Of Musicals 2024" on BBC One which I also was a part of. I love all things music and drama related, spending time with my fiancé, family and friends.
Emma Kirkham
Fylde Area Manager
Hi my name is Emma, I am the Area Manager for Fylde Youth Club and a Coordinator for Sign Hi Say Hi! I started as a volunteer whilst studying at college and became a Coordinator whilst studying for my BA Honours Degree in Health and Social Care.
​
Over the last 13 years, I have set-up and delivered many groups, across all the different areas Play Inclusion Project operates. I have met so many amazing people and had the opportunity to watch outstanding children grow into exceptional adults. Play Inclusion Project has offered so many different aspects of developing not only my education but also the skills I gained along the way.
The added bonus of working for Play Inclusion Project is it fitted around my two amazing children growing up, I am now a nanna to the most beautiful grandson. I now work part-time in the evenings and in a mainstream school supporting a child 1:1 with Autism. My spare time is family time with my grandson, nanna and fur baby Alfie, having nanna adventures.
Hayley Clarke
Wyre Area Manager
My name is Hayley and I am one of the Wyre Area Managers for Play Inclusion Project. I first started at Play Inclusion Project in 2012 as a volunteer supporting children in pre-school, whilst studying for my degree in Family Support and Wellbeing. I then went on to volunteering at Play Inclusion Projects after school clubs and holiday clubs and then worked my way up to becoming the Wyre Coordinator. When I am not at Play Inclusion Project I enjoy socialising with my friends and going to the theatre as well as spending time with my family. I am also a huge Harry Potter fan and love playing the new Harry Potter game.
Gaynor Brotherton
Wyre Area Manager
My name is Gaynor Brotherton and I am the Wyre Area Manager. I joined the Play Inclusion Project 2022 as a support worker, then over the summer became group supervisor before progressing to Area Manager this October, a role which I'm really excited about!
​
I have worked with children, young people and families for over 30 years in various roles both overseas and in the UK. Some of the positions held have included nursery nurse, private nanny, head childrens rep and family holiday rep, family support worker 0-18 year olds for children's social care, Best Start primary school support worker and family support worker for a local primary school.
I have supported lots of charities over the years and really enjoy planning, organising and running fundraisers in the community with my friends. In 2010 I was lucky enough to have been part of a group who trekked in Petra to raise over £50'000 for The British Heart foundation. I am looking forward to being part of the fundraising team at Play Inclusion Project.
Our Group Supervisors
Nikki Macraild
Blackpool Group Supervisor
Brandon Wallace
Blackpool Group Supervisor
​
Lily Ogden
Preston Group Supervisor
Megan Lawrenson
Preston Group Supervisor
​
Aileen Lyons-Bennett
Fylde Group Supervisor
​
Kirsty Shaw
Wyre Group Supervisor
​
