Meet our Team
Stephanie Wheen – Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Stephanie founded Gympanzees in 2016 after learning of the lack of accessible options for exercise and play for disabled children. Gympanzees has grown from an idea to the recent purchase of a 43,000 sqft building and the launch of a multi-million-pound capital appeal to transform it into the UK’s first fully inclusive leisure facility for disabled children. Gympanzees has won a host of awards, including a Queen’s Award for Innovation, and Stephanie has recently won a Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award, one of only two awarded in Bristol. Prior to founding Gympanzees, Stephanie worked as a disabled children’s physiotherapist for 20 years in the NHS and founded a private children’s physiotherapy practice in Bristol from 2012-2022.
Fran Garland - Chief Operations Officer
Fran has over 20 years of experience in the disability sector. She is very passionate about providing equal and inclusive opportunities for anyone with any disability.
Having worked primarily with people with a wide range of different disabilities and additional needs, Fran knew from the moment she found out about Gympanzees that she had to be involved.
In her spare time Fran loves spending time with her 2 young boys and very cute sausage dog! Crafting and making is her bag. “Although my garden doesn’t reflect this currently I am green fingered. My house had a great selection of succulents, plants and cacti”.
Emily Thorn - Assistant Operations Manager
Emily has worked in the finance sector for 20 years. Emily is highly organised and passionate about diversity and inclusion.
Emily is our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion champion at Gympanzees and said “I feel passionate about the inclusivity that Gympanzees offers, embracing people’s backgrounds whether it be disability, race, religion. With diversity at the heart, we can really embrace everyone’s uniqueness, bring in new ideas and learn from each other”.
Emily has a passion for baking, previously running her own small business and has even made wedding and birthday cakes for other members of the team!
Jack Lewis - Director of Fundraising
Jack brings over 15 years of fundraising expertise, specialising in high-net-worth philanthropy.
He previously worked at The Prince’s Trust, enhancing their regional events and building corporate partnerships. At NSPCC, he served as Head of Philanthropy, leading a team of 14 and supporting major donors to protect children nationwide.
Jack is passionate about and committed to diversity and inclusion. He has lived experience parenting a neuro-diverse child, who has also enjoyed many happy hours at the Gympanzees Pop Ups.
Sophie Brown - Finance Director
Sophie joined Gympanzees as Finance Director in September 2024. She is a Chartered Accountant with a wealth of experience in the Charity sector, having previously worked as Financial Controller at CARE International UK and Head of Financial Control at Young Lives vs Cancer. Prior to her move into the Charity Sector, she worked in Audit for 15 years, training with the Audit Commission then moving on to Grant Thornton and BDO, where she managed Commercial, Charity and not for profit external audits. Sophie has a strong technical background and commercial acumen, and is skilled in developing and strengthening governance, risk management and control environment frameworks, and advising Trustee Boards and Senior Leadership Teams. She enjoys delivering financial transformation and improvements, and working with stakeholders to develop pipelines, budgets and cashflow forecasts.
Outside of work, Sophie enjoys reading, walking her Cockerpoo and spending time with her husband and two children. At weekends she is often outside in all weathers helping her daughter learn to ride their loan pony Fern.
Shereen Powell - Finance Assistant
Shereen has been working in Finance for nine years, but in the summer of 2023, she decided to take some time off with her 4-year-old twins before they start Primary school in 2024.
“During this break, I realised I wanted to be part of something more meaningful when I returned to work – and I found just that!”
She started volunteering at Gympanzees after seeing posts about our new home near her home. In June 2024, she was offered the Finance Assistant role and jumped at the chance to join the team.
Having a son with additional needs, Shereen’s family knows first-hand how tough it can be to find activities and places where he feels safe and comfortable. They attended their first Pop Up at Easter and used the Lending Library, and both kids loved it.
She loves spending time with her family and catching up with her friends in her spare time.
Victoria Noël - Trusts and Foundations Manager
Victoria has worked as a fundraiser at performing arts conservatoires in London for ten years. Developing a range of funding streams to secure scholarship support, she has enjoyed seeing young people thrive whilst doing what they love.
Having recently moved to the South-West, Victoria is looking forward to enjoying all that the area has to offer. She’s also hoping to explore further afield in her campervan.
“When I heard about Gympanzees for the first time I was bowled over by what a good idea it was and couldn’t believe that it didn’t already exist. From personal experience I knew what a facility like this would mean to so many people and I really wanted to be a part of making that happen!”
Sally Howse - Executive Secretary
Sally has over 20 years of experience in the care, administration and charity sector, she is passionate about equality.
Sally has worked as an executive assistant in education and has also supported people with complex needs and life limiting conditions.
In her spare time, Sally enjoys music, gardening and sewing.
Jenny Davies - Fundraising Officer
Jenny has first-hand experience with disability as a parent and individual, Jenny herself is diagnosed with ADHD, and her son is autistic. Jenny is passionate about raising awareness around neurodiversity, showing what neurodivergent individuals can achieve when given the right environment and opportunities.
Jenny previously worked as a cabin crew member for ten years. She is a trained makeup artist and the founder of Perfect Sense Clothing Co, a clothing brand encouraging more positive conversations around neurodiversity.
“I can completely relate to the struggles faced by many of our families, so of course, Gympanzees was something I wanted to be a part of. Working for such a fantastic cause and with the best group of caring, hard-working people I’ve ever met is a privilege!”.
Hannah Penfold - Fundraising Assistant
Hannah has been a dedicated parent participant with Gympanzees since the very first pop-up session in 2018, regularly attending with her disabled son, Frankie, and his two siblings. Her journey with the charity is deeply personal, and her passion for Gympanzees shines through in all she does.
Although new to the fundraising sector, Hannah brings a wealth of knowledge and first hand experience related to disability, gained both as a mother and from her previous role as a Learning Support Assistant at a special needs school. Her professional background also includes eight years as a Cabin Crew member and as an Events Assistant.
In her spare time, Hannah enjoys creating lasting memories with her family through fun activities and travelling. She is thrilled to embark on this new role and feels truly honoured to be part of a charity that holds such a special place in her heart and the lives of her family.
Kimberley Britton - Head of Marketing
Kimberley has worked on marketing campaigns for over ten years in the commercial and charity sectors. She has experience in live events, sports marketing and delivering national behaviour change campaigns in Wales.
She was a Mental Health Champion for the Time to Change Wales campaign, speaking in the Senedd about ending mental health stigma. Kim is neurodiverse and has dyspraxia. She is passionate about showing that doesn’t just mean clumsy. “Dyspraxia affects coordination, balance and movement but also how you learn new skills, speak, think, and remember information at work and home. I think my dyspraxia has only made me more determined when taking on tasks and being creative!”.
In her spare time, Kim is a qualified dance fitness instructor and a self-proclaimed movie geek. Ask her any question about the Oscars!
Chloe Collins - Digital Marketing Officer
Chloe has over 7 years’ worth of experience in the care sector and over 10 years in the creative & marketing sector. She has worked with both adults and children to access an abundance of activities in home or out in the community over the years.
A parent sent Chloe the application for her role, knowing she would be an ideal candidate to fit the role. Having met the team, and attending the Pop-ups with her clients she knew she shared very similar visions with Gympanzees for the future of this sector.
In her own time Chloe loves spending time with friends & family. She loves anything creative and dabbles in her own illustrative projects and pursuits. “Creating & drawing, (especially) is what makes my heart happy! I love to spread this creativity throughout my various career roles!”
Leila Rogers - Lending Library Coordinator and Marketing Assistant
Leila was first introduced to Gympanzees as a parent; she had attended Gympanzees Pop Ups with her son and used the Lending Library during the lockdown.
In October 2020, she started volunteering for the Lending Library. She was soon offered an official position in the marketing team to help with all things Gympanzees! A year into her work with Gympanzees, Leila was given the opportunity to take on the Lending Library service full-time, which she happily accepted.
Leila is an asset to the team; she assists with social media and managing the website and has excellent knowledge and awareness of disabilities and life as a SEND parent.
Leila is from Latvia and is an incredible make-up artist, often being asked to work on local shows and productions in her spare time.
Lucy Spielberg - Family Liaison Officer
Lucy is a children’s entertainer with a passion for play. She sees play as one of the most important activities every child can do. And at Gympanzees, they get to do just that. Lucy said – “It’s probably the most rewarding job I have ever had.”
Lucy started at Gympanzees during covid and helped to set up and run the Lending Library. She is now assisting with all things Pop Up and other projects, as well as volunteering at the Lending Library.
Lucy owns a successful children’s entertainment business striving for circus entertainment to be more accessible and inclusive.
During her free time she loves being active, bike rides, hiking and enjoys reading a good book.
Tom Routley - Volunteer Admin Assistant
Tom is a university student studying Politics and International Relations.
He was introduced to Gympanzees by Stephanie Wheen, who is his physio. Tom has attended all the Gympanzees Pop Ups! He is on the Service Delivery Committee and helped to create a room for older users at Gympanzees. He also volunteers at the Pop Ups in reception and in the office doing admin tasks.
During his free time, Tom enjoys going to the gym, playing tennis and keeping up to date with politics and current affairs.
