Meet The Team
Melissa Wainman
Director of TRUST Education DSL
Mel is a former Head of a SEMH school and an experienced curriculum leader and Designated Safeguarding Lead. She contributes expertise in HR, education leadership, safeguarding, and school premises management.
Katie Everson
Head of TRUST Education DSL
Kate is Head of School and specialises in children’s social care, safeguarding, and complex family assessments. She has significant expertise in supporting children with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and provides consultancy on safeguarding and SEND.
About Jo
Jo has worked in several schools over her long career as SENCO, including specialist and mainstream provisions. She has been a Principal Officer for the Local Authority and has vast legislative and operational knowledge of SEND.
In schools, she has led subject departments including centre lead of a medical provision within Lancashire for ASC / SEMH / EBSA (Emotionally based school avoidance) and has taught young people with SEND needs from ages 7 – 18.
Jo has more recently been the lead in a larger than average Mainstream Secondary School provision. The school gained a reputation for inclusive practices which led to her successfully campaigning for a SEND unit for SLCN and cognition and learning.
Over recent years she has completed her level 7 Specialist Teacher award and continued her study to MSc level in Psychology at Edgehill University. She applies her wealth of knowledge in her day-to-day work supporting schools and families.
Jo is a passionate advocate and skilled practitioner for children and young people with SEND which is rooted in her own journey as a SEND parent.
She now works both for Trust Education as SENCO, and also in an independent capacity as a Specialist Teacher to support Primary and Secondary Mainstream colleagues across Lancashire to ensure better outcomes for children and young people.
Jo Day
Melissa Taylor - RVN, NCert (AnBeh)
About Melissa
Melissa has been caring for animals professionally since qualifying as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2003. Her love of learning led her to gain a qualification in animal behaviour in 2015, and she also holds first aid and Lantra animal transport qualifications.
Melissa is the heart behind Ark Education Barn, where her passion for animals meets her dedication to supporting young people with Special Educational Needs. She believes that animals can play a powerful role in education, wellbeing, and personal growth.
Together with the Ark team, Melissa is excited to offer pupils the chance to work towards ASDAN certificates in animal care and husbandry. These hands-on courses take place at the Ark Barn, with transport provided by TRUST, and are perfect for pupils who have a real interest in animal welfare.
Leanne Barker
About Leanne
Leanne brings over 20 years of invaluable experience to the beauty, hairdressing, and media makeup education sectors. Not only is she an educator, Leanne also owns and operates her own successful hairdressing salon, ensuring that her expertise is always grounded in real-world industry experience. Her active involvement in both teaching and the salon business keeps her connected to the latest trends and techniques, which she regularly incorporates into her lessons.
As a dedicated mother of four children, Leanne has firsthand experience of the challenges and rewards of raising children, particularly those with Special Educational Needs (SEN). This personal experience has given her a deep understanding and empathy for students who may face similar challenges in their own learning journeys. Leanne is particularly skilled in adapting her teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of her students, ensuring that every individual is given the support and encouragement they need to succeed.
Her student-centered approach blends technical expertise with creativity, ensuring every pupil is supported to succeed. Many of Leanne’s former students have gone on to flourish in the beauty, fashion, and media sectors, often crediting her mentorship as a key part of their journey.
About Lesley
Lesley has over 25 years’ experience in safeguarding and pastoral support within education, working across both mainstream schools and alternative provisions. For the past 20 years, she has served as a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), ensuring that children and young people are safe, supported, and able to thrive.
She is passionate about giving every young person the best possible chance to reach their true potential—by being in the right setting, with the right people around them to inspire and support their journey. She strongly believes that when young people feel safe, valued, and encouraged, they can develop the confidence and resilience they need to succeed.
In addition to her safeguarding expertise, Lesley is a qualified life coach and trained in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). She integrates these approaches into her coaching practice to help young people better understand themselves, reframe challenges, and unlock their strengths. Through this work, she empowers them to build self-belief, set ambitious goals, and take positive steps toward their future.
Her mission is to inspire young people to see what is possible, support them in realising their full potential, and provide them with the tools and confidence to thrive in all areas of their lives.
Lesley Hurst
