Why we matter

Why we matter

Families need a safe space to come to. An environment away from worry and stress.

Babyzone has removed traditional barriers to accessing early years support. It is completely free for a family to attend and our warm staff welcome all families on their arrival.

Families need evidence-based classes and activities to participate in together.

Babyzone collaborates with expert practitioners which means that families have access to over 25 classes per day per site. Local partnerships strengthen the support for parents/carers - we work with local organisations so we can give our families the support they need in one place.

Families need people and a community they can trust.

We were incubated by OnSide and continue to work with local Youth Zone teams to support some of the most disadvantaged communities in the UK.

Meet the team

Board of Trustees

  • Charles Mindenhall, Chair

    Charles Mindenhall is Co-Founder of Blenheim Chalcot, the UK’s leading digital venture builder, and has built over 40 companies since 1998.

    Charles is the Chair of OnSide Youth Zones nationally and the Chair of the Future Youth Zone in Barking and Dagenham, as well as being a trustee of Mental Health Innovations (which was spun off from the Royal Foundation following the Heads Together programme).

    Charles has a MA in Philosophy and Psychology from Christ Church, Oxford University, and was formerly at Monitor Company.

  • Jyoti Cushion

    Jyoti is Head of Legal & HR at Blenheim Chalcot providing a range of advice & guidance to the Blenheim Chalcot portfolio companies across various sectors including financial services.

    Prior to joining central Blenheim Chalcot, Jyoti spent ten years as General Legal Counsel at TDX Group (a Blenheim Chalcot company) until it was sold to Equifax in 2014.

    Prior to this Jyoti was in private practice specialising in commercial litigation.

    Jyoti lives in Nottingham where she is mum to two teenage daughters and 3 dogs all of whom who take up most of her patience…

  • Lara Mindenhall

    Lara was a Strategy Consultant and Monitor Company, Vice President Consumer marketing at EMI Music, and has worked across several of the Blenheim Chalcot technology ventures. Lara has an MBA from INSEAD, an MSc (Economics) from the University of Oxford and an Honours degree from the University of Cape Town.

  • Lucy Elwes

    Lucy has worked for over 20 years in the investment management industry. She is a founding partner of Theleme Partners, a global investment firm, based in London, which manages assets on behalf of global institutions.

    She graduated from Christ Church, Oxford University with a degree in Modern Languages and is a Chartered Financial Analyst Charterholder.

    Lucy serves as a volunteer and mentor for the GAIN network (Girls are INvestors), a not for profit organisation seeking to encourage and support women into the investment management industry. She is also a member of the Christ Church Development Board.

  • Sarah Hesz

    Sarah has spent the last 8 years working in start-ups in the parent tech space. She is CCO at childcare app Bubble and previously co-founded Mush, an app to help support the mental health of new mums. Mush was responsible for creating hundreds of thousands of meet-ups and friendships for new parents.

    Prior to start-ups she spent the first decade of her career working in advertising agencies in London and Boston - focusing on new business and growth. She has three kids and loves to run in Richmond Park.

  • Paddy Radcliffe

    Paddy has nearly 20 years’ experience working with a range of civil society organisations, from nationally recognised charities and public bodies to local and community-based organisations and social enterprises, as Chair, CEO and consultant/advisor. He is passionate about the ‘art of the possible’ and committed to inspiring, influencing and delivering sustainable, inter-generational social impact.

    The early part of his career was in the marketing industry, in London and South Africa, developing campaigns for both global and local brands.

    He is currently Interim CEO of The Peel Institute, the 125 year old community organisation based in Clerkenwell, London. He has an entrepreneurial streak, including a (successful!) appearance on ‘Dragons’ Den’.

Heads of Babyone

  • Jessica Barnaschone, Head of Babyzone Croydon

    Jessica has been supporting families with young children for over 20 years. As a mum of two, living in Croydon with her husband, Jessica has first hand experience of understanding the challenges faced by families with young children. Prior to joining Babyzone, she was a primary school teacher with a specialism in early years education and has previously held senior leadership roles in large Greater London primary schools. She has led training in education across local authorities and taught Early Years apprenticeships in Further Education.

    Jessica has an MA in Early Years Education from University College London.

  • Perre Daniel, Head of Babyzone Barking & Dagenham

    Perre lives in Barking & Dagenham. She has a 5 year old son. Perre has been involved with Babyzone from the very start in 2019. She began supporting Babyzone as an Operations Officer and was promoted to Head of Babyzone Barking & Dagenham in January 2022.

    Perre has a wealth of experience as an events manager working on high profile projects such as the largest annual youth sporting event in Europe, big festivals and corporate marketing events. She worked at Future Youth Zone in the reception and fundraising teams before she joined Babyzone.

  • Naomi Tracey, Head of Babyzone Barnet

    Naomi has been working with children of all ages for over 19 years through charities, local organisations, businesses and local boroughs including Brent and Ealing. After joining Babyzone as an operations officer, she was given the opportunity to support the charity as the Head of Barnet. She has significant experience developed through her many years of working as a teacher, coach, volunteer and arts & crafts facilitator.

    As a parent with three children she is aware of how early development can greatly impact a child in later years and is passionate and dedicated to create a fun environment where each child can thrive.

    Naomi has experience in a number of leadership roles where she was able to pass on skills, provide training and encourage others. As a qualified seamstress she has headed up large alteration departments at a number of Luxury fashion companies and currently runs arts, craft and sewing classes for all ages in the local community. She enjoys volunteering as a youth worker where she organises various events for young children and teenagers.

  • Katelyn Fyvie, General Manager

    Katelyn lives in South London and was born in South Africa. She joined Babyzone in 2023 and manages the three existing Babyzone’s and is excited to be apart of the team opening two new Babyzone’s in 2024.

    Katelyn has a heart for people and loves to be apart of the impact Babyzone is having on the local community. She has loved meeting some of the families attending Babyzone’s.

    Katelyn has a BCom in Management Sciences from Stellenbosch University, a MSc in International Marketing from Hult Business School, and an AdvDip in Marketing, Advertising and Communications from Red and Yellow Creative Business School.