Our Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Behind every young person at Futures-Essex is a team of dedicated, compassionate professionals who believe that relationships come before results.
We know that many of the young people we work with have experienced barriers to education, so our role is about far more than delivering lessons. We take time to build trust, understand each individual's story and create a safe, nurturing environment where they can rediscover confidence, develop resilience and experience success at their own pace.
Our team brings together expertise in education, therapeutic practice, SEND, SEMH, mentoring and wellbeing. By working collaboratively with families, schools and professionals, we provide personalised support that recognises each young person's strengths, interests and aspirations.
At Futures-Essex, we don't expect young people to fit into a system. Instead, we adapt our approach to meet their needs, creating meaningful learning experiences that help them feel safe, valued and capable of achieving their potential.
Above all, we believe that when a young person feels understood, accepted and genuinely connected to the adults around them, positive change becomes possible.
Management
Founder
Lauren Collin
Lauren founded Futures-Essex with the belief that every young person deserves to feel safe, understood and able to access education in a way that works for them. She is passionate about building trusting relationships with young people and families, believing that meaningful progress happens when people feel listened to, valued and supported.
Manager and SENCO
Pippa Edlin
Pippa is an experienced and inclusive teacher who is passionate about ensuring every young person has the opportunity to thrive. She enjoys finding creative ways to support a wide range of learning needs and is committed to helping every learner reach their potential. Outside of work, Pippa enjoys running, reading and spending time with her family.
Therapeutic Lead
Anna Jacobs
Anna brings over 20 years of experience in education, specialising in supporting young people with SEMH. She is deeply committed to relational and trauma-informed practice, believing that meaningful progress happens through trusted relationships and emotional safety. Anna is currently completing her SENCo qualification. Outside of work, Anna loves the beach, paddle boarding and baking
Teaching Team
Rachael
Rachael is a qualified teacher with experience across a range of educational settings. As a mum to a child with additional needs, she brings empathy, patience and understanding to her work, believing that trusting relationships are the foundation for learning. She is passionate about creating calm, flexible and supportive learning environments.
Wendy
Wendy is a highly experienced teacher. She is a qualified SENCO, Specialist Teacher, specialist assessor for Dyslexia, and holds a master’s degree in Specific Learning Difficulties SpLD. Wendy is passionate about identifying individual learning needs and helping learners develop confidence, and the skills they need to succeed.
Phil
Phil is an experienced English teacher with over 30 years in education, including the last 10 years specialising in SEND and AP. He is passionate about helping young people reconnect with learning, building confidence through personalised approaches. Outside of work, Phil enjoys travelling, cycling and music, and plays the oboe in local groups and orchestras.
Chloe
Chloe is an experienced English teacher with over 12 years in education. She is passionate about creating an inclusive, nurturing environment where every young person feels valued, supported and inspired to succeed. Outside of work, Chloe enjoys spending time with her two young children.
Liz
Liz has been a Secondary Science teacher for 25 years, teaching all three sciences. Passionate about inspiring a love of science, she enjoys helping students explore the subject at their own pace—whether out of curiosity or in pursuit of qualifications. Liz also animal enthusiasts, sharing their home with two black cats, tropical fish, and a lively tank of Sun beetles.
Vicki
Vicki is a dedicated and caring Maths teacher with 28 years of experience across primary and secondary education. She is passionate about creating nurturing learning environments where every young person feels valued, understood and supported to achieve their potential, with strong relationships at the heart of her practice.
Sarah
Sarah has over 20 years of experience, specialising in SEN and alternative education. She is passionate about supporting children’s learning through practical and physical activities. Sarah is a keen gym-goer and horse rider, and she never shies away from an adrenaline-fuelled activity. Known for her bubbly and chatty nature, she brings energy and enthusiasm wherever she goes.
Anna
Anna is a primary school teacher who is passionate about making learning fun, engaging, and purposeful. She believes in a holistic approach.
Outside the classroom, Anna enjoys knitting, drawing, writing children’s stories, and spending time with her husband and children. She has even published a children’s book that she wrote and illustrated herself.
Megan
Home Ed & Wellness Tutor
Megan is a Qualified Teacher, Wellness Support Specialist, and OFSTED-registered Childminder with a warm and calming nature. She is dedicated to supporting young people and promoting their overall wellbeing, with a passion for making learning fun, engaging, and accessible for all.
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louise
Transition / Reintegration Tutor
Louise brings over 25 years’ experience supporting children and young people across education, Alternative Provision and SEND services. She is passionate about building trusting relationships, recognising individual strengths and helping young people develop confidence, wellbeing and a sense of their own potential.
Therapeutic Team
Sarah
Sarah supports young people to feel safe, settled and confident as they begin their journey at Futures-Essex. With experience in local schools, she builds trusting relationships and helps learners prepare for their next steps with confidence and independence. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys keeping active and making the most of everyday life with family and friends.
Louisa
Lou is an experienced artist educator and youth support practitioner with a background in illustration, design, and creative education. She has worked extensively with SEND and SEMH learners, using the arts as a tool for confidence-building, self-expression, and resilience. Driven by a passion for supporting neurodivergent young people
David
David is a qualified teacher with many years of experience seeing potential in students, believing in them and helping them to find ways of making a difference to their own lives. He loves to make learning opportunities from any interest, idea or spark of inspiration - and always aims to help develop purpose and find joy
Emma
Emma is passionate about sharing her love of photography with young people, helping them to express themselves creatively and develop new skills. As a mum, she understands the importance of nurturing confidence and individuality, and she brings patience and encouragement to every lesson.
Dan
Dan is Ember's handler and is currently completing the PAWS Therapy Dog training programme. Alongside supporting therapeutic sessions, he is an Ironman, Triathlon and a FA Football Coach. (pending UEFA C) Dan is passionate about helping young people build confidence and resilience.
Ember
Meet Ember, our therapy dog in training and a valued member of the Futures team. Ember is part of our therapeutic approach, helping to create a calm, supportive environment where young people feel safe and understood.
Amy
Amy is a Qualified Teacher and a Children’s/ Teens Yoga Teacher. She is dedicated to promoting wellbeing, mindfulness and an understanding of the body for young people. Amy enjoys yoga, Pilates and spending time with her family and friends.
Work with us
We're always looking to connect with passionate, caring professionals who share our belief that every young person deserves to feel safe, understood and able to succeed. Whether you're an experienced teacher, mentor, therapist or specialist practitioner, what matters most to us is your ability to build genuine relationships and see the potential in every young person.
Our team is united by a therapeutic, trauma-informed approach. We work collaboratively, support one another and celebrate the small moments that often lead to the biggest breakthroughs. We value creativity, flexibility and a willingness to think differently, recognising that no two young people are the same.
Working with us means becoming part of a team that puts wellbeing first—for our young people, their families and each other. We invest in high-quality training, reflective practice and ongoing professional development, creating an environment where everyone can continue to learn and grow.
If you're looking for a role where you can make a genuine difference and be part of something meaningful, we'd love to hear from you.
