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Senior Management Team

The Merlin MS Centre team is made up of a diverse group of staff, trustees and volunteers whose skils and professional experience help deliver a range of specialist therapies, events and communications.  The team is lead by the charity's senior management team who work together to provide a Centre of excellence to the people of Cornwall. 

Alana Timmins- Chief Executive 

I join the team at Merlin MS Centre in October 2018.  Prior to this I was a practice manager within a very busy inner city GP practice.  I have also worked in the pharmaceutical/medical industry in various sales/marketing role and achieved a distinction in my ABPI pharmaceutical examination. I have a BSc (hons) in Podiatry and have successfully set up and run my own Podiatry practice. I also worked as a locum podiatrist in North Devon.
 
As the Chief executive of the Merlin MS Centre I have over all responsibility for:  
  • Smooth running of the Centre 
  • Looking after the general well being of the staff, volunteers and Centre users
  • Ensuring our expenditure is in line with our income
  • I directly manage the Income Generation Manager and Clinical Lead
  • Work closely with the board of trustees with regard to governance and reporting our financial position
  • Moving Merlin MS Centre to its next level by forming relationships and partnerships with the NHS and other providers
 I live in Plymouth with my husband of 21 years, Gary and my cat Bluebell. I enjoy going to antiques and collectors fairs, beach combing and sea fishing 

 Melissa King- Clinical Lead

I joined the Merlin Team in 2012 as the sole member of the therapy department. Seven years on and I head up a fantastic team of therapy assistants.We continue to have support from Kath Smith, our consultant Occupational Therapist.  Together with the team we run the therapy gym and hydro pool. I also oversee all other therapy services which includes Respite, Oxygen therapy and the Health and Wellbeing therapies.I qualified with my BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy from University of Wales, College of Medicine (Cardiff) in 2004.  I then completed junior and senior rotational posts within the NHS working in Wales and London.  After this I headed oversees for 3 years travelling as much as I could and working as a senior inpatient Physiotherapist in both New Zealand and Australia.  When I returned to the UK in 2011 I worked as a locum therapist in a brain injury rehabilitation unit in Birmingham, and for social services in Westminster before moving to Cornwall and starting work at the Merlin MS Centre.I live in Newquay with my boyfriend Ollie and our rescue dog Charlie-Roger.  I have competed internationally in Triathlon, including guiding for one of Team GBs visually impaired para-triathletes.   I enjoy surf lifesaving; swimming; stand up paddleboarding; I go out in the water with a surf board but you cant call it surfing; cycling and running (and continue to compete in whatever challenges my coach sets me)…and of course walking with Charlie!       
 
Sarah Snell- Income Generation Manager 

I joined the Merlin MS Centre in January 2012. Prior to this I was the PR and Fundraising Manager for Cornwall Hospice Care for over eight years and worked in journalism and public relations in London and Essex for several years. I am a qualified NCTJ trained newspaper journalist, hold the Communications, Marketing and Advertising Diploma and have recently completed a two-year NVQ/ILM Level 5 in Leadership and Management.

.As a member of the Senior Management Team, my main duties are:

  • Overall responsibility for the development of income streams, ensuring annual budgets and long-term targets are achieved.
  • Develop, inspire and motivate the whole team to deliver their objectives and develop their own skills and expertise in their roles, providing ongoing guidance and support for the team.
  • To attend Board of Trustees meetings providing reports on achievements against income targets and marketing objectives.
  • Act as the organisational expert on all income generation activities, ensuring they are undertaken according to industry best practice and statutory legislation.
  • Ensure that all income generation is undertaken in an effective and efficient way maximising the return on investment to the charity and supporting the team to increase funding streams.

I am a mum to two boys one at university and one at Truro College. I have lived in Polgooth for 23 years and in my leisure time I go to Yoga, enjoy coast and country walk with my dog Scrumpy and partner Richard and love socialising with friends.

 

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