Staff Team

Director

Contact: 01908 318140 / 07858 560 394

After graduating with an Honours Degree in Fine Art from the University of Wales in 1985, Adrian began his career as a professional documentary photographer on the Northamptonshire Heritage Interpretation Project which was set up to make a contemporary photo documentation of Northamptonshire, as well as process, print and archive the many thousands of historical prints and negatives held by the library. 

Following this, Adrian worked on a number of artist's residences in several schools delivering projects in photography and printmaking before moving  into teaching, initially part time and then full time.  

Adrian gained over 25 years' experience in the Further & Higher Education sector including 12 years as Head of The Creative & Performing Arts Department at M.K. College where he expanded the provision from Entry Level programmes up to Degree level. 

From 2012 to 2015 Adrian was Director of leading community arts charity, Inter-Action MK which worked to improve the life chances of people with support needs or disabilities or in challenging or vulnerable circumstances.   

In 2015, Adrian co -founded PHOENIX RISING:MK with his partner Sarah Bament.

Alongside running Phoenix Rising, Adrian maintains an independent career as a practising artist photographer with a track record of exhibitions on a regional and national level spanning over 35 years. Adrian's work can be seen on his website at www.adrianpinckard.com

Co-Director

Programme Coordinator & Art Lead

Contact: 01908 318140

Sarah has over 25 years’ teaching experience in both the mainstream and learning disabled sectors in Schools and Further education.  She also has wide experience of working in the youth sector as well as being a visiting artist providing creative workshops in schools and other settings. Sarah also worked as a freelance artist for many years undertaking various private commissions.

Sarah holds both an Honours Degree in Fine Art, a Masters Degree in Fine Art Printmaking and a post graduate teaching qualification.

Sarah has a passion for art and all things creative and working with children and adults with learning support and or disabilities.

After leaving full time teaching at Milton Keynes College, Sarah, along with her partner Adrian, established Phoenix Rising in 2015.

Support team Tuesdays to Thursdays

Art lead on Fridays 

Nicola joined Phoenix Rising in 2018 and leads/supports our art and Out & About sessions. Nicola has always been fortunate to have worked within a creative environment.

Nicola started her career working as a children's wear and lingerie designer/pattern cutter, designing for large retail outlets.  

She was a lecturer and Course Leader at M.K. College for nearly 20 years, teaching Fashion, Textiles, Surface Pattern and Mixed Media as well as providing pastoral support to groups and individual students. Nicola has a postgraduate teaching qualification.

Alongside this, Nicola also maintains her own working practice making handmade bespoke wedding bouquets and creating mixed media/textile artwork and accessories for interiors.

Lead responsibility Feelgood Fridays

& support team

Support team

Shade relocated to the UK in December 2020, previously having worked for three years as a live-in carer. She joined Phoenix Rising in June 2024.

Session Lead, 'Out & About' group 3

Safeguarding and S.E.N. Manager

It was while completing her BA Degree in Special Educational Needs Victoria joined us at Phoenix for work experience. It was such a good fit that both parties were keen to make it official and Victoria joined us and is now our S.E.N. and Safeguarding lead.

Victoria initially started her career in IT support managing teams of both incident and request management services. However IT was never something she was passionate about and she soon got tired of dreaming of spreadsheets. Following a career break spent looking after her young children, Victoria decided on a career change to something more fulfilling and worked in care and with SEN schools as a supply teaching assistant while attending university. It soon became clear that she had a passion for working in neurodiverse settings and working alongside individuals with learning difficulties and disabilities so consequently chose her degree to follow her passion and focus her career in the field of SEN as she could no longer imagine doing anything else! 

Support Team

Linky supports in Monday Music, Tuesday Media, 'Out & About' group 3 and Feelgood Fridays.

Support Team 

 Mindful Mondays

& 'Out & About' group 3.

Marketing lead

Sarah started her role at Phoenix Rising in February 2024. Previously Sarah was a community engagement officer for a domiciliary care organisation. She has a Certificate of Higher Education in Business & Healthcare.

Support Team

Chloe supports in a variety of sessions in a mainly 1:1 capacity.

"I didn’t really enjoy school or college but when I left college I started volunteering at Phoenix Rising. Then I was offered a wonderful opportunity to work at Phoenix and I took it! Best decision I’ve ever made.

I love working with Phoenix Rising because everyone is so kind and each day is so different but filled with so much joy! Everyone just always has a smile on their face and I feel so lucky to be part of an amazing team."

Session Lead, Out & About group 1; Supports in Art on Wednesdays.   

Jenny joined the team in 2018. Prior to that, Jenny spent 30 years fostering children, starting off with short term fostering then concentrated more on fostering children with Special Needs for longer terms.

In 2001 Jenny took a job as a Teaching Assistant at Milton Keynes College working with Learners with Learning Difficulties or Disabilities. She then went on to complete a course in tutoring and becoming a tutor in LLDD. Jenny  visited many different Day Care Centres where she taught Cookery skills as well as  teaching on the Life Skills Course.

Leads in 'Out & About' group 3

"I joined Phoenix Rising in 2021 and currently support sessions on Thursdays and also help out at their events. I also work at MK college supporting Learners with Learning Difficulties or Disabilities." 

Support Team

Terry supports in Art on Wednesdays & Fridays

Terry joined the team in 2023.  He studied at  Watford college of art and design where he specialised in illustration and cartooning. Terry worked abroad for two years where he drew children's illustrations for a vary of books as well as book covers and greeting cards. Terry has given numerous lectures on illustrating in mainstream schools as well as art lessons in special needs schools. 

Support Team, full time.

Max has been with Phoenix Rising since its inception way back in 2014 and is therefore Phoenix Rising's longest serving team member.

Max specialises primarily in offering 1-1 support for group members with specific communication needs across a range of sessions and activities. Combined with almost a decade of both voluntary and paid work, he has a varied range of experience, as well aiming to provide interpersonal skills that meets clients’ needs on their individual communication level.

Max is highly skilled and absolutely superb in supporting people with learning difficulties and disabilities and bringing out the best in individuals via his excellent communication skills.

Support Team & Volunteer

Julie joined Phoenix in September 2021 as a volunteer in Friday art sessions. 

Julie also works as a Speech and Language Therapist, a role she has had for over 30 years across various locations in Milton Keynes.   

Support Team

Donna supports in Art sessions.

Donna has a background in art and the theatre where she has worked as a costume designer and dresser for many years.

Volunteer

Moira joined Phoenix in January 2018  as a volunteer supporting Monday's Performing Arts sessions. She very much enjoyed her role supporting the group members in these sessions and used her previous experience of performing arts to help the group develop their skills, both socially and in the arts. She now supports the Photography group on a Wednesdays, which she loves. Moira worked as a teacher, for over 20 years, at Slated Row School, which caters for children with moderate to complex special educational needs, before she retired in July 2017. During her time there she taught students with additional learning needs and autism across the age ranges from 4-19 years. 

Support Team, Art sessions.

Olga is an artist who joined us in 2021 when she moved to Britain from Ukraine. She used to create engraved photographs and text on gravestones to commemorate clients' loved ones as well as her own paintings in acrylic, oil and a range of media.

She assists in many areas of our activities, including supporting Art sessions and Performing Arts (as well as looking after her husband and our colleague Andrew Hill!)

Her own work can be seen at savina-hill.com

Session Lead & Show Director: Performing Arts and works across a range of other sessions.

Administration Manager

Now freelance in the Arts in Education, Karina carries over 19 years of managing, teaching, writing and creative experience in both formal and private education establishments. Karina taught performing arts at M.K. College and was an Ofsted grade 1 standard teacher.

Karina programme managed and lectured across successful Performing Arts courses in Beds and Bucks and taught and managed privately across well known theatre schools.

Karina worked in partnership with an awarding body, writing professional qualifications and being part of a quality assessment team.

Karina has lead and developed creative arts sessions with PR:MK since it's founding in 2014.

Volunteer

We all call Mags " Marvellous Mags" but this is a highly inadequate nick-name and a gross understatement!

She is our longest serving volunteer and is a fantastic supporter of Phoenix Rising:MK giving so generously of her time & energy to help support our group members. 

Music & Singing: Open Mic Nights

Anita began singing in a three part harmony trio studying vocals and playing guitar. She was 15 and had no idea that a life in music was ahead.

She sang in duos playing contemporary Folk and country style music in Norway.

Music through the 80s included playing keyboard and bass guitar followed by work at holiday resorts planning events and shows.

Anita has worked in a number of schools for young people with support needs. She now leads and supports the music sessions at Phoenix Rising.

Music & Singing: Open Mic Nights

John’s early years included managing a  music shop specialising in all types of stringed  instruments before becoming a full time musician touring mainly Europe, Norway, Germany and Canary Islands.

Worked with bands in the 60s/70s as a guitar / vocalist and worked alongside many artists from that era followed by work in the entertainment industry for many years.

Music roots are country, rock and blues but he enjoys all genres of music.

Multi Media Mondays, Session lead, 'Out & About' group 2 and Music Lead, Feelgood Fridays.

Mike ("Random Mike") has been working as an artist, workshop leader, clown, fire performer, stilt walker, balloon modeller and all round entertainer for over twenty years spreading smiles, excitement and creativity. With extensive experience working with SEND and youth groups he is able to find connections and help students develop their confidence and abilities. Using a blend of music, art, theatre, circus, clown, mime, music, puppetry, costume, dance, song and story telling Mike has been able to make lasting changes in those he has worked with and has found great joy in students' achievements.

Before joining the Phoenix team he worked at MacIntyre charity for six years running music and dance sessions and was nominated three times for the Margery Newton Wright awards as outstanding frontline practitioner.

During lock down he ran Zoom music sessions and helped his key student to write and (after lock down) eventually perform a pantomime as part of his Trinity college Silver arts award.

Mike toured India with the charity Performers without Borders where he helped devise, choreograph and perform the public show as well as making props and costumes. The show was used to promote the charity and to inspire the students. Spending a month in each location teaching skills and performance techniques before the students themselves performed their very own show for their local community.

A.K.A Howard Whitton

Phoenix Rising's Resident D.J.

Howard or 'Mr. H' as he is also known has been a group member of Phoenix Rising since it began in 2014! 

In addition to being a group member with excellent skills in art, photography and performing arts, he is also our resident D.J. who supports our Open Mic Nights as well as other events.