About Us

Us in a Bus is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, specialising in providing high quality, effective, innovative and unique services for people who we may find ‘difficult to reach’.

We work with a wide range of people who have profound learning disabilities, complex needs and sensory processing differences, all of whom find communication a challenge. The aim of our work is to create opportunities for people to fully express themselves. The therapeutic impact of this can be seen in people’s increased confidence and willingness to engage with others. We explore this with our participants through the relationships we build together, ensuring that those relationships are based on trust, respect and shared experiences.

Our Vision

Us in a Bus’ vision is of a society where people with profound learning disabilities, complex needs and sensory processing differences have the opportunities to communicate and connect that others take for granted.

Our Mission

We aim to transform the lives of people with profound learning disabilities and complex needs by:

  • Designing and delivering the highest quality, effective and innovative services.
  • Developing and sharing our techniques with those caring for, or supporting, people with profound learning disabilities, complex needs and sensory processing differences.
  • Working in partnership with others to identify needs and create solutions.
  • Encouraging and influencing others to consider the emotional well-being and communication needs of those with profound learning disabilities, complex needs and sensory processing differences.

Guiding Principles

Celebrating People

We embrace differences, preferences and individuality

Engaging the Senses

We use creativity and vibrancy to communicate and stimulate

Expert & Specialist

We skilfully and passionately deliver our services

Transforming Lives

We strive to connect with, empower and improve the lives of some of the most isolated people

Warm & Playful

We believe to have fun is to be alive

Challenge. Question. Explore

We find innovative and unique ways to achieve the best outcomes

Our history

In 1990 Us in a Bus was set up by Scope to provide leisure and communication opportunities for adults with profound learning disabilities in four long stay hospitals in Surrey.

Marianne Hecker and Janet Gurney were co-founders and they visited hospital wards housing around 40 people each who would share an hour long Interactive Session once a week. Our session might have been the only opportunity for any sort of social interaction.
During the 20th Century large numbers of people with learning disabilities were moved into long stay hospitals in Surrey from all over the country. This movement has increased the proportion of people with a learning disability in the general population of the county and as a rough estimate Surrey has approximately 34% more adults requiring supported care than the UK average.

For three years, Scope managed the Us in a Bus project and then in 1993, Us in a Bus became a Registered Charity in its own right. With the advent of care in the community, those we supported moved to care homes so we followed them and moved our work from hospitals to their new homes. This meant fewer people per session and allowed for a more focused approach.

Us in a Bus now enables the social interaction of around 200 people with profound learning disabilities, complex needs and sensory processing differences each week,  including a number of people who we first met in 1990.

Our Work

Us in a Bus is a registered charity working with people who may be isolated and can find communicating with the world (and the people in it) a challenge.

The people we support have profound learning disabilities, complex needs and sensory processing differences. They may find the everyday things that we take for granted – talking to friends, sharing a joke, choosing what to eat – a huge challenge. They often also have sensory and physical disabilities that make life difficult.
What we aim to do is to cut through some of these complexities and concentrate on what makes us all the same: the need to connect and communicate with each other in a way that means something to us and that contributes positively to our emotional well-being.

In practice this means getting to know those we support, normally on a one-to- one basis in their homes, and then developing ideas and actions that may lead to a connection being made. This might, for example, mean playing a simple game; creating a sound or a song; testing and exploring different textures or simply initiating a touch of the hand. When we meet someone, we don’t know what it might be that creates a connection, but what we do know is that it will be different for everyone. To find out more please click here which will take you to our Interactive Sessions page where you will find some practical examples of our work.

We also help those caring for, or supporting, people with profound learning disabilities, complex needs and sensory processing differences explore how to use Intensive Interaction 24/7. We believe that considering the communication and emotional well-being needs of those we care for, or support, should be integral to their lives, not an afterthought or an add-on. To find out more about the training we deliver please click here.

Our team

We come from a variety of backgrounds. Many of us have worked as support staff in residential settings at some point in our careers, which gives us a useful perspective when we are visiting our clients in their homes. Some of us have backgrounds in the creative arts – we have actors, artists and musicians amongst us. Others come from a background of working with children in special educational settings. What each of us has is the willingness to try to see the world from our clients’ viewpoint, including the challenges they face. We all have the ability to be creative with communication and imaginative with activities, whilst making sure we are observing and respecting our clients’ responses.

Board of Trustees

As a Registered Charity, Us in a Bus is required to have a Board of Trustees to ensure we comply with our objectives and charity regulations.

But more than that, we use our Trustees as a sounding board, critical friends and to utilise their specific skills and knowledge. The day-to-day running of the organisation is the responsibility of the Chief Executive and the Management Team, but they provide regular reports to the Trustees to allow them to best monitor performance, provide clear strategic direction and also to protect the good name and values of Us in a Bus. Our Trustees question, probe, advise and, if required, challenge the Management Team to ensure the best outcome for the organisation.

We are currently recruiting for new Trustees to join the Board. If you are interested in finding out more please go to the Work With Us page for details.

Work with us

Board of Trustees

Every Trustee brings something different to Us in a Bus, be it skills, knowledge or experience. Such expertise might be offered by providing comments on draft documents, helping staff to focus on key issues, sharing the experience of having a family member who has profound learning difficulties, alerting staff to new policy and practice developments in their field or providing a business perspective on decisions. Being a Trustee of Us in a Bus is a serious, but, we hope, rewarding job. We are currently looking to recruit new Trustees to the Board. If you are interested in finding out more please contact the office for an Information Pack at admin@usinabus.org.uk

Interaction Practitioners and Sessional Workers

Can you use your creativity and imagination to engage adults with profound learning disabilities and complex needs in interactive, sociable experiences? Do you know about Intensive Interaction? Would you like the chance to use it to connect with people who find communication a challenge? We are always looking for people to work with us as either as Sessional Workers on an ad-hoc basis or as Practitioners. If you are self-motivated, energetic and flexible please contact admin@usinabus.org.uk in the first instance for an informal discussion about the role. A DBS check is required for these positions.

Volunteers

As with all small charities, having a team of volunteers is hugely important and can make such a difference. Whether it is manning a stall at a community event or providing administrative skills for an hour or two, we all have something of value to offer. Volunteering can be a very rewarding way to utilise skills and spare time, so if you feel you could contribute to our work connecting lives in any way we would love to hear from you. Please email admin@usinabus.org.uk

To view our current vacancies please click here.  If you are interested please express an interest

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Victoria Goody

Victoria Goody

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

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Victoria joined Us in a Bus in January 2016 as Chief Executive. On behalf of the Trustees, she implements the strategy of the charity, working across delivery, fundraising and operations. No two days are the same – writing budgets to hoovering the floor.

In previous roles, she worked in Energy and Consumer Affairs; she has trained Detector dogs for the Australian Border Agency, been on the Marketing Board of Dulwich Picture Gallery and been Chairman of Brigitte Trust, a Dorking-based charity for people with a terminal illness. Victoria spent four years in Australia, working for the State Energy Regulator and having a career break to start a family. She has four degrees and lives in Dorking with her husband and 11 year old daughter, Charlotte. Outside of work she can usually be found doing Pilates, sewing or quarry swimming.

Anne Laney

Anne Laney

Practice Manager

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Anne has been working for Us in a Bus since 2011 as an Interaction Practitioner and took up her new role as Practice Manager on 9thJuly 2018.

She graduated with a BA (Hons) Mus Ed from Kingston Polytechnic and discovered almost immediately that she was drawn to people with PMLD. Having worked within social care for most of her career, she was delighted to discover that her natural way of working with people with communication challenges and profound disabilities was actually a well-recognised technique called Intensive Interaction. Us in a Bus has given her incredible opportunities to perfect her Intensive Interaction and to use other skills such as music and playfulness as a way of creating environments where engagement is possible. The move to Practice Manager has enabled her to explore and develop her presentation and training abilities and to support the team with their professional development.

Working with a team of such like-minded and dedicated people is a delight and she feels very fortunate to be part of Us in a Bus.

Other than working for Us in a Bus Anne has a busy life. She plays principle clarinet in Windsor and Maidenhead Orchestra and Beenham Wind Orchestra, she acts as steward for Associated Board music examinations at Reading Music Centre several times a term. This provides a fulfilling and exciting glimpse into the future of music making, Anne’s other great love.

Trina Pearse

Trina Pearse

Fundraising and events Manager

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Trina has been responsible for funding applications at Us in a Bus since 2015, her background as a Project Manager at Fidelity International has equipped Trina with the ability to remain very organised, calm and focused under pressure!

Outside of work Trina loves cooking, catching up with friends, spending time with family and Love Island! Trina is a proud, but very busy, mother to two beautiful daughters, who keep her busy when she is not at work.

TRUSTEES

Doug Bennett

Doug Bennett

Chair of the Trustees

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Doug joined the Trustee Board in 2016, bringing with him 30 years’ experience in business.

Alongside his support for Us in a Bus he runs two businesses, one in financial services and one in wealth planning and preservation, which helps people retire early and preserve their wealth for future generations.

He has written a book, Goals Do Come True, and has a podcast and blog of the same name.

Doug is one of the top financial professionals in his field, and has spoken at numerous conferences around the world on motivation, goal setting and getting the most out of your financial services business.

Doug is married to Bonnie and has two grown-up sons. He enjoys playing golf, walking his dogs, riding his Harley-Davidson and generally relaxing in the remaining time that he has spare.

Doug has completed the Reigate half marathon, tracked up Kilimanjaro and,  in 2021, completed the three Peaks challenge, all of which raises much needed funds for Us in a Bus.

Francesca Arocas

Francesca Arocas

Trustee

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Francesca (Cesca) is currently Head Teacher in an Independent Special School in South West London which caters for young people aged 11-19 with complex autism. She leads a large team of teachers, therapists and support assistants and is the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Cesca qualified as a Primary and Early Years teacher in 2000. She has worked in a number of settings and has been specialising in autism, complex needs and challenging behaviour since 2012.

Cesca’s passion for special educational needs & disability (SEND) stems from her desire to better help and support her autistic son. ‘My core belief is that the young people should be at the centre of everything we do’.

She holds a Masters degree in Autism and the National SENCO award. Her studies have led her to undertake research on a range of topics such as the benefits of intensive interaction, outdoor learning and the use of mindfulness-based stress reduction.

Nigel Jackson

Nigel Jackson

Trustee

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Nigel is the proud father of Louise who has Angelman Syndrome with the associated complex needs. He has been attending her sessions for a few years and has been really impressed with the benefits that Intensive Interaction has on her. It is the highlight of their week!

Nigel had a 40-year career in the Banking industry. During this time, he had the opportunity to work overseas, mainly in Canada and the US. In the last 20 years of his career he was responsible for supporting growing businesses in the South East.

Since 2015 Nigel has been involved with voluntary work for the National Trust at Standen, just outside East Grinstead, working in the Kitchen Garden and as a Beekeeper in the Apiary.

In addition, Nigel has been busy building a holiday letting business in Skipton. He currently has two holiday cottages which he enjoys visiting to walk in the Yorkshire Dales. In his spare time, Nigel also enjoys gardening, reading, music, travel and photography.

Aleksandra Malanska

Aleksandra Malanska

Trustee

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With an extensive career spanning 25 years, Aleksandra is a seasoned professional in the realm of education, specialising in working with vulnerable adults and children. Holding an MA degree in education and postgraduate studies in autism, Aleksandra’s expertise has been vital in reshaping the educational landscape for those with special needs.

Currently employed with the Ministry of Justice, she pioneers the advocacy for the rights of autistic individuals within the judicial system. Managing support for autistic men in prison, Aleksandra has previously made impactful contributions within a women’s prison setting. Her drive is deeply personal and rooted in her role as a proud mother to an inspiring autistic boy, who constantly fuels her passion and commitment to this cause.

Beyond her professional endeavours, Aleksandra is a fervent mindfulness teacher, guiding many to find serenity amidst chaos. In her leisure hours, she finds solace in sewing and meditation, always seeking to perceive the world from unique and diverse perspectives.

Her life’s journey is a testament to her unwavering dedication, compassion, and zeal to make a meaningful difference. Whether she’s advocating for the rights of autistic individuals in custody or teaching mindfulness, Aleksandra’s work and influence resonates deeply within the community she serves.

Ken McRae

Ken McRae

Trustee

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Ken joined the Trustee Board in XXXX and brings over 25 years experience of supporting companies to realise their potential through the development and implementation of Strategy Plans and helping them professionalise their businesses.

He has been an Executive Director for over a decade and fulfilled the role of Company Secretary for various Client organisations. These roles have included the establishment and maintenance of Corporate Governance arrangements (Board Structure, Articles of Association, etc.); development of Board Reports to provide meaningful and concise Management Information and the co-ordination and implementation of Board Effectiveness Reviews.

More recently, he has been working with a number of clients assisting them in formulating 5-Year Strategic Plans (Financial Targets, identification of Opportunities, approaches to Sales & Marketing and Delivery) and helping to define the necessary Organisational Structure required to deliver it.

Ken is married to Sara and has five children, a number of whom have Special Needs, providing first hand experience of the challenges faced by those with learning disabilities. He is a keen fisherman, enjoys country pursuits, cycling and an avid supporter of his sons’ rugby teams.

Colin Medway

Colin Medway

Honorary Treasurer

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Colin is Co-Founder of Bookham Consulting Associates, Management Consultants, specialising in business performance transformation. He was European CFO and UK and Ireland Regional Vice President with US based Cambridge Technology Partners, and European Director of Finance at Banyan Systems. He also held Senior Financial positions at Data General (UK) Ltd. Before joining the IT industry he was Financial Controller of the Oddbins and Gough Brothers off-licence chains after started his career at the Allders Department Stores Group as a Management Trainee after graduating from London University.

Colin has a BSc in Mathematics, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (FCMA), a Chartered Global ManagementAccountant (CGMA) and is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ACIS).

He has been our Treasurer since July 2002 and Company Secretary since July 2004.

In his spare time he likes sailing, playing guitar, driving his Triumph TR6, keeping fit and Park-running.

Jen Fookes

Jen Fookes

Parent Advisor

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I am the proud Mum to an amazing young man with complex needs who has benefited so much from Us in a bus. His highlight of the week is the session that Us in a Bus run called The Bus Stop. I am passionate about raising awareness of complex needs, driving up quality of care, values and quality of life.

I have extensive experience locally, countywide and nationally representing families and people with complex needs whose behaviour is seen as challenging. I work with people with disabilities, families and professionals in a variety of ways. I offer support to families, sit on committees and develop, deliver and quality monitor training. I have spoken at the House of Commons on this topic and am currently undertaking research with the Tizard Centre.

I am an Ambassador for The Challenging Behaviour Foundation and founding Board member of PBS4 (Positive Behaviour Support), being the first Chairperson for the Surrey PBS Network. I also won a ‘Skills for Care Accolade’ with The Smart Enterprise.

I have done a wide variety of fundraising activities such as hiking the Himalayas and jumping out of a plane!  I am currently studying Philosophy and Sci-Fi is a passion of mine. In any other available spare time I love being with my 10 young nephews and nieces.

Phoebe Caldwell

Phoebe Caldwell

Honorary President

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We were delighted when Phoebe Caldwell became the Honorary President of Us in a Bus at the end of 2015, in our 25th anniversary year.

Phoebe is an expert practitioner in Intensive Interaction, working mainly with children and adults on the Autistic Spectrum and also has over 40 years experience as a practitioner with people whose severe learning disabilities are linked with behavioural distress. She held a Rowntree Research Fellow for four years. She trains professionals, therapists, managers, practitioners, parents and carers in the successful approach known as Intensive Interaction. She is employed by the NHS, Social Services, Community Services and Education Services to work with difficult-to-provide-for individuals.

She is the author of ten books, her latest book, ‘The Anger Box’ combines practice with recent neurobiological research. In 2009, Phoebe won the Times/Sternberg award for her work to improve the outlook for people with severe autism and in 2011 she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science (DSc) by Bristol University for her work on communication with people on the autistic spectrum and those with profound multiple learning disabilities.

AdaM Pearson

AdaM Pearson

Patron

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Award-winning campaigner, actor and presenter Adam Pearson, is a Patron of Us in a Bus. We are extremely proud to work with someone as passionate about disability rights as Adam, who has won both a RADAR Award and a Diana Award for his campaigning work.

Adam was nominated as UK Documentary Presenter of the Year at the 2016 Grierson Awards, he is a reporter on Tricks Of The Restaurant Trade (Channel 4) and has fronted the critically-acclaimed documentaries; Horizon: My Amazing Twin (BBC Two), Adam Pearson: Freak Show (BBC Three) and The Ugly Face Of Disability Hate Crime (BBC Three).
Adam also appeared in the BAFTA-nominated film, Under The Skin.

TEAM

Carol Thomas

Carol Thomas

Interaction Practitioner / Fundraising Assistant

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Carol joined Us in a Bus in August 2015 as a sessional worker after doing some of Janet’s training where she previously worked. She was so taken by the concept of Intensive Interaction, people she visited and the team she worked with, that she ended up staying with us as a permanent Interaction Practitioner.

After a complete career change in 2008, she has worked in a variety of settings with a broad range of client groups including those with dementia, physical disabilities, mental health and learning disabilities. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Masters in Art Therapy and very much enjoys the creative side of life.

In her spare time Carol enjoys renovation work. She describes each house as a labour of love and her current period cottage is, she tells us, in its final stages of development, although she has been telling us this for quite some time. We will believe it when we see it. She also has a love of the outdoors, wildlife and travel.

Jodie Bush

Jodie Bush

Practice Administrator / Trainee Interaction Practitioner

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Jodie studied Health and Social Care at college and as part of her course requirements she helped out within the supported learning unit on site. After Jodie completed her qualification

she went on to do further work experience as a teaching assistant for a young person with Autism. These experiences helped Jodie gain new found knowledge within Intensive Interaction.

Jodie has a disability herself and has always been passionate about making sure everyone feels valued and included.  Jodie believes everyone should be given equal opportunities in life.

Jodie’s favourite part of her role at Us in a Bus is the incredible feeling she gets knowing that she’s making a difference in peoples lives as well as working in a team with like-minded people who share the same passion.

Outside of work Jodie likes to spend time with her family and enjoys walking her two dogs.

Anna Redman

Anna Redman

Interaction Practitioner / Finance coordinator

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Anna has been a member of the Us in a Bus team since 2017 working as both a practitioner and providing our IT support, after previously being a HLTA who taught in a PMLD primary school setting. Anna is very experienced in working with people with specialist needs across all ages, having worked with children, teens and adults over the past 15 years and she has a great passion for finding a person’s character within and supporting all forms of self-expression. Anna has foundation degree level qualifications in psychology, sociology, human physiology and musical theatre along with a wide range of other level two and three achievements. Anna has great enjoyment in all things Disney, theatrical events and technology. She has an older daughter and is married to her Portuguese husband, Bruno. They recently had a “lockdown” baby boy who brings a lot of joy to them all. In her spare time, Anna enjoys socialising, spending time with her family and helping to care for Yasin, a delightfully cheeky young adult with profound disabilities. Between her family and Yasin, she regularly swims, watches movies, visits parks and is a long term season ticket holder for Crawley Town Football Club, which she hopes will pass on to her son Cody

Zoë Sargent

Zoë Sargent

Interaction Practitioner

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Zoe joined Us in a Bus as an Intensive Interaction Practitioner in September 2022.

Zoe trained as a teacher, beginning her career in a mainstream primary school in Deptford. She then moved into special education where her interest in working with autistic children developed. For the last 13 years Zoe worked in a specialist school for autistic pupils firstly as a class teacher and then she joined the school’s therapy team as the Creative Arts Leader where she enjoyed combining music, silence, the childrens’ passionate  interests, intensive interaction and humour in her role. Zoe is looking forward to combining elements of her previous role with learning from the UiaB team’s experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and complex needs.

Zoe’s interests include lake and sea swimming, dancing to 80s music, and metal detecting with her Equinox Minelab; that gold hoard is always potentially in the next dig!

Lynne Crane

Lynne Crane

Interaction Practitioner

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Lynne is currently the longest serving Interaction Practitioner at Us in a Bus, joining the team in 2005 on a temporary eight month contract and enjoying it so much that she never left! Lynne has two girls who she adores. They both have significant health needs and she is extremely proud of the young ladies they have become. Her eldest is at University studying ecology and wildlife conservation and her youngest is persuing a career working with dogs. Lynne also shares her home with an energetic Romanian street dog called Otto who is a amazing escapologist and also likes to climb trees!

Lynne first became interested in working with people with complex needs whilst she was training to become a nursery nurse. She volunteered at a local residential home and also at school holiday clubs for disabled children. She intuitively began to use the principles of Intensive Interaction as a way of communicating with people who were pre-verbal and enabling them to feel more empowered and valued. It was over 20 years later that she learned that this approach had now become known as Intensive Interaction.  She continued to work with a varied range of individuals in Nursery’s and Schools at home and in Italy and Switzerland until she saw the post for Us in a Bus and applied.

Lynne enjoys all aspects of her job and is passionate about everyone having a fundamental right to communicate and to be heard: as to be able to express yourself in your own unique way is central to ones well-being. She feels she is really privileged to work with such a dedicated team of Practitioners and such wonderful clientele and feels honoured each day that they invite us to join them in their world, and find the courage to venture into ours, and who, despite their difficulties, embrace all life offers them.

In her spare time Lynne likes to go to the theatre as often as possible and loves spending time with her daughters.

Nicola Bassett

Nicola Bassett

Interaction Practitioner

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Nicky originally joined Us in a Bus as a sessional worker in the 1990s, whilst studying for a degree BA (hons) Professional and social studies: Learning disabilities. She joined as a full-time interaction practitioner in 1996 and worked alongside Janet Gurney at the Royal Earlswood Hospital, Orchard Hill and St Ebba’s.The Community Care Act took a long time to implement but slowly people moved to community homes.

After a couple of years Nicky moved into other roles including managing an activity centre, managing a residential home, working in a care management team and being a volunteer advocate.

 A return to Us in a Bus in 2004 and then off again to new challenges around 2010.

 In 2012 a family member became ill and Nicky became a full-time carer.

 This involved running a whole education package at home with a team of six staff and learning about trauma informed approaches, not dissimilar to intensive interaction. Her introduction back into work was a few hours of homecare a week. Nicky found it interesting using her intensive interaction skill base with elderly people who have dementia.

 Nicky has always been interested in interacting and connecting with people, especially those who may not use the spoken word, she thinks that’s why she’s been drawn back to Us in a Bus so many times.

 In her free time she is still a carer for her family member. She enjoys looking after her dog Bertie (Bassett) and spending time with family and friends. She loves baking, making preserves and popping into London to the theatre or art galleries.

Ve Grys

Ve Grys

Interaction Practitioner

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Verena originally spent time with Us in a Bus during 2016/2017 to learn more about Intensive Interaction and enjoyed the experience so much that they decided they wanted to work as an Interaction Practitioner.  So they moved from Germany to England and joined the Us in a Bus team on 1st August 2018.

Verena loves England a lot and is happy and excited about the future!

Following their studies in Education/Pedagogy in Germany, Verena thoroughly enjoyed working as a therapist in an autism centre. They love to interact with people and are very interested in communication and all the different forms that exist, feeling that the topic of communication is a wide, open and varied one. They like the different experiences and surprises that arise when working within the field of speech, communication and interaction; the obvious and almost unnoticeable ways humans express themselves, and build strong connections between each other.

It is Verena’s strong belief that when a trusting relationship has been formed, self expression can be uncovered, however diverse and initially unobvious.

Verena loves to spend time with their friends and family. Their interests include kayaking, hiking, skating, new experiences and sharing humorous, silly moments!

Russell Clark

Russell Clark

Interaction Practitioner

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I’ve been working as a practitioner for about eight years now. Previously, I had been a support worker since leaving university. I’d always enjoyed bringing creativity into my work, and discovering Intensive Interaction as an approach gave validity to something that came very naturally to me. When I discovered Us in a Bus, I did as much sessional work as I could, and when there was a job opportunity, I jumped at it like a Tigger! I could finally do full time what I’d always had to get in where I could. I’ve had lots of experiences and wonderful memories here, but everyday really is a school day. Everyone has their own way of being around other people, and the people we work with have taught me more about what it is to be human than I could have ever imagined!

I’m particularly interested in sensory processing, or put another way, how people are feeling in their bodies. Many of the behaviours we see have a root here, and when we understand why a person is doing something, like, for instance, repeatedly turning their head from side to side, it can help us have more empathy and affect the way we support them. I could talk about this till the vans(!) come home.

I live in a cosy set up with my six year old boy Theo, my partner and her aunt and our cat in Dorking. I always thought I had limitless patience till Theo came into our lives, but he’s brought more love and laughter into my life than I’ve ever known before. I enjoy growing veg, which isn’t always easy when you do it organically. I have a vast record collection, and love playing it out to people when I get the chance. I enjoy wood carving and engraving, painting, drawing, singing and writing. As well as Aikido and Kenjutsu, which are Japanese martial arts, and running, cycling and swimming in the sea or in a lake. It keeps me feeling fresh and vital. In fact, I will soon be completing a 404 mile triathlon, but not in one go! I’ll accrue it over time, and hopefully complete it in 5 months. It’s the entire distance Us in a Bus travel in a week, between the three teams. To make it more relevant to our work, I’ll run and swim part of the distance blindfolded with supervision, and cycle part of the distance one handed.  This is because many of the people we visit are blind or partially sighted and many can’t use one of their arms. There is also a man we visit who walks around holding a box in front of him containing an object, which he shakes almost continuously. It helps regulate him and I will run a part of the distance doing the same thing. I’m looking forward to the looks I’m going to get and conversations that might come from it, as well as experiencing my own body in a different way, honouring the people I visit by bringing the awareness of their needs outside of their home environments.

Nancy Keeley

Nancy Keeley

Interaction Practitioner

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Nancy joined Us in a Bus in August 2015 as an Interaction Practitioner and now combines practice work with being the Service Delivery Manager.

Prior to joining Us in a Bus, Nancy worked as a Paediatric Occupation Therapy Assistant, using and developing her knowledge of complex needs, learning disabilities, and sensory integration. She also worked in both the residential and school settings of Young Epilepsy for 10 years, gaining additional knowledge from their multi-disciplinary therapy team. During her time there, she was fortunate enough to train as an Intensive Interaction co-ordinator with Dr. David Hewitt.

Nancy has always felt that it is everyone’s fundamental right to be given the opportunity to reach their potential, to feel safe and valued, and to have friends. She feels very lucky to be part of the Us in a Bus team, where diversity is embraced and celebrated, and where social communication is promoted through recognising everyone’s need to be heard, understood and appreciated.

Outside of work Nancy enjoys spending time with her family, friends and labradoodle. She enjoys walking and exploring the countryside, drawing and painting, listening to a variety of music, and reading.

Tiw Rægening

Tiw Rægening

Interaction Practitioner

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Tiw joined Us in a Bus, initially as a sessional worker, in October 2005 which led to him becoming a full time member of the team the following Summer. Tiw particularly loves the creativity, with which he can approach his work – describing the opportunities to show the person he is working with “you are good to be with”, as one of the best aspects of his role.

Following studying History, Tiw developed a strong interest in military history and enjoys exploring museums, battlefields and castles; he has even participated in battle re-enactments, on horseback! Tiw is a trained actor and riding instructor. Singing and playing the piano are among Tiw’s other passions; along with a love of vegan curries, acquiring random facts and delivering (good) bad jokes!

Tiw believes in justice, fairness and compassion, living and promoting these values at every opportunity.