People are our most important and valuable asset, they are the beating heart of Seagulls

Our team is an eclectic mix of staff and volunteers from many different backgrounds. Everyone has a story to tell and historically to present day our staff team is predominantly made up of people who have volunteered at Seagulls. This makes for a understanding and unique workforce.

We lead the team. Our official roles are CEO and Operations Manager but we never use these titles. We are the glue of the enterprise. We are the HR, admin, IT, H&S, marketing and development departments. We juggle everything and keep the paint pots spinning.

Ansari, our driver, has been with Seagulls over 15 years. He landed at Seagulls having fled from persecution in Pakistan. He is the calmest, kindest, quietest soul of the team. Monday to Friday he takes a team of volunteers to a different waste site and loads the paint. 

Interesting fact: In all of his years driving for Seagulls he has never had a speeding ticket, bump or scrape.

Ruksar, came to us from open prison over 15 years ago. He wanted to turn his life around and leave his past behind him. He is 100% passionate about paint and helping others. Over the years he has run our decorating service, mixed more paint than most, is a brilliant colour matcher and cooked many curries. He now focuses his time on delivering decorating workshops and working weekends in the paint store. In recent months he has pretty much single handedly built our new paint store. He is one of a kind (thank goodness!) and loved by all. Ruksar LOVES to talk, if you’re a customer and in a hurry don’t be afraid to tell him this! 

Interesting fact: Ruksar only discovered he was colour blind when he came to Seagulls.

Andy, came to us after leaving school and has stayed, he is now 32. Andy is a gentle giant, our paint supervisor, bringer of music, comforter to people, family orientated and lover of metal. He is jack of all trades and master of supervising people. He has a way of making volunteers and visitors feel relaxed and welcome. Andy has a big heart and in many ways is head of the Seagulls family.

Interesting fact: Andy is a great singer, he is the karaoke king, hitter of the high notes and does a brilliant rendition of Sweet Child of Mine.

Rob started volunteering at Seagulls when he was 15 and living in Care. He is now also 32!! Rob is loyal, an excellent paint mixer, metal head and general good guy. He loves to demolish stuff and is always willing to help. 

Interesting fact: Rob has run 2 marathons and countless 10K’s always wearing something Seagulls pink.

Ash was scared to leave her bedroom and scared to go on a bus when she came to Seagulls as an 18 year old. Fly forward 8 years and Ash is the best colour matcher of the team, has excellent attention to detail and is a brilliant role model for young people starting out on their work journey.

Interesting fact: Ash has never decorated but her knowledge of paint is immense!

Kieran, one of our new recruits but not new to Seagulls. Kieran has volunteered at Seagulls for several years having come to us via Swarthmore College’s Study Program.

Kieran’s role as Volunteer Support is a new one for Seagulls and in the few short months Kieran has been in this position he has proved his worth and is soaring high. We couldn’t function without him.

Interesting fact: Kieran writes and performs his own music and is an avid rugby fan.

Steve and T, the newbies of the flock but also invaluable and we would struggle to function without them. They were employed as paint mixers but like everyone else they bring so much more to the team. Steve is a sign writer, dad and brilliant practical thinker. T is a graffiti and tattoo artist. 

Interesting fact: T wrote the best reason why he wanted the job:

Paints quality! I use it most days, any type of paint if it makes a mark I’m using it. The infinite amount of colours that are possible to make is mad, working out which colours go best with each other, the smell of it, it’s all unreal. Paints just proper good innit! 

Not really too much more to say about paint really I feel like if you get paint you get paint if you don’t you don’t but us that love it proper love it 💪

Interesting fact Steve: Steve represented GB at 4 triathlon World Championships and once held the record for the most amount of flumps in his mouth at one time (82)

Lee, our longest serving volunteer and absolutely part of the furniture. Lee came to us through Swarthmore Study Program approx 15 years ago. Lee helps Ansari with collections on a Tuesday and Wednesday. Help in the loosest sense of the word as he would much prefer to stand around talking. 

Andrew, also comes to us through the Swarthmore Study Program. Andrew is a grafter, always willing to do what is needed with a smile on his face. Andrew is working towards being employment ready.

James, known affectionately amongst the team as Jolly James. James is always smiling and has been helping Ansari with collections for many years now. James, is part of the Wednesday dream team.

Fiona aka Brutes, comes every Thursday to help in disposal area. Fiona’s day job as an illustrator (she has drawn for Disney) means she can be mainly found at home at her desk. She loves her day at Seagulls for being around people and doing something physical as a contrast to her day job.

Interesting fact: Fiona has written her own, soon to be published graphic novel.

Kat, the best organiser (of other people’s stuff)  in the world. It feels like she came to us from heaven but actually she started helping this year when we moved premises. It is a fact the move would not have gone as smoothly without her and Cat and Fiona would have no hair! She has made the transition so much easier and we are very pleased that although we are now settled Kat is still on board and very much part of the team.

Martha has been part of the team (along with her human, Fiona) for the last XX years. She is Seagulls dog and a big part of Seagulls life. She has her favourite gulls, those she knows are a soft touch when she looks into your soul and wants your sarnie. She can always be found in a pool of drool at lunchtime and has been known to escape to the local café for a look in their bins. In her later years she has become very territorial, Seagulls is her place of work and hers only and no other dogs are allowed on week days. Martha is queen of the flock!

Donations help us carry on the valuable work we do and we appreciate any amount that you’re able to give. If you’d like to support us in another way, come roll up your sleeves and consider volunteering.