New staff news

8.11.2023

We are delighted to welcome three new members of staff to a range of roles across the Trust: in the education department, the fundraising team and the butchery.

Maria Watkins joins as the new Events Fundraiser, Heidi Heslop is now part of our growing education team, and Martin Sambrook takes on the role of Senior Butcher in the Trust’s butchery and farm shop.

Heidi has a background teaching Design and Technology in secondary schools and has most recently worked as a support worker for special needs adults who come to Whirlow Hall Farm; she also has experience working alongside students at Sheffield Organics Farm growing fruit and vegetables.

Heidi will be working with secondary age children who are disengaged from education due to a range of complex issues including medical and mental health issues, learning disabilities and heart-breaking personal circumstances. She will support them whilst they carry out tasks on our working farm, address their anxieties and help them to reengage with education. She will support them as they find their way - back to their mainstream school, starting at a new or special school, or moving onto further education.

Heidi said “I am thrilled to join the Whirlow Education Team. There is nothing better than seeing a child go from completely disengaged in education to seeing the results of their work on the farm, to reengaging with education again and moving on in a way that is positive for them.”

Maria, originally from Manchester, moved to the area this summer when she got engaged to her partner who is from Sheffield. Maria studied Events Management at Manchester Metropolitan University and worked part time at Revolution Bars as a bar back then bar tender; she worked her way up to join the events team whilst completing her studies, and eventually becoming their Sales and Events Manager.

Maria joined Whirlow as our Events Fundraiser in mid-October and has already been involved in Whirlow’s Pumpkin Patch event as well as Sheff’s Kitchen, Whirlow’s interactive dining event. She will soon be getting stuck into Christmas Fayre and the immersive Christmas Experience events at the Farm over the next couple of months and is really looking forward to the Lambing days in April next year. She loves animals and has 16 pets at home! She has 12 rats, three rabbits and a parrot, and is planning to add to her menagerie with a dog and maybe some cats. In her spare time she likes to play video games and she is learning to fire breathe!

Maria said: “I really love animals so being on a real working farm is a perfect fit for me! My favourite farm animals are the pigs. I loved my time at Revolution, but I now want to make a difference through my work and can’t wait to start raising money to support the work of our education programmes.”

Martin Sambrook has moved to Whirlow as Senior Butcher after 39 years as a supermarket butcher and manager! He joins the team at an exciting time – not least because we’re now in the run up to the busiest period of the year for the butchery. But the butchery is getting busier all year long, as more and more customers find out about the great meat that is available. Sadly, independent butchers selling great local produce are becoming increasingly hard to find, so we are thrilled that Martin has chosen to hone his skills – and knives – with us.

Martin is from Chesterfield, has two grown-up daughters and is expecting his first grandchild in February. When he’s not at work, Martin likes to cook and tend his garden - but is expecting his new grandchild to take up much of his spare time next year! His favourite cut of Whirlow meat to cook with is lamb shank and he likes to make a Jamie Oliver recipe with rosemary and white wine.

He said: “I am delighted to join the Whirlow Hall Farm Trust team. It’s wonderful to come to work in this fantastic environment, and the meat quality is some of the best I’ve ever seen.”

Ben Davies, Whirlow’s Chief Executive said “I am very, very proud of the team we have at Whirlow and what they are achieving. I’m delighted that Heidi, Maria and Martin have decided to join us – they’ve each got terrific experience and will add a huge amount to their new departments. They’ll all play a vital role in helping the Trust support even more struggling youngsters in the future."