Meet the team

Leanne Buchan

Head of Creative Programming

Leanne’s role involved lots of strategic planning and collaboration. And it was all to make sure Children’s Capital of Culture was a success! She connected with businesses, funders and local and global partners. She also collaborated with other teams across Rotherham Council. Leanne was always looking out for new opportunities to enhance the programme and support Rotherham's children and young people.

Sarah Christie

Programme Manager

Sarah helped local children and young people make their amazing ideas become realities! As Programme Manager, her role was very varied. It included writing bids, developing partnerships and planning events and projects. And much more! Sarah was deeply involved in all aspects of Children’s Capital of Culture. She is passionate about empowering young people and creating opportunities for them to shine.

Sarah Williams

Programme Coordinator

Children’s Capital of Culture was a big and ambitious project. And Sarah helped to keep it all running smoothly! She was dedicated to making sure every initiative was well-organised and impactful. She was also our volunteer coordinator. Our volunteers were amazing local people of all ages. Together, they helped make our events a success! Sarah is a proud ambassador for Rotherham, having lived here all her life.

Becky Parry

Creative Learning Manager

Becky leads our creative learning programme. She develops opportunities for local nurseries, schools and colleges. She believes in the power of creativity to enhance learning and inspire young minds. She is also passionate about integrating creativity into education. Becky is always keen to hear from teachers and practitioners who want to get involved!

Dawn Richmond-Gordon

Creative Skills Manager

Dawn supported children and young people in Rotherham to develop their creative skills and grow their confidence and experience in the cultural sector. She did this by working in partnership with local cultural organisations to deliver various programmes such as traineeships, internships, young artist residencies and participation projects. Dawn is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of cultural professionals and fostering creative growth in Rotherham.

Abi Cobb

Engagement Manager

Abi delivered creative activities for children and young people across the borough. She worked with youth groups, sports clubs, dance and drama troupes, Scouts and Guides – and many more! Abi is passionate about developing creative opportunities across Rotherham’s communities. She worked with young people and local organisers to plan and put on festivals and events. Abi was a graduate of our traineeship programme and has lived in the borough her whole life. She loves the vibrant atmosphere of Rotherham, where there is always something special happening.

Jenica Davis

Marketing and Communications Trainee

Jenica was involved in promoting all of Children’s Capital of Culture’s exciting events and opportunities! She created and edited content for Children’s Capital of Culture’s social media platforms, mailing list, highlight guides, and this website. Jenica is dedicated to showcasing the diverse talent of the borough’s younger generation. Having spent most of her life in Rotherham, Jenica is excited to see the community’s creative scene continue to flourish!

Maria Sofragiu

Assistant Creative Producer

Maria is passionate about fostering creativity and confidence in young people. With a background in visual arts, Maria ran workshops that supported young people to explore their creative potential. Maria helped organise community events, as well as exhibitions and festivals.

Olivia Downton

Engagement Assistant

Olivia started out as a trainee at Rotherham Archives and Local Studies Service. She then continued her work with the Archive to actively collect material from Children’s Capital of Culture. Olivia is excited to see the opportunities for young people continue to grow in Rotherham, where she grew up. She is an advocate of archives and preservation, determined to capture the legacy and impact of Children’s Capital of Culture.

Avumile Sibanda

Engagement Assistant

Avumile assisted with organising community events, festivals, and projects for children and young people in Rotherham. She is passionate about creating positive experiences and opportunities for them, with a particular focus on helping them explore their passions in the arts. Through facilitating workshops and supporting the delivery of the Arts Award, Avumile aimed to empower young people to discover their creative passions.

Sophie Ditcher

Engagement Assistant

Sophie joined the team from a Children’s Capital of Culture traineeship with Rotherham United Community Trust. Having grown up in Rotherham, she is passionate about meeting the borough’s young people and helped provide activities for them to access new and exciting opportunities. She hopes that these events have helped them grow as people as well as explore and expand their creativity.

Amber-Elissa Goulty

Assistant Creative Producer

Amber’s role offered an exciting opportunity to work within both the Children’s Capital of Culture and Clifton Park Museum teams to help create, develop, and deliver innovative and exciting projects for children, young people and their families across Rotherham. With a focus on the intersection of arts, culture, and education, Amber created opportunities for people in Rotherham to explore their heritage and history, as well as find new ways to be creative!

Grace Bower

Assistant Creative Producer

Grace has played exciting roles within Children’s Capital of Culture as an Artist in Residence, Heritage Producer, Trainee and Youth Programming Panel member. On a placement at Grimm & Co, she was Assistant Producer of the Festival of Stories and continued to deliver creative, story-based workshops in her role as an Assistant Creative Producer for Children’s Capital of Culture, building confidence and sparking imagination in young people. Grace also presents her own radio show, The Next Stage, on Rotherham Radio and loves hosting events across the region!

Henry Raby

Creative Producer

Henry’s role was to help programme exciting activities and shows across our events – this included walkabout performers, eye-catching installations and unique plays. Henry connected these high-quality artists with our communities to make sure their work was special to Rotherham. His final, creative focuses were our creative conference Rotherham Reimagined and our closing celebration event The Birthday Party!

Kathryn Reaney

Project Manager (Heritage)

Kathryn is happiest seeing young people make their mark on the world and managing the Heritage Project was certainly that! Our Heritage Producers collected local stories and recorded them for posterity in Rotherham’s archives for future generations. They used these stories to bring to life creative work that celebrates their wards. Whether it’s event management, storytelling, or creative ideas, Kathryn helped our young people push themselves and their own creative limits!