OUR TEAM
Mel Boda - Co-Founder and CEO
Mel has a first class honours degree in Interactive Arts, and after extensively exhibiting across the UK Mel qualified as an Art Therapist at the University of Hertfordshire. Mel co-founded Electric Umbrella with Tom after they met on a community arts project in Watford and knew there was so much more they could achieve together.
After establishing the first Electric Umbrella group, Mel was certain that even though the destination was unknown, a big yellow adventure lay ahead! Mel was pregnant with her eldest son during this time and has subsequently had three more children. For Mel and her boys, Electric Umbrella is very much a part of the family! Mel has a passion for using the arts to unite community, and Electric Umbrella is no exception!
Tom Billington - Co-Founder and Artistic Director
Tom is a singer, songwriter, guitar player, stilt walker and 'yes' man. His rich and varied career has seen him perform all over the world alongside bands and artists such as Razorlight, The Killers, Depeche Mode and countless others.
He has appeared on TV alongside the likes of Gary Barlow and played in bands with members of the Feeling, The Script, Sophie Ellis Bextor and many more. His various bands have wowed crowds the world over and has even sung Karaoke with Paul McCartney!
Tom met Mel working on a project for a local council in 2012 having already spent 5 years working in SEN schools and working with learning disabled people in Milton Keynes. Electric Umbrella grew out of a mutual passion for 'going the extra mile' to represent the learning disabled community as the 'total rockstars they are'.
"There is nothing selfless about all of this. We get as much out of it as anyone... the people we work alongside are totally inspiring and the world needs to see that"
Steve Joy - Head of Operations and Big Yellow Choir Co-leader
Steve has two hats (actually, he has a large collection of hats, but you know what we mean). By day, as Head of Ops, he is responsible for ensuring that all the behind-the-scenes bits of Electric Umbrella work smoothly. By night, as co-leader of our Big Yellow Choir, he supports our Big Yellow Singers in their never-ending quest to make beautiful inclusive music.
Steve has a degree in German and Linguistics, and an MBA from London Business School. His 30+ years of corporate experience has seen him travel the world in strategic, financial and commercial roles for companies like Cadbury, Coca-Cola and Kettle Chips. He plays flugelhorn and bass guitar, and can convincingly fake other instruments too. In his spare time he plays in 3 brass bands, fronts a covers band, and plays and sings with a leading Steely Dan tribute band.
Debbie Hartnett - Head of Finance & Resources
Debbie is our all round finance go-to person, and also manages our human resources, insurance and compliance, as well as supporting our fundraising activities. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant, worked for the BBC for over 10 years as well as some smaller companies, lived in Sweden for a spell with her family and now happily juggles three teenagers, her dog Holly, Electric Umbrella and volunteer work.
Paul Lewis - Head of Marketing and Partnerships
Paul is an international marketing consultant and executive with over 30 years experience in the movie industry, working with companies including Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, DreamWorks, LAIKA Animation, Warner Bros, and Eon Productions (the makers of James Bond movies). He has also Chaired the Board of Governors at a Special School, where during his time a charitable foundation was founded, and has worked on a number of projects with Chickenshed Theatre Company, which has been an integral party of Lewis family life for over 20 years now. He's thrilled to be able to use his combined experience of the entertainment industry and the charity sector, to help take Electric Umbrella forward.
Euan Tees - Music Practitioner
Part radio presenter, part gigging musician and part lover of puppets, Euan has been a trumpet player from a young age and outside of Electric Umbrella not only teaches brass to the next generation of budding musicians but also has a thirst for knowledge and will often be found tap dancing or taking Rubik’s cubes apart.
In addition to delivering our amazing Express and Music Machine programmes, he hosts our Saturday morning Breakfast Club together with a crew of our enthusiastic and talented members.
He has a music degree but more importantly than that, he loves life and likes to grab things by the horns. He also has possibly the country’s largest collection of other people's shopping lists.
“Music is a wonderful way to connect people and it’s that connection that really excites me. It’s what makes us human.”
Claire Boulter - Education Programme Development Lead and Big Yellow Choir Co-Leader
Like Steve, Claire also has 2 yellow hats. By day, she helps to keep the Electric Umbrella admin and schools programme ticking along, while by night she is co-lead of the Big Yellow Choir. Claire has years of experience working with learning disabled people, and as a professional singer has performed all over the world, in opera, musical theatre and oratorio. She has a song for all occasions, and is loving making the world a lot more yellow!
Coral Simpson - Music Practitioner & Member Engagement Officer
Coral has worked in theatre, dance and music with learning disabled adults and children in many settings during her career to date. She has a degree in Working with Children and Young People, and has run theatre companies as well as working in early years, education, respite, registered care and day opportunity services.
In addition to working for Electric Umbrella, she now runs live sing-along music classes for 0-4 years olds, as well as a performing arts class for preschool aged children. You can also often see her either running, or performing at, local Open Mic events.
Amy Tweed - Music Practitioner
Amy is a musician, actor and puppeteer and has over 17 years of experience working in theatre and performance. She plays the tenor saxophone and piano and absolutely loves playing music with people at any given opportunity!
Amy is also a choir leader and has set up and run community choirs in London and now Tring, something which she thoroughly enjoys because it brings people together through music.
She is really excited to be a cog in the wonderful Electric Umbrella machine!
Sam Rolles - Music Practitioner
Sam is a classically trained violist/violinist, singer, guitarist, composer, and an all around ‘noise maker’. His diverse career has taken him around the world as a much sought-after soloist, songwriter, and session player. He loves making music with absolutely everyone, and has done recording sessions for such musicians as Ellie Goulding and Susan Boyle, as well as a lot of busking in Covent Garden in London.
Outside of performing, Sam is a teacher and workshop leader, which is a huge passion of his.
Sam feels incredibly lucky to be a Music Practitioner for the Electric Umbrella team. His job is to work alongside our members in and out of the Emporium for our Crew Days, where we make music, instruments, and memories together.
Mike Wilkinson - Music Practitioner
Mike has been working as an artist, facilitator, clown, fire performer, stilt walker, balloon modeller, arts in education session leader 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, puppetry, costume, dance, meditation and storytelling Mike has been able to make lasting changes in those he has worked with and has found great joy in students' development and achievements.
Before joining the Electric Umbrella team Mike worked at MacIntyre charity for over six years years running music and dance sessions and was nominated three times for the Margery Newton Wright awards as outstanding frontline practitioner. He currently splits his time between his entertainment work, Personal Assistant, Electric Umbrella, and leading music and outreach sessions at Phoenix Rising MK. Somehow he even finds time to create his leather crafts, puppets, props, costumes, watercolours and the occasional oil painting.
The moment Mike walked into Electric Umbrella it felt like he had found a long lost piece of a puzzle.
Annie-Grace Smith - Music Practitioner
Annie-Grace is one of the most sought-after multi-talented musicians in the UK today. Not just a vocalist, not just a DJ, not just a producer, she is a whole one-of-a-kind SHOW! Graduating with a degree in vocals & music from The Academy In Contemporary Music & boasting over 15 years of experience gigging & touring across the UK & internationally, she is one of the very few musicians that live mix, sing & MC to create an entire experience for any audience. Annie has been described by colleagues and audiences as a “human cannonball” and a “powerhouse”! She has played at some of the UK’s biggest venues including 02 arena Wembley, Manchester Arena, BST Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall & many more. Her talent has also taken her all over the world to beautiful destinations including Maldives, New York, Dubai, Ibiza & many more. Annie has been & continues to be the resident DJ for all of Tik Tok UK’s parties & events since January 2021. From her infectious personality which glows brightly on stage, to her undeniable talent, Annie adds an extra sparkle to any session, and with her embracing & warm energy helps others shine as brightly as possible!
Alice Fixsen - Member Engagement Officer
Alice has loved being a support worker for many years in day centres and in the community. Alice used to be a shiatsu practitioner (which she also loved), supporting people with complex needs through shiatsu bodywork and intensive interaction. Alice enjoys listening to music, connecting with people through music, going to gigs and having nights out dancing (as well as dancing in the kitchen). So how amazing that she can now combine all her loves in one job!
Nicola Baker - Administrator
After graduating from Central Saint Martins with a degree in Theatre Design Nicola embarked on a career as an Art Director in television drama, film and music videos, working for production companies such as BBC Drama, ITV, Universal Pictures and Kudos Films, before leaving it all behind to raise her family. For the past 8 years Nicola has enjoyed volunteering for a local charity supporting young people. She is excited to become part of the Electric Umbrella team having been aware of the amazing work they do for many years. Being one of the few members of the team that doesn't play an instrument or sing, Nicola can be found instead supporting her musical friends and family, attending concerts and gigs, dancing the night away!
Darcey Tromans - Member Engagement Officer
With a background in volunteering and fundraising, Darcey has always advocated for the power of communities coming together to create something amazing.
Having studied psychology and education, she has enjoyed working in a wide range of roles including in playschemes and running creative workshops for young people, as well as providing person centred support to people of all ages in supported living and in the community.
She believes in dancing anywhere, reading everything and learning new things every day.
Registered Charity. 1165164
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