Our Staff and Trustees
Staff
Suzy Cristinacce
Suzy is Frome Birth Talk’s Director, responsible for the overall growth and management of the charity. She is also a yoga teacher and mother of three children. Suzy has a long history of working with charitable organisations, both in the UK and abroad. She came to Frome Birth Talk because of her belief in the power of community and communication to support and heal.
You can contact Suzy by emailing scristinacce@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Suzy is Frome Birth Talk’s Director, responsible for the overall growth and management of the charity. She is also a yoga teacher and mother of three children. Suzy has a long history of working with charitable organisations, both in the UK and abroad. She came to Frome Birth Talk because of her belief in the power of community and communication to support and heal.
You can contact Suzy by emailing scristinacce@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Lucy Hill
Lucy is Frome Birth Talk's Counselling Co-ordinator, overseeing our day-to-day operations when it comes to referrals, arranging client sessions and responding to enquiries. She is also a trainee doula, podcaster, and mother living in Frome. Lucy is passionate about all things birth (particularly parental wellbeing) and finds deep satisfaction in connecting people with counselling services during their transition into parenthood, or when coping with loss.
You can contact Lucy by emailing info@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Lucy is Frome Birth Talk's Counselling Co-ordinator, overseeing our day-to-day operations when it comes to referrals, arranging client sessions and responding to enquiries. She is also a trainee doula, podcaster, and mother living in Frome. Lucy is passionate about all things birth (particularly parental wellbeing) and finds deep satisfaction in connecting people with counselling services during their transition into parenthood, or when coping with loss.
You can contact Lucy by emailing info@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Trustees
Karen Patrick
Karen is the founder of Frome Birth Talk, and is currently Chair of the Board of Trustees and Safeguarding Lead. Karen has spent most of her working life supporting women, birthing people and their families, both in volunteer and paid roles; most recently as a midwife championing continuity of carer and the value of the therapeutic relationship. She has three grown up children, believes that receiving proper support in early parenting can have lifelong benefits. Karen feels passionately that perinatal mental health should be destigmatised, and is proud to have founded an organisation which is providing both private counselling and thriving community support.
You can contact Karen by emailing kpatrick@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Karen is the founder of Frome Birth Talk, and is currently Chair of the Board of Trustees and Safeguarding Lead. Karen has spent most of her working life supporting women, birthing people and their families, both in volunteer and paid roles; most recently as a midwife championing continuity of carer and the value of the therapeutic relationship. She has three grown up children, believes that receiving proper support in early parenting can have lifelong benefits. Karen feels passionately that perinatal mental health should be destigmatised, and is proud to have founded an organisation which is providing both private counselling and thriving community support.
You can contact Karen by emailing kpatrick@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Jess Taylor
Jess is a volunteer Trustee for Frome Birth Talk. In 2018 Jess moved to Buckland Dinham with her husband after spending a year backpacking around the world. They have two young boys, Indy & Marley, and a dog, Shelby. Jess has 15 years’ experience in the events industry and is currently working as a Commercial Manager and Health Champion for Bath & North East Somerset Council. She is passionate about women’s health and is delighted to support people’s wellbeing during pregnancy and the first year of birth. When she gets the chance, she loves a wild swim.
You can contact Jess by emailing jtaylor@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Jess is a volunteer Trustee for Frome Birth Talk. In 2018 Jess moved to Buckland Dinham with her husband after spending a year backpacking around the world. They have two young boys, Indy & Marley, and a dog, Shelby. Jess has 15 years’ experience in the events industry and is currently working as a Commercial Manager and Health Champion for Bath & North East Somerset Council. She is passionate about women’s health and is delighted to support people’s wellbeing during pregnancy and the first year of birth. When she gets the chance, she loves a wild swim.
You can contact Jess by emailing jtaylor@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Hayley Clements
Hayley is a Trustee and is also Frome Birth Talk’s Treasurer. She has been a midwife for 15 years, and recently relocated from Kent to Chapmanslade with her partner and two children, which has been a welcome change. Hayley loves the support Frome Birth Talk offers to women and families when they need it most, particularly for parents facing miscarriage or stillbirth - an issue close to her heart after her own loss. She now works within the Frome Birthing Centre as a midwife supporting people locally.
You can contact Hayley by emailing treasurer@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Hayley is a Trustee and is also Frome Birth Talk’s Treasurer. She has been a midwife for 15 years, and recently relocated from Kent to Chapmanslade with her partner and two children, which has been a welcome change. Hayley loves the support Frome Birth Talk offers to women and families when they need it most, particularly for parents facing miscarriage or stillbirth - an issue close to her heart after her own loss. She now works within the Frome Birthing Centre as a midwife supporting people locally.
You can contact Hayley by emailing treasurer@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Jaime Swift
Jaime is a mum to four girls, two humans and two canines! Jaime’s daughter Florence was one of Frome Birth Talk’s first ever babies to attend the debut of our weekly Bump to Baby groups, and Jamie says she found these sessions invaluable in her first year as a new parent. Now involved as a trustee of the board, Jamie is using her skills in financial services and customer focus to help build our essential support system for parents in Frome. Jaime is following her life-long dream to become a midwife and starts her degree in September. She is also involved in running our weekly baby and toddler groups. Jaime and her family love spending time in the great outdoors together.
You can contact Jaime by emailing jswift@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Jaime is a mum to four girls, two humans and two canines! Jaime’s daughter Florence was one of Frome Birth Talk’s first ever babies to attend the debut of our weekly Bump to Baby groups, and Jamie says she found these sessions invaluable in her first year as a new parent. Now involved as a trustee of the board, Jamie is using her skills in financial services and customer focus to help build our essential support system for parents in Frome. Jaime is following her life-long dream to become a midwife and starts her degree in September. She is also involved in running our weekly baby and toddler groups. Jaime and her family love spending time in the great outdoors together.
You can contact Jaime by emailing jswift@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Kat Riddick
Kat is a new Trustee with Frome Birth Talk. She joined the board after attending the regular Bump to Babies group, which she says helped her to grow and feel confident in motherhood. Kat is passionate about empowering new parents and supporting them in any decision they choose to make so that they too can gain confidence. Kat is a nurse with two young children, and enjoys running when she gets a moment to herself!
You can contact Kat by emailing kriddick@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Kat is a new Trustee with Frome Birth Talk. She joined the board after attending the regular Bump to Babies group, which she says helped her to grow and feel confident in motherhood. Kat is passionate about empowering new parents and supporting them in any decision they choose to make so that they too can gain confidence. Kat is a nurse with two young children, and enjoys running when she gets a moment to herself!
You can contact Kat by emailing kriddick@fromebirthtalk.org.uk
Annabel Litchfield
Annabel is a Trustee for Frome Birth Talk. Annabel and her partner moved to Frome in 2020 and had a little boy soon after at Frome Community Hospital. Annabel received support from Frome Birth Talk in her first year as a mum, and found it invaluable. Annabel currently works as Impact & Learning Manager for Somerset Activity Sports Partnership, and has over 10 years experience in evaluation, impact and learning. She is currently supporting Frome Birth Talk with the evaluation of their services, and understanding the impact they are having on the people they support. Annabel loves doing physical activity, and enjoys taking her son down to the local Parkrun for a run.
Annabel is a Trustee for Frome Birth Talk. Annabel and her partner moved to Frome in 2020 and had a little boy soon after at Frome Community Hospital. Annabel received support from Frome Birth Talk in her first year as a mum, and found it invaluable. Annabel currently works as Impact & Learning Manager for Somerset Activity Sports Partnership, and has over 10 years experience in evaluation, impact and learning. She is currently supporting Frome Birth Talk with the evaluation of their services, and understanding the impact they are having on the people they support. Annabel loves doing physical activity, and enjoys taking her son down to the local Parkrun for a run.
Jessica Cornwell
Jessica is a novelist and screenwriter living in Frome. Born in California, she studied at Stanford and the Institute of Theatre in Barcelona before moving to London to work in film. Her first novel, The Serpent Papers, was published in 2015 to great acclaim. In 2018 she became the mother to twin boys. Birth Notes: A Memoir of Trauma, Motherhood and Recovery (published by Virago in 2022) was her first work of non-fiction, and explored her therapeutic journey and postpartum as she recovered from birth trauma and postnatal depression.
Jessica is a novelist and screenwriter living in Frome. Born in California, she studied at Stanford and the Institute of Theatre in Barcelona before moving to London to work in film. Her first novel, The Serpent Papers, was published in 2015 to great acclaim. In 2018 she became the mother to twin boys. Birth Notes: A Memoir of Trauma, Motherhood and Recovery (published by Virago in 2022) was her first work of non-fiction, and explored her therapeutic journey and postpartum as she recovered from birth trauma and postnatal depression.