David Smyth
Lead Pastor and Safeguarding Lead

Tony Barter
Leadership Team

Tony, a Chartered Insurance Practitioner, founded and ran his own business for many years and is an active advocate for a number of community projects.

Tony is a member of the Leadership Team, with responsibility for finance.

Martin Pearse
Leadership Team

James Aldridge
Leadership Team

James and his wife Esther are Connect Church members living in Street and have joined our Leadership group to support Families and Connect Life Groups.

James and Esther are very passionate about the Alpha course and about holistic spiritual development within the family.

David Townsend
Leadership Team

Pete Naylor
Community Work Manager

Pete is new to the Connect Centre and Wells, joining at the start of 2024. With previous experience in social care, education, and management, Pete has degrees in Health & Social Care, Theology, and postgraduate studies in Inclusive Theory & Practice.

Pete is married to the lovely Karen, and they share a passion for social justice, supporting those on the fringes of society, and ultimately desiring for people to know Jesus!

Suzanne Addicot
Community Projects Leader

Suzanne is married to Rob the farmer, and they have five wonderful kids; together they are also house parents for the Dairy House!

She loves people and is passionate about seeing them find freedom; she also enjoys everything creative. 

Ruth Wright
Community Worker

Ruth moved to Somerset with husband Gareth and son Toby in January 2024. She has joined the Connect Centre team as Community Worker. Prior to this Ruth managed a Church Community Centre in Leicestershire, supporting people who are lonely and isolated, those experiencing poor mental health and dementia. Previous experience has been in other management roles but also as a support worker for people with learning disabilities. She has a degree in music and a diploma in health and social care.

With her family, Ruth loves nature and wildlife but also relaxes by playing the piano. She enjoys getting alongside people to listen, support and encourage.

Clare Squire
Finance and Fundraising

I have worked as a Commercial Claims Inspector and was a Chartered Insurer.

After a career break I started working for Connect in September 2020 on the Finance Team and am currently training to be a Trust Fundraiser.

Ros Lavington
Bookkeeper

Part of the team administrating Connect Community Church’s finances.

Dylan Sawyer
Housing Team Leader

Dylan joined the team at the end of 2019 as a support worker and quickly stepped into the team leaders role at Dairy House.

He has a PhD, enjoys outdoor swimming and a good book.

Aaron Oats
Senior Housing Support Worker

Aaron is a support worker at the Dairy House and joined the team in September 2019. He’s married with 2 children.

Aaron feels passionate about helping people when they need it most.

And being able to offer support and guidance when needed,

Kate Dixon
Support Worker

After starting as a volunteer offering art and mindfullness sessions at The Dairy House, Kate moved on to Bank work and then to become a Housing Support Worker in 2022.

A trained psychotherapist and artist, she is keen to empower residents to find their inner creative as an aid to healing and recovery.

She is the member of staff at the Dairy House without a beard!

Jake Flood
Dairy House Support Worker

I experienced homelessness a long time ago [late 80’s early 90’s] sofa surfing and squatting and I was street homeless for a while, (fortunately a warm summer). I have never forgotten the invisibility I felt as I bounced from one place to the next with my belongings in a rucksack.

I worked in Mental Health for a long while before becoming a qualified counsellor / psychotherapist in 2011 specialising in trauma, (particularly male trauma) and surviving childhood abuse as an adult.

Prior to coming here, I was the manager in a safe house for male victims of trafficking and slavery as well as having my own private therapy practice.

Katharine Sorrill
Team Leader

I have worked as a specialist substance misuse nurse in residential drug and alcohol rehabs and prisons. Trained in adult general nursing in the 1990’s. I have worked in many settings including general wards, schools, youth centres and even a holiday camp .I Previously led the Connect Outreach Team here at the Connect centre.

This is a wonderful role, being able to be part of a team housing those most entrenched in homelessness and providing ongoing support is a privilege and a pleasure. I work with such a lovely group of people and there are so many new and interesting challenges every day.

Paul Kingston
Support Worker

I hold an Honours Degree in Experimental Psychology and began working in Human Services in Australia in the 1990's as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor mainly within the Commonwealth Government's Disability Services Dept.

On returning to the UK in the early 00's I settled in Somerset and spent 12 years in local Drug and Alcohol Services, had a brief spell working with the Community Mental Health Team and for nearly 7 years now have had the privilege of working at the Connect Centre with the Rough Sleeper Outreach Team, the Community Connect Team and most recently the Connected Housing First Team.

Tom Atton
Support Worker

Tom joins us from a largely substance misuse and criminal justice background but has also worked in supported housing in Swansea and more recently in Somerset.

He can be found at weekends working away on his allotment with his family where they reap and sow a variety of fruit and veg.