Our team
Executive Director
Steve Midgley
Over the past 10 years Steve has been involved in teaching courses in biblical counselling at Oak Hill College and leads the Biblical Counselling UK team. He is on the boards of both CCEF and the Biblical Counseling Coalition. Formerly the vicar of Christ Church Cambridge, Steve continues to serve the church family there. Before ordination he trained as a psychiatrist.
Director of Training and Resources
Helen Thorne-Allenson
Helen is an experienced speaker, counsellor and author whose recent books include Hope in an Anxious World, Walking with Domestic Abuse Sufferers, Purity is Possible, Real Change and Real Change for Students. She has completed CCEF’s certificate courses and holds an MA in Applied Theology.
Director of the Certificate Programme
Andrew Collins
Andrew has spent many years working as a consultant psychiatrist in Belfast alongside part-time work providing biblical counselling. He is an elder at his church in Portadown, Northern Ireland. He tutors on the BCUK Certificate Programme in Belfast. In collaboration with others, Andrew is responsible for taking the lead in developing the Certificate Programme and other advanced skills training.
Director of Finance and Operations
Tarita Smallwood
After working in public practice she spent eight years as the Women’s Pastoral Worker at Christ Church Cambridge before switching to being their Finance and HR Manager. She continues this role alongside her work for Biblical Counselling UK. She holds a Certificate in Biblical Counselling with CCEF, has studied on the Cornhill Training Course and is involved in pastoral care in her local church. She is a Fellow Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW.
Head of Communications
Andrew McKenna
Alongside his role at BCUK Andrew works part-time as a musician and music instructor, following 13 years in church ministry. He also serves as a trustee of the Music Ministry Foundation. Andrew is responsible for BCUK’s external positioning and leading our messaging, including oversight of our website.
Director of the Church-based Intern Scheme
Amanda Cook
Amanda holds an MA in Counselling from Westminster Theological Seminary and trained with CCEF prior to moving to the UK. She has had the joy of overseeing the BCUK Intern Scheme since its beginning in 2016.
Senior Administrator
Sydnie Jordan
Sydnie has studied online with CCEF and has experience in church administration.
Assistant Administrator
Anna Goodwin-Hudson
Anna has completed a number of biblical counselling courses with CCEF and BCUK, and now has the privilege of serving the BCUK students in an administrative capacity.
Finance and Operations Administrator
Wendy Whiffin
Wendy has studied on BCUK’s Certificate Course alongside her previous role as Operations Manager for Bishop Hannington Church. Prior to that Wendy held a variety of roles in the areas of office management and operations. Wendy is responsible for supporting Tarita with the financial management, operations, HR and development work for BCUK.
Executive Assistant to Steve Midgley
Ruth Roberts
Ruth has studied on BCUK’s Certificate Course alongside working 1 day per week as Steve Midgley’s Executive Assistant. She has worked many years in this role for Steve in his previous capacity as Vicar of Christ Church Cambridge and now works for BCUK. Previously Ruth was a primary school teacher.
Training and Resources Assistant
Nicola Eggertsen
Nicola completed the Biblical Counselling Certificate Programme with BCUK in 2018 and is now a tutor and grader. She runs a “Soul Care” practice and is studying for certification with the Association of Biblical Counselors. She is a Lay Pastoral Assistant at her church and involved in ministry alongside her husband (who is the vicar). Nicola is half-Egyptian and was previously a secondary English teacher.
Board of Trustees
Mike Warren
Mike is Vicar of St Peter’s Tunbridge Wells. He has completed the BCUK Certificate Course and serves as the chair of trustees for BCUK.
Allan Beckett
Allan runs Carnelian, an executive search and board advisory business. He is involved in an FIEC church in Canterbury, where he leads the pastoral counselling ministry. He has completed the BCUK Certificate Course.
Katherine Cornes
Katherine and her husband have recently retired after many years in parish ministry and are now based in Eastbourne. She has completed the BCUK Certificate Course.
Stuart Hull
Stuart lives in Dorset working as a Chartered Accountant in the NHS. He serves as church warden at St John’s Wimborne and has completed the BCUK Foundations Certificate.
Joanna Jackson
Joanna Jackson is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist. She has been involved in teaching and training of biblical counselling in a variety of settings and also works one-to-one with people offering biblical counselling in a more formal context.
Sally Orwin Lee
Sally provides biblical counselling, discipling and mentoring in local churches across the North West. She is a Recitation Instructor and Consultation Facilitator for BCUK.
Fred Paton
Fred is a qualified accountant by background and has recently retired. He is based near Banstead where he serves as a deacon at his church. He has completed the BCUK Certificate Course.
Abigail Richardson
Abigail is a qualified counsellor who has worked over several years with both adults and children. In more recent years she has increasingly seen how the Bible speaks to all of life and has completed the Dynamics of Biblical Counselling module with BCUK. Abigail now serves alongside her husband who is the pastor of their small local church in London. She continues to use her counselling skills to support individuals within her local church and provides counselling to the wider body of Christ.
Christine Robinson
Christine has recently retired and divides her time between Enfield and Spalding. She is involved with pastoral care and runs a bereavement cafe to support the church and local community. She has completed the BCUK certificate course.
Roxana Stanciu
Roxana is the Director of Operations and Development at Christ Church Mayfair. Prior to this role, she served as a member of the senior leadership team of CARE, a Christian UK charity.
