Meet the Chief Executive & the Board of Trustees
MEET THE FACILITATORS
Paul Press
Paul's favourite film is Amelie.
Paul is the Founder and Chief Executive of the Foundation. He has been in the Film & Television Industry all his life, working both in front and behind the camera. In 2008, he started the first young people’s film-making group, which quickly grew into the Foundation, achieving charity status in 2015.
In Paul’s role as Chief Executive, he works alongside the Board of Trustees in writing funding proposals, working on policies to do with safeguarding and first aid, along with a whole heap of other things! He works with young people to help design the workshops, and understand new and exciting ideas that young people want to see from the Foundation.
Since 2015 the charity has grown each year due to the hard work of Paul, James, Trustees and the 40 ex-young filmmakers who return every year to help facilitate the workshops, passing on their knowledge in the TV and Film industry culminating in over 50 workshops in 2022 alone.
Dr. Paul Nicholas
Paul's favourite film is Ace in the Hole.
Paul’s background includes 30 years’ experience as a sound recordist, various posts as an applications specialist in the scientific instrument sector and conducting research on liquid crystals and instrumentation development.
Latterly, Paul collaborated closely with schools and colleges throughout Suffolk on behalf of the Suffolk Education Business Partnership to promote science and engineering.
Now retired, Paul is delighted to hold the position of Chairman for the Offshoot Foundation.
James Mckellar
James's favourite film is Ace Ventura.
James started working with the Offshoot Foundation in 2019 in conjunction with his Senior Campaign Marketing Manager role at our partner and sponsor Videndum Production Solutions.
James brings experience from holding marketing roles in number of multinational companies together with his business degree and chartered institute of marketing qualifications. James work’s on developing our new website, attending workshops and outreach in the local community to help elevate the status of the charity and make sure we’re getting the right awareness and support in local communities.
Leighann Beales
Leighann's favourite film is Bride & Prejudice.
Leighann is an HR professional with approximately 20 years of experience in an operational role. She currently works for a global FM company, overseeing colleagues at all levels.
Leighann became involved with The Offshoot Foundation when her son started attending workshops around 8 years ago. She joined the board of trustees in the summer of 2023 to lend her support to the foundation, drawing on her HR expertise and broader understanding of operational and commercial matters. Outside of work, she enjoys maintaining her fitness, participating in the local Park Run, and spending time socializing with friends and family. As a trustee, Leighann hopes to contribute to the foundation’s ongoing growth and to gain valuable experience in supporting young people.
Paul Brown
Paul's favourite films is Jaws.
Director of Strategy and Primary Care in the NHS. An award winning health tech innovator and Director of Product Development at Virt Turi, a cutting edge Suffolk Based clinical avatar and AI healthcare company.
Paul has served for over a decade as the finance trustee on the board of trustees for The Offshoot Foundation. His financial expertise has been instrumental in supporting the foundation’s mission. Committed to improving healthcare accessibility and quality, Paul’s dedication to his professional and philanthropic endeavors underscores his desire to make a meaningful difference in the community.
Ann Cloke
Ann's favourite film is Vertigo.
Ann spent many years working in the public sector on funding for education and training, finishing by working for the Suffolk Education Business Partnership. Here she worked on a number of different initiatives including managing the STEM Ambassador programme across Suffolk, promoting STEM subjects and linking employers working in science, engineering and maths with schools. Whilst there she met Paul Press and was invited to join the Offshoot Foundation Board of Trustees in 2013.
As the work grew she took over responsibility for Safeguarding to ensure the necessary policies and procedures are in place and followed. She is delighted to see how, under Paul’s guidance, the Foundation has grown from strength to strength and to see how young people benefit from the opportunities it provides.
Anna Burns
Anna's favourite film is Fallen Angels.
“I believe that what the Foundation can offer is something that is limited within the frame of institutionalised education. The creative workshops enable the children not only to develop their own ideas and creativity, but furthermore enhance desirable soft skills including collaboration, reflection, initiative and communication. The workshops give children the insight into an industry they would otherwise not have the opportunity to explore.”
James Heard
James's favourite film is Joker.
“I work and volunteer for The Offshoot Foundation not for the kid who sits there screaming about how much they love acting, or for those students that come back to our workshops every year. I do it to help inspire the growth of a person. To see how in such a short amount of time, a child can go from being unable to bring themselves to say ‘Hello’ on the first day, to winning an oscar on day 5, because that’s what the Foundation did for me.”
Ashley Stafford
Ashley's favourite film in Captain Phillips.
“Meeting and working with you has changed my life. I never thought I would amount to much and was told that by many people. You showed me that with commitment and hard work, I can achieve. Thank you for showing faith in me and giving me a focus in life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.”
Hannah Tatum
Hannah's favourite film is The Greatest Showman
“I love working for the Foundation. I enjoy working with different children, getting to know them, and seeing their development throughout the workshop, is one of the best parts of it! Helping the children with their ideas, then seeing them having fun while creating their projects is so nice to see.”
Zara Frost
Zara's favourite film is Fantastic Mr. Fox.
As a facilitator, inspiring and encouraging the children is a very rewarding feeling. Seeing them progress from wanting to work independently, and stay quiet, to gaining the confidence to make new friends, work in a team, and be unafraid to voice their ideas is amazing.
Providing them with tools and knowledge, then giving them artistic freedom, their creativity knows no bounds, which is a wonderful thing to see. It’s great to inspire the children, and be inspired in return.”
Mia Urwin
Mia's favourite film is Everything Everywhere All At Once.
“I’m Mia, I’m originally from Colchester, and am currently studying medicine at university. For me the best thing about working for Offshoot is seeing every child realise that film making is something they can do- it’s so nice to see a change in confidence over the course of the workshops.”
Evie Press
Evie's favourite film is the Muppet's Christmas Carrol.
“I’m Evie and I’ve been with Offshoot for 13 years now- first as a student and now as a facilitator. I love working with Offshoot, not only to develop my own leadership, communication and technical skills, but because I get to watch the young people learn the exact same skills. A young person can flourish so much in just a week, and to be able to support and facilitate that growth in confidence is such a wonderful thing! Whether you want to learn about the industry, develop your soft skills, or just be creative, I highly recommend getting involved with the Offshoot Foundation in any and every capacity!”
Lucy Molnar
Lucy's favourite film is The Emperor's New Groove.
“Hiya! I’m Lucy, owner of two cats and member of Offshoot best known for asking questions like “which shape of pasta would you be if you could choose?” It’s always a joy to encourage our workshops to think outside the box and see what creative ideas they have brewing. We love seeing what they come up with!”
Tilly Wilson
Tilly's favourite film is Stardust.
I started working with Offshoot, as a workshop facilitator, in the spring of 2022 whilst completing my undergraduate degree in Anthropology. Now studying for my master’s in Public Health, I have continued to help run workshops during school holidays. I have always been passionate about acting and creative media, so being able to share this enthusiasm through the workshops is a lot of fun. I especially love seeing the children’s confidence grow over the course of the week, as they gain new film skills and explore their creativity.
Tyler Gore
Tyler's favourite film is A Star is Born.
Hey, I’m Tyler. I started working with The Offshoot Foundation in 2023. I enjoy the relaxed nature of the workshops that enable young people to participate in the activities they’re most passionate about and learn new skills. All of the facilitators who work with The Offshoot are extremely friendly and happy to support every child that attends and I believe the culture is something anyone would be lucky to experience.
John Magowen
John's favourite film is Zodiac.
I’m a college filmmaker studying at West Suffolk College, and my journey with The Offshoot Foundation began in secondary school when I attended one of their workshops. It provided me with a fantastic opportunity to practice and develop my passion for filmmaking. Since then, I’ve gone on to contribute to various Offshoot projects and assist in running workshops, building my skills and experience across different aspects of film production.
Finlay Higgins
Finlay's favourite film is Parasite.
My name is Finlay, and I am a dedicated creative with a passion for film, television, and media that began at the age of 11. My interest in film and TV evolved into a clear career path, leading me to study Film, TV, and Creative Media at college, before progressing to a Film Production degree at the University of Lincoln. During my time at university, I honed my skills further by working as a freelance video producer for the university’s Student Life sector in my third and final year.
Beyond work and studies, I enjoy exploring analogue photography, music, and skateboarding, all of which reflect my love for creativity and my hands-on approach to pursuing my interests.