Our team

Almu (Facilitator), friendly person that would say hello to anyone that crosses her way, even if it is at 7am in the morning. She is a strong believer of gentle parenting, and gentle being! Her background on theatre, community projects and SEN schools, has given her the skill to be responsive and proactive to participant's needs. She is usually busy cooking delicious meals or working with the community by leading  local projects. She is constantly amazed about discovering new things about herself, her family, her neighbourhood and the planet in general. She is an incurable optimistic and will often start a collaboration by saying; "let's picture the big dream first, there is always a way to adapt.

Irina ​(Facilitator) is a mother of three wonderful and active kids. She is a passionate reader and writer. Since having her first child in 2014 Irina dived into the world of joy and happiness. She has been facilitating playgroups for over 10 years, developing her storytelling skills and supporting families with her wider experience in coaching and psychology. Irina believes we should all treasure our inner child and see the best in the world. Her creative side helps her to come up with endless games and ideas, so planning with her is always productive. Her degree in economics helps her to stay organised, be familiar with budget and keep on track with her busy schedule.

Jolanta ​(Support staff) is a dedicated teacher and a mother to a lovely daughter. From a young age, she dreamt of becoming a teacher, vividly recalling her childhood days spent playing "school" with dolls and teddies. That dream became a reality, and she has since expanded her expertise. She is not only an early years educator but also a specialist in Special Educational Needs (SEN) and a qualified speech and language therapist. Jolanta finds great joy in working directly with children and their families, crafting engaging activities that foster skill development, particularly in language and communication — her area of expertise. Outside of her professional life, she likes cats, enjoys baking and taking peaceful, solitary walks along the beach.

Lauren (Facilitator) is a mum of two super girls who love being mini leaders at Cocoon whenever they get a chance to hehe :) With a background in childcare and education, she creates a supportive environment. As a yoga teacher for both kids and adults, she incorporates mindfulness and relaxation. With healthcare experience as a trained phlebotomist and first aid knowledge, safety is always a priority. Whether reading, singing, or preparing snacks, Lauren loves bringing the community together in a welcoming space where everyone feels connected.

Natalia (Founder and executive director), a community builder and mother of 2 chatty girls. She is a strong believer in the impact of an early intervention and raising children within a supportive village. After 15 years as an Early Years Teacher, life took a wild turn when she hopped on the parenting rollercoaster. Suddenly, her expertise was being put to the test at home! Her hands on approach and passion brought her to explore other ideas such as consultancy jobs and finally she felt the need of starting a new adventure: bringing families together to empower one another. She likes reading ancient philosophy, dancing when nobody is watching and eating popcorn.

Olimpia (Support staff), a mother of 2 with wider experience in economics. She is usually ready to play, bake delicious cakes and nobody can stop her when she is around. She enjoys spending quality time with her family, traveling and exploring new healthy recipes. With a career behind her as an economist and banker, she doesn't feel safe in the world of numbers anymore and has shifted discovering that working with children and families is much more fun and rewarding.
Having a lot to learn, she is not afraid, because she feels all the support and guidance from her colleagues, and the most important thing is that she started believing in her own powers.

Stella (Facilitator and admin support), a mum of three little monkeys, jumping on the sofa…is the facilitator behind the guitar! She used to think quite highly of herself—and with an MSc in Educational Psychology and a track record of teaching both neurotypical and SEND children, who can blame her? But don’t worry, her children are always there to keep her humble, proving that the real parenting degree is earned in the field (and probably involves more snacks and negotiations than textbooks!). In our sessions, Stella entertains with her singing and guitar, attracting a swarm of inquisitive little fingers and inspiring some future musical prodigies—or at least giving them a reason to make noise! 

Vanessa (Support staff and Volunteer Manager), mother of a 4-year old girl, dedicated to family and friends. She learned to raise her little girl on her own and always tries her best to come up with activities and adventures. Her experience in childcare settings working closely with children provided her with joy and knowledge of teaching as well as ideas of how to set up the areas of learning at the venues we run sessions. She knows how to approach people with her friendly smile, making others feel appreciated and coordinating surprise birthday parties when possible. During her spare time, she likes to read books, sing in the shower and her biggest temptation is chocolate.

David (​Fundraising, Finance & IT Manager) is a logical thinker with a talent for structure and organisation - he can turn a spreadsheet into a masterpiece and loves finding pragmatic solutions where others see problems. With over 15 years of experience in corporate planning, financial management, and delivering Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions through Salesforce, he's worked in industries from banking to publishing (and survived!). His attention to detail is rivalled only by his ability to keep his inbox at zero. Now balancing part-time work to stay deeply involved in his children's lives, his two lively kids have taught him to embrace the wonderful chaos that comes with family life. A lifelong learner, he enjoys cooking, practicing Judo, and diving into philosophy.

Calu (Graphic & web designer) is an artivist with a passion for illustration, infographics, and alternative ways of living. Their journey, shaped by migrations both internal and external, has led them deep into anti-oppression work and LGBTQ+ activism. Versatility is their superpower—whether they’re dressed up as a banana giving out free hugs, leading salsa classes for hundreds, or lecturing at universities in London, they bring their playfulness and creativity to everything they do.