Katie Hanchard-Goodwin
CEO
Katie joined BAS in April 2025. Katie brings with her over 10 years’ experience leading charities within the VCSE sector. She previously headed the Hillfields Family and Community Trust and, before that, was CEO of Bristol Playbus. During her time at Bristol Playbus, Katie designed and launched the city’s first mobile Sensory Truck, taking sensory experiences to children and young people across the region.
Louise Mills
Operations Manager / Peer Educator
Louise manages day to day operations for the charity and the Operations Team. Louise has 3 children and first came to BAS support meetings when her eldest daughter was diagnosed as autistic in 2018 after a 6 year long fight for support. Her son received a diagnosis of autism during the coronavirus lockdown. Both her son and daughter have since been diagnosed with ADHD. Louise undertakes regular courses to enhance her knowledge of Autism, ADHD and SEN support. Louise also works supporting autistic young people and volunteers to support other parent organisations/charities in Bristol. See Louise’s One Page Profile
Eneris Leston
Finance Assistant
Eneris is our finance assistant at BAS and is very new to the organisation, having started with us in July 2024. Eneris likes swimming and watching football but doesn’t like running. Eneris will be supporting all of our Finance duties at BAS.
How to contact me: eneris.leston@bristolautismsupport.org
Jonny Gilder
Social Media and Marketing Manager
Jonny runs Marketing With Jonny, a Social Media agency specialising in the sports industry that is focused on delivering end-to-end social media management with empathy, kindness and inclusivity. Jonny has lived experience of autism with close family members who are autistic. See Jonny’s One Page Profile
Kim Gryniewicz
Administrator & Membership Manager / Peer Educator
Kim is mum to two autistic teenage boys and has been involved with BAS for some time. Kim is a regular volunteer at our in person support groups and coffee mornings. Kim manages our enquiries service, newsletters and day to day administration for BAS.
Lizzie Witchard
Helpline Co-ordinator and Volunteer Mentor / Wrap Around Coordinator
Lizzie has been a part of BAS for nearly 10 years. She wears many hats within the organisation, offering parent support, running in-person groups and mentoring our volunteers. She co-ordinates our helpline as well. Lizzie is the mother of a teenage autistic daughter and is studying to be a counsellor. See Lizzie’s One Page Profile
Abby Francis
Hub Coordinator
Abby is the Hub Coordinator for the Autism Central Peer Education Programme. Abby comes to us with experience in customer service and project management roles most recently in primary and secondary education settings. See Abby’s One Page Profile
Loren Snow – Autistic Trainer and Facilitator
Loren has been teaching parents, autistic people, and healthcare staff about autism for almost a decade. They deliver various autism courses and groups with BAS. You can find out more about them on their website and their youtube, where they have over a hundred videos explaining everything about autism. As well as teaching with BAS they also deliver training to NHS staff and work in the NHS reviewing autistic patients’ care in mental health settings. See Loren Snow One Page Profile
Amy Phipps – Parent Trainer / Facilitator
Amy is an experienced autism trainer who has Dyscalculia delivers information sessions and our 6-week support groups / courses. Amy is mum to an autistic child and has worked in the field of autism for 20 years. A freelance trainer, delivering National Autistic Society’s training and Teenage Life with Bristol Autism Team. Amy manages the Autism Families website. See Amy’s One Page Profile.
April Iles
Wrap Around Coordinator
April has always had a passion for SEND. She has worked as a SEN Teacher in an SEMH school for 15 years. She has a son, a daughter, and a full of beans puppy! Her son has a diagnosis of autism and this ignighted April’s interest in autism and in supporting other families. April runs the Fishponds Coffee Morning and also works as a Wrap-Around-Co-ordinator for BAS
Saira Stringer
Wrap Around Coordinator
Saira has been a BAS volunteer for some time running our Easton coffee mornings and providing peer support. Saira has two children and is Bristol based. Saira started working in autism in a mainstream school as an SEN LSA before moving to a specialist school in the same role. More recently Saira has been working in family support and at Autism Independence. See Saira’s one Page profile
Vicky Cooksley
Wrap Around Coordinator
Vicky spent 16 years as a specialist teacher for students with additional needs and then went on to lecture at a college to help teach young people understand SEND. Vicky is a Certified Sleep Coach and you may recognise her from our Autism and Sleep sessions. Vicky is also Mum to two children and based in Devon.
If you have an autistic loved one of any age and are struggling, you can book onto our free information sessions on the Autism Central Website here. Or use this link to arrange a free 1-2-1 support call with us.
