Meet The SADS UK Team
Hello from the team...
The SADS UK Team are committed to helping people who call the charity.
Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) has touched our lives personally and we understand the care and support that is needed by people who contact us. The premature death of a healthy person is incomprehensible and devastating. We find some people need information to help them try to make some sense of what seems to make no sense at all. The charity has medical advisors specialised in SADS and inherited cardiac conditions who help explain what may have happened to a loved one.
We are passionate in supporting anyone impacted by:-
- the sudden loss of a loved one
- a sudden cardiac arrest
- being involved/witnessing a sudden cardiac arrest incident
- a recent diagnosis
- the experience of living with an inherited cardiac condition
We provide a listening ear and guide people to the help they need.
All of the Team are here for you.
Anne Jolly MBE, BACP Accr. Cllr
SADS UK Co-Founder and CEO
Anne set up the Ashley Jolly SAD Trust, SADS UK after the sudden death of her previously healthy 16 year old son Ashley in 1998 to Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS). Her aims were to save lives in Ashley’s memory.
Her personal experience and qualifications in counselling help her to empathise and assist people who contact SADS UK who may have been bereaved, living with a cardiac condition, or whose lives have been impacted by suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. Anne has a background in providing support, has an advanced diploma in counselling and is a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy accredited counsellor.
Anne is passionate about working with individuals, schools and the community to put defibrillators and training in place. The SADS UK Big Shock Campaign resulted in all schools being provided with defibrillators.
A very important part of Anne’s work with SADS UK includes funding institutes researching into arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.
Anne was awarded an MBE in 2017 by Prince William for her life-saving work and raising awareness of inherited cardiac conditions and SADS.
John Jolly MBE
SADS UK Co-Founder and Technical Director
With an extensive background in design engineering with Ford Motor Company. John developed the first affordable charity defibrillator cabinet in 2012 . Working with ambulance services around the country and with a special 999 deal set up with the East Midlands Ambulance Service in 2016 enabling thousands of defibrillators to be installed in the community that were available day or night. John has continued to inspect and evaluate defibrillator cabinets to ensure their suitability in the community with Community Public Access Defibrillators (CPADs) now being made widely available. John was awarded an MBE for his work by the then, Prince Charles.
Linda Casey
CEO & Counsellor
Since joining SADS UK, I have been overwhelmed and inspired by the importance of our work in raising awareness of SADS and all inherited cardiac conditions.
I am passionate about supporting those affected by SADS and other cardiac conditions. My personal experience and qualifications in counselling have enabled me to empathise and support those who have sadly been bereaved, living with cardiac conditions and been involved in carrying out CPR during a cardiac arrest incident.
My background experience in running businesses and lecturing in art history for many years have enabled me to utilise those transferable skills to support and work collaboratively with our Team at SADS UK.
I am very passionate about the work we do at SADS UK and am privileged to be part of the SADS Family.
Andrea Patient
Defibrillator Manager
Andrea joined SADS UK in 2010. As well as having a sound financial background, Andrea has experience in holistic therapy, focusing on the whole person bringing the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional aspects together. This understanding helps Andrea when speaking with people who contact the charity. Her main role at SADS UK is liaising with defibrillator manufacturers, ambulance service personnel and other organisations, organising CPR and defibrillator training. There is little Andrea doesn’t know about defibrillators and cabinets they are sited in. Over the years she has enabled the installation of thousands of Community Public Access Defibrillators, CPADs. After taking into consideration all your criteria Andrea will tailor which defibrillator and cabinet will suit your needs best. She will be there to answer any questions you have initially and remain a friendly voice to contact throughout. She will be able to order replacement pads and batteries with ease, during the lifespan of your defibrillator. If you require defibrillator training or refresher training Andrea will organise this for you also. As with every defibrillator placed in the community, Andrea will register it on The Circuit – National Defibrillator Network and GoodSAM ensuring it is visible to the ambulance service.
Tracy Caulfield
Fundraising Manager
Tracy joined SADS UK in 2022 . Tracy is keen to give support to passionate fundraisers; individuals, groups, schools and the community who share SADS UK’s mission to raise awareness for SADS UK.
Tracy is living with a heart condition herself (HOCM) an inherited condition that affects the heart muscle. She has lost many members of her family to heart disease, and for this reason Tracy is able to empathise with the SADS UK community.
Tracy comes from a background of working with young people. Her supportive, kind and caring nature along with her organisation skills and the attention to detail help carry out such an important role to develop positive and supportive relationships with all our fundraisers. Tracy has the ability to show not only sensitivity and empathy but also to encourage a long-term relationship with SADS UK.
Tracy said “every day I am reminded of how important SADS UK work is – not just in for medical research, but in providing hope and support to those affected by SADS and other inherited conditions. The partnership I build with fundraisers is crucial to driving the life-saving work we do forward. I am proud to be part of such a dedicated team “
Debbie Allen
Office Administrator and Counsellor
My initial meeting with the amazing team members of SADS UK was when I was invited to attend one of the events that the charity was holding at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre, Basildon University Hospital.
I was bowled over by the love, care and knowledge present in the room.
The work carried out by the team to heighten awareness, inform and support all those affected by SADS was remarkable.
As a qualified counsellor I had attended the event to provide emotional support for those attendees wishing to sit and take part in talking therapy.
Watching such dedication and positive energy flowing from the SADS team as they endeavoured to make a difference to all those present and to really put SADS on the map and do everything that could possibly be done to stop SADS, inspired me to want to become increasingly involved in this incredible work.
Following the event, I was invited to meet the team at the office in West Horndon, which I am delighted to say has now become my place of work.
I have learned so much and continue to learn every day here at SADS UK enabling me to join the Team in the amazing work that they carry out.
Since joining the SADS UK Team, my role has developed and I am now very much involved with the counselling side of things.
This position is both extremely satisfying and rewarding and every day I go home with a true sense of fulfilment, I have never had such an amazing job!
I have also attended several of the main SADS UK events and meeting and supporting our membershas been an honour and a privilegeas is working for SADS UK.
