Nick Pitt
I started out in life as a software developer, designing software for the retail banking sector and spending far too much time working in the Middle East. I ended up working for ICE, going into primary schools and talking to children about Christianity! These two (rather disparate) occupations demonstrate so clearly how we can never presume to know exactly what it is that God has planned for our lives. (We can try and guess but we’re usually wrong – at least I was anyway!)
I was able to leave the IT profession in 2001. Still many years the ‘right side of 40’ I had plenty of time to embark upon a more meaningful endeavour. I’d long had a desire to work with children – particularly younger children – so in 2004 I undertook a PGCE course at Exeter University. Shortly after qualifying as a primary school teacher I started working at a school in Torquay, where I remained for several years.
During the summer of 2015, God opened a door for me to join ICE Torbay. During my Christian life I’ve always had a passion for working with young people and children, and this position created so many opportunities to do this, in a variety of creative and imaginative ways.
I’d spent a number of years at our church (Christ Church, Paignton) sharing the Gospel with children and young people, doing Bible teaching, games, drama, crafts and many more activities. I’d been actively involved in church-based youth and children’s work for over 10 years which gave me some vital experience to bring to my new role.
Hazel Sercombe
I was blessed to be brought up in a Christian family and to grow up with plenty of wonderful Christian role models. I was encouraged in my faith and supported in youth groups and summer camps. It was some of these people who inspired me to want to work with children and young people and to aspire to be a positive role model to them.
I trained as primary school teacher and worked in London until my children came along, when we moved to Devon; back to the South West where I grew up. Since then I have worked part time as a teacher and raised my family, as well as helping in church based youth groups and Sunday Clubs. In addition to this I have been privileged to volunteer at the same Christian summer camp that I went to as a teenager.
In 2017, the opportunity arose to volunteer with ICE Torbay and then God opened the door for me to become part of the ICE team and OTB Coordinator for Torbay. This has brought together all the skills I have learned over the years into a role serving God and working with children, the two things close to my heart.
Judith Baker
Hello! I’m Judith (most people call me Jude) and in January 2022 I joined the ICE team as their part-time Administrator; helping to support Nick and Hazel and the Trustees with all the administrative and governance tasks. Part of my role will also be promoting the work of ICE within the Torbay and south Devon area.
I’m married to Neil, and we have a 5-year-old called Joshua. Neil, Joshua and I are part of the church family at Upton Vale in Torquay. Neil’s part of the tech team, helping with their hybrid (in person/online) services each week. I also work there part-time as their Communications Lead, helping our church to communicate well through our online platforms (website, social media etc) and internally within the church family. Prior to having Joshua, I worked at Upton Vale full-time as the Church Office and Premises Manager with responsibility for running the building and managing an office and caretaking team of 12 and before that I was an Executive Assistant to an Operations Director at a housing company. In my younger years, I’ve helped run a children’s group at my previous church and I’ve been a leader at Christian camps. All these experiences and skills I now bring to use as I join the ICE team.
Karen Silcox
My name is Karen and I work for a number of small charities both locally and nationally supporting with their business administration including ICE Torbay. I attend a church in Exeter with my husband and two children aged 13 and 9. In my spare time I like playing badminton and doing quizzes.
Trustees
George Bartlett, Chair
Graham Massey, Secretary
Gill Harris
David Ball
Kath Bartlett