Meet Our Team
SAILs Directors
Matthew Bell
Group CEO and Director of SAILs VS
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Matthew Bell brings a wealth of experience as a practising organisational and business psychologist, with cutting-edge expertise in leadership, well-being, inclusive practices, and personal and organisational development. His extensive background in education complements his passion for addressing systemic challenges, driving meaningful change, and evolving organisations for the benefit of all.
As a specialist coach in vocational rehabilitation and educational reintegration for neurodiverse individuals, Matthew is dedicated to fostering inclusion and unlocking potential. He lectures on higher education programmes and has been published in international journals. His groundbreaking Universal Framework for Skill Development reflects his commitment to evidence-based practices that enhance inclusion, diversity, and performance.
Matthew holds an MSc in Occupational and Business Psychology, an MA in Education, and an MBA in Leading Global Operations. He is also HCPC-registered, ensuring the highest standards in his professional practice.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Matthew is an adventurer at heart. He enjoys music and drumming, hillwalking, mountaineering, rock climbing, carpentry, and even crafting guitars. His passion for growth and creativity fuels his innovative leadership at SAILs.
Anna French
Managing Director of SAILs Education
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Anna brings over 20 years of dedicated experience to her role as Director of Education at SAILs. A passionate educator and team builder, Anna has worked tirelessly with young people, their families, and support agencies to create meaningful pathways to success for those who may not fit within the traditional educational framework.
With a proven track record as a Vice Principal and SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator), Anna has cultivated a deep understanding of the challenges faced by learners with SEND. Her commitment to building systems that effectively meet the unique needs of each student has earned her widespread respect in the field of education.
Anna thrives on supporting and empowering young people who navigate non-traditional educational journeys, helping them find confidence and purpose. She believes in working collaboratively with families and agencies to foster environments where every learner can thrive.
Her leadership at SAILs reflects her unwavering dedication to making education accessible, inclusive, and impactful. Anna’s work is driven by a love for people, an unrelenting pursuit of innovation, and the belief that every young person deserves an opportunity to reach their full potential.
Gabriella Hadley
Managing DIrector of SAILs Psychology
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As Managing Director of SAILs Psychology, Gabriella Hadley brings a rare blend of clinical insight, operational rigour, and relational warmth to every facet of the organisation. With a background in complex case management, neurorehabilitation and observational assessment, she leads with a strengths-based approach that honours autonomy, dignity, and complexity. Her practice is rooted in trauma-informed care and co-designed systems, ensuring that every client experience is safe, empowering, and deeply attuned to individual needs. Gabriella’s leadership is both visionary and grounded; she builds transparent, values-led frameworks that support sustainable growth across clinical, educational, and operational domains.
Beyond her role, Gabriella is a committed researcher and sector advocate, actively shaping the future of complex injury and neurorehabilitation through strengths-based assessment frameworks and collaborative innovation. She’s passionate about ongoing development, both personal and professional, and believes deeply in the power of reflective practice to transform care. Her work is not just about service delivery, it’s about reimagining how support and intervention is commissioned, experienced, and sustained, with clarity, compassion, and a fierce commitment to relational healing.
Education Leadership Team
Laura Kenny
Director of Education
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Laura is a highly qualified and experienced educator, bringing a wealth of expertise in curriculum design, teaching, and leadership to her role as Director of Education – Curriculum at SAILs. With extensive experience in both mainstream and special education settings, she has a passion for creating accessible, inclusive curricula that cater to neurodivergent learners and students with a wide range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Laura’s dedication to excellence in education is reflected in her ongoing professional development. She is currently completing a diploma in Digital Learning Design, building on her recent achievement of a Level 7 Certificate in Psychometric Testing for Exam Access Arrangement Assessment. These qualifications enhance her ability to design innovative, learner-centred programs that make education more equitable and impactful.
Beyond her contributions to teaching and curriculum development, Laura has held Senior Leadership Team roles, where her expertise in strategy and communication often draws upon her Master’s degree in PR and Communications. Her extensive background includes serving as Head of English and Literacy, Senior School SENDCo, and other influential positions within the education field.
Laura's focus is on transforming educational practices through creativity, accessibility, and a deep commitment to the success of every learner. Her work reflects a belief that all students deserve opportunities to thrive, regardless of their challenges or starting points.
Ria Povey
Business Manager
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Ria brings a unique blend of strategic vision, organisational expertise, and creative flair to her role as Business Manager at SAILs. With a BA in Geography and a PGCE in Secondary Education, Ria combines her academic foundation with years of hands-on experience as a Marketing Director, driving impactful campaigns and initiatives.
Her multifaceted career journey also includes achieving an AAT Level 2 Bookkeeping qualification, equipping her with the financial acumen to manage resources efficiently and support the operational success of the organisation.
A former rugby player, Ria is no stranger to teamwork, resilience, and determination—qualities she channels into her work at SAILs. Her ability to coordinate diverse projects and foster collaboration ensures that the SAILs team operates seamlessly and continues to deliver transformative support for its clients.
Outside the office, Ria’s passion for fostering growth extends to mentoring and empowering others, embodying the values at the heart of SAILs.
Sarah Kennedy
Director of Communications & Partnerships
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Sarah is a professional in the field of SEND with over 16 years’ experience working with individuals and their families, both in educational settings and on behalf of the Local Authority. Having worked across a number of different Local Authorities in a variety of roles, she brings a wealth of experience and a comprehensive understanding of the SEND landscape. Her work has spanned case management, placement coordination, and admissions, giving her a unique insight into how to secure the best possible outcomes for children and young people who require additional support.
In her current role within Admissions at SAILs, she draws on her extensive knowledge of Local Authority processes and expectations to ensure every placement is appropriate, timely, and centred around each learner’s individual needs. She understands the significant pressures faced by Local Authorities and the growing demand for high-quality alternative provision. With this perspective, she is committed to building strong, collaborative relationships that make the admissions process both efficient and empathetic — supporting schools, families, and professionals to achieve the best possible outcomes for every learner.
Operational Services Team
Lucie Smerdova
Practice Manager
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TBC
Jasmine Noble-Clarke
Assistant Psychologist
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Jasmine Noble-Clarke brings a thoughtful, compassionate, and strong academic foundation to her role as Assistant Psychologist at SAILs. With a background in neuroscience and postgraduate training in psychology, she is committed to inclusive, person-centred practice that supports individuals and families across a range of needs and contexts.
Jasmine completed her BSc in Neuroscience at the University of Exeter and is currently studying for a master’s in psychology alongside working with SAILs. Her academic work reflects a strong evidence-based approach, including research into pain modulation, depression, and the therapeutic potential of nature-based interventions. Jasmine holds a particular interest in brain injury and neurodevelopment, and is keen to develop this understanding through innovative practice within SAILs.
Alongside her studies, Jasmine has gained experience across healthcare, research, and community contexts. As a Community First Aider with St John Ambulance, she has developed a calm and reflective approach, grounded in empathy, practical support, and responsiveness to individual needs.
Outside of her role at SAILs, Jasmine enjoys staying active and travelling, and has spent time working alongside a psychiatrist and neurosurgeon in Vietnam, gaining insight into neurological and psychological care in different cultural contexts. She brings curiosity, openness, and a strong commitment to learning into her work with clients, families, and colleagues.
Hafsa Saeed
Paralegal
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Hafsa is a Paralegal at SAILs Navigate, where she supports children, young people, and families as they navigate education and legal processes. She holds a LLB and is currently completing an LLM in Public International Law and Human Rights. Through both her academic work and professional experience, Hafsa has developed a strong interest in human rights and access to justice, particularly in ensuring that legal systems are understandable and responsive to the people they are designed to serve.
Alongside her role at SAILs, Hafsa has gained experience across policy, advocacy, and access-to-justice settings. She has worked on prison advocacy matters and supported legal aid charities, gaining insight into the barriers faced by individuals who are often excluded from mainstream legal support. During a parliamentary internship, she also contributed to a youth homelessness campaign, strengthening her understanding of how individual legal issues connect with wider social and policy challenges.
Beyond her professional work, Hafsa enjoys reading and spending time with friends. She brings a thoughtful, people-focused approach to her work, shaped by curiosity, empathy, and a commitment to fairness. Hafsa’s long-term goal is to qualify as a human rights solicitor and continue working in areas of law that protect dignity and promote meaningful access to justice.
Who we are
Supporting Achievement and Inclusion for Life (SAILs) is on a mission to empower people to become autonomous and build self-improving communities whether this be within their education journey or further along in their employment. We strive to support the hardest-to-reach young people and adults into education or work through our innovative and expert-led approach comprised of coaching, training, group facilitation, leadership development and policy change.
We are dedicated to creating personalised education pathways for learners with special educational needs (SEND) and acquired brain injuries (ABI). We believe every child deserves a supportive, adaptive environment that fosters growth, independence, and success.
Through empowering individuals and organisations we seek to promote systemic change for the benefit of all.
“One of my most complex clients with a brain injury from birth exhibited behaviours where he was disengaged from services, from education and in a downwards spiral. The mainstream education system failed him. Since SAILs has been involved, through little and often bespoke sessions, he began to see value in learning, himself, and obtaining qualifications for both life skills and indirectly academics. He is now as motivated as he has ever been, has the self-esteem to travel and explore, to learn and to achieve, and progress in a manner which was previously impossible.”
- Curtis Hadley | Case Manager | Community Case Management Services Ltd
To empower individuals and organisations to achieve their full potential through a customised, evidence-based approach to learning and development.
Mission
Vision
To be the leading provider of bespoke diagnostics, support and development solutions.
