About Big Sis
Who we are
Big Sis are a bunch of passionate individuals that like to create spaces to listen and take young people seriously.
Vision
A world of empowered young people living lives of integrity, strength and equality, embedded in a caring community.
Mission
We support a young people's journey of self-empowerment and community building by sharing resources and services around skill building, self-empowerment and wellbeing tools.
Our values
Compassion & kindness
We meet people where they are at, practising deep listening, empathy and gentle, approachable communication.
A work in progress
Every person is at a unique stage of unfolding. We honour process and nurture continuous learning.
We do real talk
Open, honest conversations about growing up, change and mental health are key to genuine connection.
We respect
Everyone deserves respect for who they are, regardless of gender, age, race or income.
We are creative
Young people learn best through play. We experiment with games and creative approaches that build real connection.
Sustainability & accessibility
We promote planet-kind practices and believe everyone deserves holistic, fact-based body education.
Our impact
Read about our impact in schools and the community since 2020, hearing from those we've supported and worked with.
Our team
The people behind Big Sis
Kate Sheers
Facilitator
Kate has a background in social work, housing and homelessness, drug and alcohol support services, and environmental conservation so issues of social justice and environmental issues are really important to her. She loves bringing people together and exploring the outdoors. She is passionate about helping people feel heard, build confidence and connect with the things that matter to them. As a Big Sis mentor, Kate supports young people through some of life's transitions and loves seeing them grow into themselves. Kate is neurodivergent and brings her own lived experience to her mentoring, offering understanding and empathy to young people through what can be a confusing time. Kate has two cubs of her own - a fully grown son and a teenage daughter. Outside of work you'll find Kate with her family, wandering through woodlands, wild swimming, or volunteering with the Woodland Trust.
Margarida Candido Lopes
Director & LGBTQIA Adviser
Margarida works with community focused small businesses particularly, but not exclusively, LGBTQ+, community groups, body workers, practitioners and artists. She loves spreadsheets, a good boogie and has an infectious laugh.
Juliet Wheeler
Facilitator & Youth Relationships Educator
Jules is a passionate community organiser, qualified Relationships and Sex Educator and is about to finish their counselling training, through which they have worked specifically with LGBTQ+ issues and disability. Jules also works and volunteers for a community garden and loves plants and foraging. Starting out in crisis work with refugees and people experiencing domestic abuse, Jules is now exploring how fostering community connection can provide support to people, with education and creativity as a tool to empower. Jules particularly loves being outside, staring at cool plants and mushrooms and going to see live music.
Laura Browne
Facilitator & Youth Relationships Educator
Laura is one of our fantastic facilitators that make the Plymouth Confidence Club possible. Growing up she always struggled with low self - esteem and now she’s able to use those experiences to support young people. All topics are open for discussion and she Ioves the crafting element as it brings out the creative side in everybody - including herself. Laura has a 13 year old daughter and often runs through the workshops with her in preparation for Confidence Club which she loves! It was a lovely bonding experience. They now speak openly about periods and bodies in the house. Laura hopes some of our girls would have gone home and done the same with their mums. Laura loves swimming and is passionate about the environment.
Karen McMillan
Director & Marketing Adviser
Karen is a compassionate, creative superbrain. Day to day, she runs a creative agency supporting organisations in the wellbeing and charity sectors, is a trained CTI coach, and teaches meditation. She spent 18 months in a therapeutic, mindfulness-based community in Thailand, working one-to-one and delivering personal development themed workshops. ‘It's an absolute honour to be on the Big Sis board as a non-executive director. My shy and vulnerable younger self would have been immensely grateful for the kind of support and understanding that Big Sis provides, and it's a privilege to be part of this remarkable community!’ When she’s not working, Karen loves indulging in stationery, visiting art galleries, delighting in colour, and wrangling her cottage garden in York. She's also a cartoonist for the Yorkshire Times, home to her character ‘Dudley’.
Lizzie Elliot-Klein
Facilitator & Nature Connection Guide
Lizzie is a nature connection guide, poet and mother. Over the last decade Lizzie has gathered experience in supporting children, young people and adults in finding their own unique ways to connect to the natural world and to themselves. Lizzie is passionate about supporting young people to navigate the transitional times in their lives - such as puberty. She has been privileged to witness how transformational this work is for young girls and non-binary folks. Lizzie loves long coastal walks, good coffee, loud music, cuddling cats, the thrill of a charity shop bargain and the smell of the earth after the rain.
Friedel Fink
Director & Youth Relationships Educator
Friedel is Co-Founder of Big Sis CIC, a Creative Educator and Youth Relationships & Sex Educator and Consultant for Creative Education for young people in schools and communities. With a background spanning arts, special educational needs, yoga, wellbeing, and 20 years of international project work, Friedel brings an interdisciplinary approach to education. Friedel is passionate in finding creative and accessible ways that inspire for a positive body image, emotional resilience and loves to find ways making these topics fun and engaging. Friedel loves music, stories, travelling, silly dance moves, coastal walks and enjoys making things.