Chris Smith:
Chris tutors on most of our workshops and programmes. Chris brings over 19 years of leadership experience in 16 – 19 FE Education. Chris is also a qualified Psychotherapist specialising in trauma, with over 10 years of experience During his career as an educator, Chris was highly active in bringing sustainability and environmental awareness into FE (and HE) arts curricula; it is partly these activities that led him to design and initiate the New Futures Academy.
Chris is passionate about helping young people achieve their potential and cares very much about helping young people navigate their way through the challenging transition into adulthood whilst preparing for their futures. He also believes that all education (and personal development) ultimately should be informed by a deep, embodied and caring relationship with the natural world. His work for The Academy is also motivated by his belief that education is on the frontline of where the paradigm shift to ecological consciousness needs to happen.
Samara Lewis
Samara has worked with young people in various settings over the last 20 years, primarily forest school and home ed projects but also in youth centres and schools. She set up a 3 day a week project for home ed children in Somerset, combining both forest school and heritage crafts, which she ran for 7 years.
Originally trained as an archaeologist, Samara’s interest in experimental archaeology and heritage crafts led to her later career. Amongst other skills and experiences, Samara is a forest school leader, eco-therapist and coach. She helped set up and run an NHS funded eco-therapy project in Somerset, providing support for people struggling with their mental health.
Samara is passionate about supporting young people’s right to autonomy, about protecting the more-than-human world, and about supporting people’s mental wellbeing via ecotherapy. She identifies as positively neurodivergent and has many years’ experience of working with neurodivergent children.
Richard Loizou
Richard is also a co-facilitator for the New Futures Forest Craft Youth Group. He is a qualified Forest School Leader, as well as a trained psychotherapist. Richard has led outdoor learning workshops and programmes in a variety of different contexts, including at Embercombe, On the Hill, Wildwise and Acorns. He is currently also building his own house!. Richard loves starting fires (bushcraft style) and bashing copper with hammers to make beautiful jewellery
Jani Morton
With over 10 years working across the world for various marine conservation and education organisations, Jani now finds herself in Devon, helping the youth and communities of today to take action for nature.
A background in both research, teaching and ecology, Jani brings her understanding of the natural world to her sessions, helping others to be inspired for nature. Working for 5 years in secondary schools as well as undertaking a year long nature connection course, she has a love for blending play, learning and care throughout her sessions. Jani believes we all need more time and appreciation of the benefits that nature connection can bring to our lives and she looks forward to sharing this!
