Our team of highly experienced professionals are here to ensure that the Urban Pursuit programs give students an exceptionally high quality experience that will challenge them and develop them whilst keeping them safe at all times.
Neil Dennison, Chief Executive
Neil has over twenty years of youth work experience, with 15 of those as a teacher in secondary schools and was Assistant Head at Ansford School in Somerset for six years before giving up his career and setting up Urban Pursuit. His mission is to see the lives of vulnerable young people transformed for the better.
He has a strong passion for adrenaline and adventure activities. Neil is a qualified Mountain Leader, Climbing Instructor and Mountain Bike Leader and also loves snowboarding, BMX, off-road driving, wilderness adventures and various watersports.
Karen Dennison, Education Director
Anna Pasco, Education Lead & Designated Safeguarding Lead
Anna has been a part of the Urban Pursuit team since September 2018 and is the main point of contact for all the schools who are working with us. Anna is a qualified teacher with extensive experience working with vulnerable young people, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Anna is a keen climber and can often be found at one of the climbing walls around Bristol developing her skills.
Dan Potter, Development Lead
Dan is a qualified teacher with over 10 years’ youth work experience. Dan oversees the development of several of the ‘big picture’ elements of our organisation, as well as staff training. He also works with students on the ground. Dan’s got a pretty full on beard, positive mindset and throws himself into whatever’s in front of him – he’s the only staff member to have ever needed an ambulance at work.
Ellie Eakins, Office Administrator and PA to the CEO
Ellie joined us in 2019 in an ever-growing role helping the smooth-running of the organisation. Ellie has a background in social work and seems to be able to handle everything that’s thrown at her and more. She notices the details, makes sure everyone’s included and is generally great to have around.
Sophie Rees, Finance Administrator
Soph works remotely to capably support the financial side of the organisation. As a new member of the team we’re looking forward to getting to know her better, although it may take us a while to get to grips with the strong welsh accent and fast paced chatter. Soph is often found being walked by her golden retriever on the local beach or cycling the Gower peninsula when she’s not building train tracks or digging to Australia with her son.
Chris Bucksey, Operations Manager
Chris previouly worked as a youth worker across Somerset, supporting communities with outreach programmes, detached work and youth clubs. Added to his involvement with the NCS and DofE programmes, it’s fair to say he loves getting young people engaged with the outdoors. By the way, he has also taught kayaking internationally and represented GBR in freestyle! He has a 6-1 record in amateur MMA and loves to travel with his family.
Bex Baillie-Jelf, Student Progress Coordinator (Maternity leave)
Bex joined us in November 2018 and is a qualified youth worker. She works closely with Anna to keep a track of our student’s progress and keeping in touch with past students. She is brilliant at relating to our young people and she always puts a smile on their faces! She is an all-around adventurer who is enjoying learning new sports and adventure activities.
Jack Jones, Student Progress Coordinator (Maternity cover)
Jack is inspired by physical fitness, martial arts and boxing. He is passionate about recognising children as the future and is experienced in leading informal mentoring alonside gym sessions. He loves the outdoors, photography, art and has a flare for design!
Tim Crow, Adventure Youth Worker
Tim has been with Urban Pursuit since October 2016. Tim is a trained teacher and brings a huge amount of energy and expertise to the team and has been involved in youth work for over 10 years. Tim also spent 8 years in Uganda developing a youth sports club and managed a local youth football team that went on to play in the national league!
Jonty Flynn, Adventure Youth Worker
Jonty is a returner to Urban Pursuit, working part-time alongside more youth work he does elsewhere. Jonty is youth work qualified, with over 10 years’ experience. He’s a big kid at heart and looks forward to joining in the activities as much as any of the students. Jonty is a big fan of both football and cricket, watching and playing locally.
Juliet Murray, Adventure Youth Worker
Juliet has lots of interesting experiences from her international travels and even back in the UK shows a spirit of adventure through living in her van! Juliet is a trained leader of bushcraft, having previously worked in schools in Bristol, and her studies in anthropology give her an interesting perspective which she brings to the team.
Aaron Beale, Adventure Youth Worker
Aaron has a degree in youth work and over a decade’s experience working with youth in different settings. He grew up next to the sea began surfing, then skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding… anything with a board! He recently upgraded to a one wheeled electric skateboard which you might spot him riding around town on.