Meet Our Team

Rachel McKernan (CEO)

I feel incredibly proud to be leading the amazing team at Age UK Mid Mersey. I have recently moved to Merseyside having spent the last 23 years on the Isle of Wight. My husband’s family are from here, and the pandemic made us realise how important it is to be close to family. We brought our two adult children and two cockerpoos with us and all are loving life in Merseyside. I have had a varied 25-year career in health and social care including working in residential care homes, delivering parenting support in a local Sure Start programme, and heading up Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention on behalf of IOW Public Health. I then moved to work for Barnardo’s children’s charity, initially developing and managing children’s counselling and parenting support services and ending my 9 years as Assistant Directo with a portfolio of 13 services across Hampshire and the Island. My last role before relocating was as CEO with Age UK Isle of Wight. I was therefore delighted to have the opportunity to continue working with and on behalf of older people in this amazing part of the world. In my spare time I love reading and have started a regular book club in my home town and my dogs, Jarvis and Sherlock, keep me busy and on my toes!

Shelley Brown (Director of Operations)

I started my working career in 1992 as a post girl at age 17 in a global manufacturing company in Runcorn and quickly progressed through the HR Department to Senior HR Officer. I met my husband at the same company and his work saw us move jobs and homes a few times around the UK, firstly to York and then to Fife in Scotland.  We returned to Cheshire in 2001 (as I am a bit of a home bird!) and on return, I started work with Age UK Mid Mersey (then known as Age Concern Halton) as an Admin Officer.  It was meant to be a stopgap job until I decided what I really wanted to do…  that was 22 years ago, and you can now say that Age UK Mid Mersey is firmly part of my DNA.  I quickly realised the difference our work makes to older people’s lives and any other work just seemed less important to me.  My time here has been quite a journey and I have undertaken various roles, here today as Director of Operations. I feel privileged to work with such an amazing team who are passionate about helping older people. Outside of work, I have three wonderful children and a Cavachon dog called Bella. We spend a lot of time away in our motorhome; sometimes just 20 miles away from home, other times 500 miles away. My absolute favourite place to date we have visited in the UK is Luskentyre Beach on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

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Jane Brown (Living Well Services Manager)

I joined Age UK Mid Mersey at the end of 2023 ... in a good way - it feels much longer! I am passionate about empowering and supporting individuals to live as well as they can, including those that care for them. I have a degree in nutrition and worked as a registered dietitian in the NHS for more years then I like to remember (!) before moving into the charity sector for my second ‘career’ – I remember someone telling me that I would be ‘well looked after’ when I was deciding to ‘jump ship’ and they were right! Before my current role, I led a few different Macmillan Cancer funded projects in West Lancs, Manchester and North Yorkshire working with volunteers, cancer care teams and charities to improve the lives of people living with and beyond cancer.  Outside of work – I love good food (some of which I cook!) and gardening (battling with high rainfall where I live so mainly cut flowers & ‘inherited’, well-travelled Yorkshire rhubarb) but, the most important is having fun and creating memories with my 90 year young best friend - my mum (she will tell you she’s the one keeping an eye on me!)

Louise Thompson (Finance Assistant)

I’ve worked for Age UK for nearly 15 years, I started in the Widnes office, now closed, then I moved to Warrington, now closed, then Claughton Street, now closed… there seems to be a pattern here, sorry Mansion House! I’ve worked as a Graphic Designer, on a mobile library (lovely older people bringing us cakes and biscuits), in a Library, at Martin Dawes in Marketing then Finance, in a Garden Centre over Xmas stacking shelves, then here to Age UK. When I had both my hips replaced a few years ago- I don’t do things by halves - I took up sewing and started to draw again which I still do and enjoy- when I’m not doing that I’m in the garden fending off slugs and snails or lazing in my favourite sun lounger and reading.

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Katie Barr (Resources Manager)

I worked in the fashion and beauty industry until the Covid pandemic, and then started to work in admin. I was PA to CEO when I first started at Age UK Mid Mersey and have progressed into my current role of Resources Manager. I love working for a charity as I find the job really fulfilling - knowing that you help to make a genuine difference to people's lives is a wonderful feeling. Outside of work, I have a young daughter, cat and dog - our house is very busy! I love animals and would end up with a house full of rescue pets if I could. In my spare time, I enjoy yoga, music and dressmaking.

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Cherry Bhimagunta (Marketing Officer)

I have a background working in Retail PR and Influencer Marketing after having studied Journalism & Anthropology at university. I enjoy using my experience and skillset to create engaging social media content and promotional material to raise Age UK Mid Mersey's public profile ensuring to spread the word about the excellent services we have to offer. I have a passion for volunteering and helping those in need and have felt lucky being able to do so in England, Morocco & India, and am now happy to be able to work for Age UK Mid Mersey making a direct difference to people's lives. Outside of work, I love travelling, sightseeing, visiting museums and experiencing new cultures. I enjoy spending time creating content and editing photos/videos of my travels for social media.

Kym Smith (Living Well Co-ordinator)

In my previous roles I worked within St Helens MBC in social care where I worked in domiciliary care supervising a team of carers, supporting children and families and older people to live independently. I later moved to Kershaw Day centre (a purpose-built building for older people living with a physical or dementia type illness), as a Day Centre Officer working and supervising a group of older people to remain socially active in their community in a safe and friendly environment. It was at Kershaw I was approached and asked if I would go on secondment to Age Concern St Helens to help support with their services and here I am 20 years later. Proud to say I am continuing to support older people in their community to love life. I have learnt many thing over the years working in social care, that everyone has a story to tell that will make you laugh, cry and you may even learn from them. But most of all "In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years” - Abraham Lincoln. I have been fortunate to travel many countries over the world, doing activities I never dreamt I would do such as White-Water Rafting in Bali to swimming the Blackwood River in Australia.  I have taken part and completed the Purbeck Nordic Marathon, walking over the Jurassic coastline (climb 3000ft) in memory of my mum raising much needed funds for Age UK Mid Mersey. Completed the Steve Prescott 10K North Road run, which surprised my family as I did no training leading up to it and they know I don't like to run or jog, (if you know St Helens, North Road is known as Cardiac Hill) but pleased to say I survived both the challenges among many others. My family is and always will be my world.

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Kristine Ward (Living Well Services Assistant)

I've worked for Age UK Mid Mersey for just over a year.  I work "behind the scenes" doing general admin and whatever crops up that helps keep things ticking over in the office.  I really enjoy being part of this team, seeing all the good work the Living Well officers do to help people in the area. Outside of work I like walking and exploring new places; animals - I have one very spoiled rescue cat, Dora, and have volunteered at a few local animal rescues over the years; and dancing. I took up ballroom dancing a few years ago and love it! I may never be strictly standard but it’s great fun and keeps me fit.

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Ela Orlinska (Engagement, Inclusion & Co-Production Officer)

I graduated from Medical School in Poznan, Poland in 1997 with a Master’s Degree in Public Health. In 1998 I decided to go to the United States to learn English, work, meet people, and travel. In 2012 I came to the UK and I started working in the care sector. I joined Age UK Mid Mersey in September 2021 as a Living Well Officer. A year later, I became an Engagement, Inclusion, and Co – Production Officer. I have been always passionate about making difference in people’s lives and it was always my dream to work for charity organisation. Helping others gives me a satisfaction and pleasure. Outside of work, I like long walks, books, and travel. I play badminton with my daughter every week. I love homemade cottage pie, fish & chips, and chocolate.

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Sarah Lloyd (Living Well Officer/Volunteer Coordinator)

I joined the Age UK Mid Mersey team nearly 10 years ago originally as Charity Shop Manager coming from a retail background. I have since worked for Age UK Mid Mersey in various roles as diverse as an Events coordinator and working in Prison delivering an Older Persons Pre Release Project. My current three day role as Volunteer Coordinator coupled with Living Well Officer for two days works well for me. I have spent nearly all of my working life in the charity sector and cannot now imagine working in a job that does not provide me with the opportunity to support others and potentially have a positive impact on their lives. I am also very passionate about empowering others to have power and control over their own lives. Out of work I enjoy spending time with family, friends and attending music gigs.

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Aiden Bracken (Living Well Officer)

I was originally in banking, then joined Age UK`s Insurance Team. I then moved to be a Living Well Officer, a role I occupy today and enjoy. My interests include sport and music. 

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Aruna Sethi (Living Well Officer)

I've worked for Age UK Mid Mersey for 13 years as an Information and Advice Officer, the first eighteen months of these as a volunteer shadowing colleagues. I enjoy the interaction with our lovely clients and in my spare time love to delve into the origins of words through historic travel and migrations of peoples.

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Catherine Duddy (Living Well Officer)

I started my career in childcare following qualifying as a nursery nurse, working in schools, nurseries and as a private nanny for a local Liverpool MP. In 1994 I was excited to begin a new journey as a trainee nurse at West Lancs University, 3 years later I gained my first job as a registered nurse on a neuro rehabilitation ward. The same year I celebrated my wedding day, I worked as a nurse in a hospital and in the district for 17 years and had 3 children. In 2014 I left my nursing career returning to childcare and set up my own childminding business, the following 10 years I was lucky to have lots of lovely families as a part of my life and still keep in touch with today, I feel proud to hear updates about the children I looked after. In January 2024 I started a new chapter and was thrilled to join the team at Age UK Mid Mersey as a Living Well Officer, my colleagues are super friendly, supportive and my new buddies! I enjoy meeting people and most of all helping them! I look forward to growing in my role as a Living Well Officer. I love spending time with my family. I like motorbike rides as a pillion passenger especially in the sunshine through country roads and by the coast. I like to travel, exploring new places, cultures and food.

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Debbie Stockton (Living Well Officer)

I started a 'stop gap job' at O2 in sales and customer service and stayed for 19 years. In the Covid pandemic I revaluated my life and decided I needed a change. I wanted a role where I felt like I was making a difference in someone's life. I went back to college and studied Level 2 Counselling Skills before getting a job at Age UK Mid Mersey as a Living Well Officer in 2021. I absolutely love working here. With a great team we really make a difference for people 50 and over across Mid Mersey. Outside of work I love spending my time with family, walking my little sausage dog, reading psychological thriller books and watching crime thrillers on Netflix. I also have a diploma in criminology.

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Holly Scotson (Living Well Officer)

I started working for Age UK Mid Mersey in 2018 and never looked back. I love my job role as it enables me to meet people from all walks of life. I love to help people stay independent, access local services or learn new skills. Outside of work I am a mum, daughter and friend! I enjoy helping out in the community, walks with my dog, and coffee with friends. 

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Joanne Dunkley (Living Well Officer)

I originally worked as a call advisor for Liverpool social services (Careline) from 2007 to 2018. We were the first point of contact for adult and children’s social services and completed referrals for care packages, Occupational Therapy, Safeguarding, mental health, homelessness and much more. In 2018 I decided to leave and take some time out to look after my second child. In 2021 I was looking for a job similar to what I had preciously done albeit not so intense which brought me to Age UK Mid Mersey. I enjoy working here and being able to help people on a daily basis. Quirky facts about me: I am now a fully qualified Hairdresser & Beautician and own a horse called Boo! 

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Lisa Hughes (Living Well Officer)

I have worked in various job roles throughout my working life that included; finance, customer services and working with pets. I have worked at Age UK wigan in the past and then went onto working at Age UK mid Mersey. I have just completed a 4-year course in therapeutic counselling at college as well as courses in mental health and domestic abuse. The counselling training involved working as a counsellor in a domestic abuse/women’s centre in Leigh and I also trained at a counselling centre in St. Helens. Outside of work, I have two grown up children that have fled the nest and a grandson who I adore. I have an elderly dog and two cats who are my babies. Most of my spare time these days is taken up by CPD.