Meet the Healthy Schools Team

Daniella Budd

Service Manager

Hi, I am Daniella and I lead our team in the delivery and development of our Healthy Schools Service. I ensure that our team provides high quality support across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough that allows young people to make informed choices about their health.

Previously, I worked as a psychotherapist, primarily supporting young people who had experienced trauma and used psychoeducation to help them understand their thoughts, behaviours and emotions. I am passionate about helping young people build resilience and providing guidance that makes a real difference in their lives.

Vanessa Carter

Deputy Service Manager

Hi, I’m Vanessa, although most of the team know me as Ness. As Healthy Schools Deputy Service Manager, I support Daniella and the wider team to deliver high-quality health and wellbeing programmes for schools across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

My professional background spans both healthcare and education. I worked as a Registered Nurse for over 17 years, specialising in Intensive Care and paediatric research, supporting children and young people with long-term health conditions. I later retrained as a secondary school teacher and spent 15 years teaching, predominantly at sixth form level. Combining my experience in nursing and education, I am passionate about supporting children and young people to achieve their potential and improve their health and wellbeing, and I am proud to have helped many students progress into careers within the healthcare sector.

Karen Pickering

Place Based Co-ordinator

As a Healthy Schools Coordinator, I work closely with primary and secondary schools to support their health and wellbeing priorities. My career has spanned both education and healthcare, including roles within schools and the NHS as a Community Nursery Nurse and Dental Nurse. This experience has given me valuable insight into supporting children and young people to thrive both in and outside the classroom.

Louie Garner

Place Based Co-ordinator

I am a dedicated Health Improvement Coordinator who works with schools to help children and young people make positive choices about their health and wellbeing. Through engaging workshops on topics such as vaping, smoking, and healthy lifestyles, I provide pupils with accurate information, practical skills, and a safe space to ask questions. My background in health research and youth education ensures that all sessions are evidence-based, interactive, and age-appropriate.