We’re a passionate, experienced team dedicated to creating safe, inclusive, and inspiring animal encounters. Every member of our team holds an up-to-date DBS check, and we’re fully insured and professionally qualified — from teachers and ALN specialists to conservationists and animal behaviourists. With lived experience of additional learning needs and a fluent Welsh speaker on our team, we bring empathy, expertise, and enthusiasm to everything we do.
Jo
Jo founded Animal Cwtch to create real moments of connection between people and animals. Her love of animals started at Penscynor Wildlife Park, the first time she held a snake, and it has never faded.
She brings experience in healthcare, education, neurodiversity and animal welfare, and much of how Animal Cwtch works comes from her own family's experience of autism and ADHD. Behind the scenes, Jo writes the policies, manages bookings and keeps welfare and compliance on track.
Jo is severely hard of hearing, and her team act as her ears during sessions. She says she couldn't do any of it without them.
Kevin
Kevin has such a calm presence that animals seem to trust him straight away, which is why he's sometimes called Dr Dolittle. He didn't hold his first snake until adulthood, but reptiles quickly became a big part of family life.
Kevin keeps everything running: logistics, builds, repairs, animal transport, and packing the van like a game of Tetris. Penny the parrot is rarely far from him. He does all of this alongside his work as a gas engineer and his caring responsibilities.
Jess
Jess is a qualified teacher with years of classroom experience across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Cardiff, and she shapes every session around the learners in front of her.
As one of our key animal caretakers, she's meticulous about welfare and enrichment, and she has a calm, patient way with the animals who need a little more time. Her favourites are Boba Fett the boa and Jabba the bearded dragon. Everything feels a bit brighter on a Jess day.
Emma
Emma leads on animal welfare, behaviour and nutrition at Animal Cwtch. She has a first-class honours degree in Animal Welfare and Behaviour, is currently completing her PGCE, and is working towards becoming an animal licensing inspector.
She's a member of ABWAK (the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers) and keeps up to date with welfare research and legislation through ongoing CPD. Day to day, she oversees diets, monitors behaviour and makes sure we keep pace with best practice. She's calm under pressure, very funny, and her favourite is Jabba the bearded dragon.
Vikki
Vikki has worked as a teacher and now works in advocacy, and she has experience with birds of prey and dog training too. She mostly helps with our education sessions, and she's especially passionate about settings like secure units, where the animals can make a real difference to people who rarely get experiences like this.
At home she keeps a range of exotic pets, including a sulcata tortoise with a talent for digging. She has a special bond with Boba Fett, our boa constrictor.
Gemma
Gemma has a degree in Zoology and a master's in Clinical Animal Behaviour, along with veterinary experience. She was a regular at our events long before she joined the team in February.
She mostly works on our education sessions and Zoology Clubs, and she's wonderful with ALN groups and younger children, who are drawn to her calm but fun energy. Her favourite animal is the giraffe, but her Animal Cwtch favourites are Barry the chameleon and Princess Leia the royal python. She also runs her own dog training business, Canine Gems Behaviour & Training.
Josh
Josh has a degree in Wildlife Conservation and a master's in Wildlife Filmmaking, and he studied at the University of Bristol. He has worked on conservation projects around the world, and his filmmaking brings wild places and little-known species into our sessions.
He's fond of every species, from spiders to owls, and he's always first to stop and move a wandering toad out of harm's way. You can see more of his work at joshinthejungle.com.
Sadie
Sadie started with us as a volunteer and is now part of the team as an animal caretaker and educator. Animals have always been a big part of her life, and her calm, friendly manner helps hesitant visitors feel at ease.
She's especially good with the more sensitive members of the Animal Cwtch family, and she has a special connection with Boba the boa constrictor.
Tilly
Tilly brings energy, creativity and plenty of laughter to her work as an educator and caretaker. Her background in teaching dance helps her connect with children of all ages.
She's always looking for ways to improve the animals' wellbeing, from designing enrichment to reorganising enclosures so they have more space. She's particularly close to Phoenix the boa, Dolly and Kenny the chameleon geckos, and the guinea pigs and rabbits.
Lucy
Lucy is studying for a degree in Zoology and already holds a qualification in animal care, with experience across zoos, pet shops and other animal settings. She joined us in February.
She's always checking on the animals, making some of their food and finding ways to help. This summer she worked through her nerves about speaking to groups and became a lovely educator. During term time, she mostly helps with animal care.
Sarann
Sarann is a Welsh-speaking educator, so she can deliver sessions in Cymraeg as well as English. She has a degree in Journalism and was Miss Earth Wales Air 2025 and is Miss Earth Wales 2026, roles centred on environmental awareness.
She has supported animal and conservation causes for years, including fundraising for A-Sisterhood and visiting the Wildlife SOS elephant conservation centre in India. You can follow her on Instagram.
Jacob
Jacob is the youngest member of our team, and one of the hardest working. He's out in all weathers, head torch on, making sure every enclosure is clean, safe and comfortable.
He looks after the ducks, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs, helps with the owls, and is known as the duck whisperer. He also helps with DIY and enclosure repairs. Outside Animal Cwtch, Jacob is a young carer, and his patience and kindness show in everything he does.
Visit our work with us page
We’re always looking for passionate, caring people to join our growing team.
If you love animals and want to make a difference, visit our Work With Us page to find out more.
Jo and Kevin’s children have been a huge part of the inspiration behind Animal Cwtch. Sam and Daniel, both autistic with ADHD, have found real comfort and confidence through animals, shaping the way we approach our encounters. Their experiences have taught us how powerful animal interactions can be in supporting emotional well-being, self-confidence, and learning.
Animal Cwtch is, at its heart, a true family affair. What began as a small family project has grown into a team of people who care deeply about animals, inclusion, and each other. Many of our team members work alongside parents, children, or partners — sharing skills, laughter, and a love of animals that reaches far beyond the sessions themselves. Our families learn together, support one another, and help make every encounter welcoming, authentic, and full of heart. That sense of family runs through everything we do and is what makes Animal Cwtch so special — a place where people and animals alike feel they belong.
