FAST about us

We are two professionals with over 30 years of experience working in Children's Services supporting families, parents, children and young people.
We run FAST in a bespoke way to meet families’ needs, to be able to work without the constraints of government structure to work flexibly with families and partners.
We have good networks and relationships with professionals from services in all areas of support, we understand the specialist services and what they can offer and work alongside them.
We feel it's of the utmost importance to listen to families and support them in the way they need and provide a service that plugs the gaps where existing services cannot.
Of the two Directors, we have both worked with families with complex issues, families in need and crisis. We have a sound understanding of the safeguarding of children, value the importance of early intervention and the need to support them before things deteriorate.

We will also employ a team of experienced support workers who have worked with children with additional needs in various settings.

Laura trained as a primary school teacher and worked in Southern Devon as a Team Leader for the Inclusion Service for nearly 10 years. She ran therapeutic activity clubs in schools for children identified as having low self-esteem. Laura went on to work with children with disabilities and special needs supporting them to access social activities, in particular travel training. She ran the STARS sibling service, organising and taking the siblings of children with additional needs on respite outings and giving them the opportunity to meet others in a similar situation to them.

Laura worked in families' homes supporting parents to implement routines and boundaries for children with challenging behaviour. Laura was the Southern PEIPco (Parental Early Intervention Programmes Co-ordinator); she co-ordinated the areas evidence based parenting programmes and she is an experienced facilitator in delivering evidence based parenting and family programmes.

Laura went to the University of Plymouth's Rolle College in Exmouth and qualified with a BA(hons) Education (combined with Mathematics) and also studied Mathematics, Psychology and Art & Design at A-level at Coombeshead College in Newton Abbot. She worked in Children's services for nearly ten years where she took part in continuous professional development.

Laura's training includes Safeguarding (level 3), Paediatric First Aid, Conflict Resolution, Risk Assessment, Manual Handling, Epilepsy/Epipen training, AXS Pathways/CAF, Working with Parents, Incredible Years Parenting Programme Facilitator, Strengthening Families Programme Facilitator and Cook4life Facilitator Training.

Laura likes walking, art, swimming and enjoying the countryside. Laura is currently walking the South West Coast Path to raise money for the Horizons Youth Clubs. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/horizons-youth-club

Ed Lucas, Managing Director

Ed has been working for FAST since 2016 and is a full-time member of the team.

Ed is a qualified and experienced Youth Worker having previously worked for the Devon Youth Service where he has worked with various youth groups and 1:1 in different settings, including youth clubs, support in school, the community and outdoor adventure activities. He has training in Counselling and advice in Sexual Health and Contraception.

Ed walks with a stick after a motorcycle accident many years ago. This can help with empathy for children and young people with disabilities and since working for FAST has been involved in training young people for hiking the Ten Tors.

When Ed is not working, he enjoys music, films, making things, Lego and motorcycling.