Cumulus Team
Our staff and instructors have many years of experience working in the corporate and private sector. In addition to their facilitation skills they hold relevant national governing body qualifications to run the more adventurous side of our training and activities.
Sam Thompson
Managing Director
What do you enjoy about your role?
My favourite part of my role is that I get to be involved in all aspects of the company, from liaising with customers, planning residentials with teachers, joining in activities when I can, discussing new opportunities and exciting activities with our operations team. I have grown with the company since 2009, which back then purely provided specialised team building and activity experiences. Now Cumulus can accommodate all kinds of experiences, from school residentials, DofE expeditions, family adventures to integrated school/ county council programmes and courses – to be part of where the company is today is a pretty special and enjoyable thing!
Without a doubt, one of the most enjoyable parts is working with such a fun, dedicated and experienced staff team and being able to witness first hand the enjoyment on the faces of the adventurers that we have through our doors. Not many people can say that they wake up looking forward to work, I certainly do.
What are your interests outside of work?
My favourite thing to do when I get free time at the weekend is to get out and about with my family in our VW Camper. This can sometimes mean we are down in Cornwall going for a surf, driving the NC500 in Scotland or simply camping out at our lovely Cumulus campsite, Pumpground!
When I can, I’m a keen hockey player and have played for Swanage and Wareham since I can remember. As well as my lovely little dog Makita, I also have three feathered friends: Hen-Solo, Princess Lay-A and Chee-Ken which keep us all entertained at home, certainly my little boy Obi (yes, he is named after my favourite films). Lastly, my guilty pleasure is once my son and daughter are tucked up in bed and I have time, is to turn on the PlayStation with friends to ‘switch off’.
Tom Campbell-Hill
Operations Director
What do you enjoy about your role?
I am very passionate about the outdoors and have a skillset like no other in the Cumulus team. I came out of the Army as an Officer where hard work and determination led to many varied adventures from the Jungles of Borneo to the snowy peaks of Mt. Tongariro. In recent years, I have focused on the education of young people in the outdoors, hoping to energise and invigorate the next generation of enthusiasts. I have been influential in shaping Cumulus into a successful specialist residential provider for young people. Between us, Sam and I work daily to steer and develop Cumulus as it moves forward into the future. My background enable me to oversee the smooth running of operations across Cumulus and ensure each and every young person enjoys their time with us.
What are your interests outside of work?
My home environment, horses, dogs and the countryside as a whole with its many facets to enjoy.
Steve Thompson
Marketing Director and Part-time Minibus Driver
What do you enjoy about your role?
Being responsible for presenting such an enthusiastic, committed and dynamic outdoor company in a spectacular part of the country, working with a team of people whose sole objective is to provide the best possible experiences for our customers. Marketing is a relatively simple process when you have a true point of difference with tangible benefits. When people tell other people how much they enjoyed their experience it makes my job easier, which is how I like it!
What are your interests outside of work?
Basically being outdoors, we’re lucky enough to live on the stunning Jurassic coast and it just has so much to offer. Whether walking our Flatcoat Retriever, taking to the sea for some kayaking or taking to the golf course. We also enjoy a bit of Ballroom and Latin dancing just to keep in the swing!
Jack Thompson
Site Manager
What do I enjoy about my role?
I enjoy many aspects about my role as it’s very varied. I particularly enjoy meeting and running activities for all of our guests at the centre. Getting to know the kids and hear how much they’ve enjoyed their residential is a highlight every week. I also really enjoy working with the most fun, enthusiastic, adventurous team of people!
Interests outside of work:
I love the sea, either swimming, coasteering or surfing. I’m keeping an eye on the forecast to see if I can get in the sea. If there’s waves you’ll find me in the surf. If I’m not in the water I’ll be playing hockey or walking with my 18 month old cocker spaniel.
Roxie Oakley
Camp Manager
What do you enjoy about your role?
I oversee the day to day running of our tented village residential camps. I particularly love to see young people having new experiences and enjoying spending time in an outdoor environment, learning to occupy themselves and have fun without modern technology!
What are your interests outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my dog Lola, exploring places in my van, cooking, macrame, and during lockdown I started dipping my toes (and the rest if me) in a bit of wild swimming.
Jackie Lane
Office Manager and Finance
What do you enjoy about your role?
Working on site at our Residential Centre is a daily pleasure seeing and hearing so many children noisily enjoying their school residentials; lots of laughter, squeals of delight and general chitter chatter of excited young people – especially on arrival day! The staff are also all great fun and there is never a dull day, it’s like one big happy family!
What are your interests outside of work?
Living in Dorset on the Jurassic Coast has to be one of the best places for walking and photography, two of my greatest passions. All year round there are so many places to walk and views to shoot that it is never boring and it is always different. I also enjoy 80s music (giving my age away here!) going to concerts whenever I can and travelling to my favourite holiday place in France for some well-earned R’nR. Family is also very important to me and I like to spend as much time with them as I can. And tea…did I mention tea?
Jack Le Sueur
Activities Manager
What are your interests outside of work?
Anything and everything outdoors from white water kayaking to mountain biking to spearfishing, basically anything that gets the adrenaline going! I also love a practical joke much to my colleagues’ dismay!
Phil Harvey
Head Chef
What do I enjoy about my role?
What are your interests outside of work?
Neil Demmar
Health and Safety Advisor & DofE Coordinator
What do you enjoy about your role?
Health and safety: It can be very rewarding to see positive change in a Company where I have helped develop a Safe and inclusive working environment for all.
DofE : This is actually quite a difficult job to align schools, expedition and staff to deliver quality expeditions and support, but the reward is to see young people gain their D of E award.
What are your interests outside of work?
I am a keen mountain biker, climber and adventurous activity participant. A lot slower and less active than when I was much younger, but still keen!
David Potts
Senior Instructor
What do you enjoy about your role?
I am passionate about the outdoors and enjoy igniting the same passion in everyone we work with. There’s no better feeling!
What are your interests outside of work?
Outside of work I spend all my time with my Border Collie, Ruby. We both love the water, spending our time paddle boarding or kayaking. There’s no limit on what we like to do, as long as we are outdoors!
Julia Munn
Bookings Administrator
What do you enjoy about your role?
Liaising with schools to give children a fab break in the fresh air and working with young people because I am of a great age!
What are your interests outside of work?
Bird spotting, my Labrador Monty and anything in nature.
Sandra Hayman
Programme Administrator
What do you enjoy about your role?
Putting together an amazing programme tailored to each and every group’s needs and requirements. It is fun getting to know so many different people – as visitors as well as part of the team.
What are your interests outside of work?
Indoors: reading, felting and experimenting with new recipes.
Outdoors – walking, wildlife and being out and about with my crazy Collie Fifi.
Gemma Edwards
Extra-Curricular Coordinator
What do you enjoy about your role?
I really enjoy planning for our HAF programme and our School Holiday Club. I get to be creative about the things I love, combining my favourite outdoor sports with beneficial education to provide the most enjoyable holiday club in Dorset
What are your interests out of work?
In my own time you will see me jumping in the sea, climbing through caves and walking around our stunning local beauty.
Julie Harvey
Housekeeper
What do you enjoy about your role?
I really enjoy making sure the centre is clean, tidy and ready for all of the excited children when they arrive on the school trip, it’s also great being involved with meal preparation and in the dining room helping the children have a really scrummy and enjoyable breakfast! I think the best parts are hearing their joyful laughter and seeing them having so much fun while they are here, it makes the hard work so worthwhile.
There is such a family feel to working at Cumulus, we have a great team environment and everyone is so supportive of each other – a great atmosphere!
What are your interests out of work?
I love to spend my spare time with my family and walking the dog in the beautiful Swanage countryside. Then, if I have any more time I do like a good book!