Meet the Judges
We are proud to introduce a respected panel of judges for the Nottingham Baby and Toddler Community Awards 2026, each bringing a wealth of expertise, experience, and dedication, as well as a genuine passion for celebrating the best in activities, services, and products that support and benefit families in our community.
HEADLINE SPONSOR
HEADLINE SPONSOR
Nicole Martin
Nicole graduated with a first-class honours degree in Business and Management and shortly after completing her degree founded Core Aquatics in 2016. Since then, Nicole and Core Aquatics have become multi award-winning, recognised for delivering exceptional, inclusive swimming education. Core Aquatics provides high-quality swimming lessons for children aged 3 years and above through to adults, offering both small group and private lessons tailored to individual needs.
Core Aquatics is deeply committed to accessibility and community impact, working with UK and international charities to train teams and support clients with additional needs by contributing towards lesson fees. The business is widely recognised for its professionalism, values-led approach, and the life-saving skills it equips learners with.
Alongside running Core Aquatics, Nicole works across the UK training individuals to become swimming teachers and lifeguards, as well as delivering ongoing professional development. She also provides Internal Quality Assurance services across a wide range of disciplines. Within the education sector, Nicole guest lectures at universities across the UK and internationally within business and sport faculties, and actively mentors students.
A long-standing supporter of the Nottingham Baby & Toddler community, Nicole is proud to continue her involvement as both a previous judge and sponsor. Core Aquatics were the headline sponsor for the 5th Anniversary NBT Fest and again are the headline sponsor for the 2026 NBT Awards. Nicole loves being involved, supporting the community, and championing the incredible providers.
Dr. Jenni
Dr. Jenni is incredibly proud to head up Team ICAP. Jenni is an education expert who started, franchised, scaled, and sold her first business—all within 8 years and before the age of 35. During that time, she worked with 103,248 children, won 19 prestigious awards, collaborated with 53 franchisees and over 1,300 teaching staff, and appeared on multiple local and national news outlets.
Jenni heads up ICAP, helping children’s activity providers grow brilliant businesses and maximise their impact. ICAP exists to support providers to work with more children — and bring more joy, confidence and opportunity into young lives.
ICAP is dedicated to empowering children and families through innovative education programs, offering tailored support to help young people thrive both academically and personally. The team works closely with schools, families, and local communities to provide access to high-quality learning experiences, mentorship, and resources that make a lasting impact. Beyond education, ICAP actively supports local communities through initiatives that promote inclusion, wellbeing, and opportunity for all.
Jenni is thrilled to bring her passion and expertise to the NBT community, and she is excited to collaborate, share insights, and contribute to initiatives that make a real difference for children, families, and communities alike.
childrensactivityproviders
Claire Clements
Claire Clements is the founder of Positive Pants and Positive Pants Family CIC. An award-winning, best-selling author, mentor, and speaker, she has helped thousands of children and parents support their mental health through programmes, courses, workshops, events, and resources. With a background in both the corporate and education sectors, and a personal journey shaped by resilience, Claire is passionate about empowering children and families to navigate life’s challenges. She regularly appears on BBC radio, TV, and podcasts, and lives in Nottinghamshire with her partner, teen, and cat—fuelled by tea, music, and a love of alpacas!
Claire is dedicated to giving parents, children, and young people the knowledge and confidence to care for their mental health and wellbeing, while building a supportive and connected community
Claire is thrilled to join the judging panel for the NBT Awards and can’t wait to celebrate the incredible work of providers across the community and connect with fellow professionals,.
Susannah Steel
Hi, I’m Suzie, and I’m honoured to be asked to be the “token” parent judge again! I’m mum to 2-year-old Henry, with another little one on the way, and I’ve fully embraced the Nottingham baby and toddler scene—I love all the amazing groups we have on offer and can’t wait to celebrate them!
Professionally, I’ve had a varied career, spending most of my working life in hotel management across Yorkshire and the Lake District. Currently, I’m a stay-at-home mum, putting all my event management experience into planning toddler-related activities!
From pregnancy to the present day, I’ve found the Nottingham baby and toddler community incredibly supportive and welcoming. I love taking Henry to different classes and venues across the city and am always in awe of the people who create such innovative and inclusive environments for our little ones.
I support Rebekah as an admin and creator of the Nottingham Baby & Toddler Community Facebook group, where I’ve had the pleasure of supporting and providing guidance to over 7,000 families and providers across Nottingham.
The NBT Awards are a fantastic way to celebrate our local champions, and I’m truly honoured to be part of this amazing community.
Danielle Gibbs
Danielle is a dedicated primary school teacher with over a decade of experience in early years education. Combining her passion for child development with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, she founded My Baby Spa in 2020. Since then, the award-winning business has grown into My Baby Spa UK, offering bespoke, sensory-led spa experiences for babies, toddlers, children, parents, and families across Nottingham and the wider UK.
My Baby Spa UK is designed to support early development, wellbeing, and parent–child bonding through calming, nurturing, and luxurious experiences. Danielle’s unique approach blends her educational expertise with a deep understanding of family needs, creating inclusive spaces where children can relax, explore, and thrive, and where parents feel supported and valued.
Community sits at the heart of everything Danielle does. Over the years, My Baby Spa UK has been actively involved in local events, sponsorships, working groups, and collaborative initiatives with NBT. Danielle is thrilled to now be part of the judging panel for the NBT Awards and is excited to celebrate the incredible community, support fellow providers, and connect with even more amazing businesses making a difference for families.
Oh hello there, lovely people! I’m Beck… though you might know me as Bongo Beck, BeBop Beck, Milkshake the Elf, the Easter Bunny—or whatever wonderfully ridiculous nickname you’ve given me over the years. Honestly, the sillier, the better!
It’s always an absolute pleasure to support and judge at the NBT Awards, and I’m thrilled to be back for my third year. Having the opportunity to discover, celebrate, and meet so many incredible businesses—and the brilliant people behind them—is both an honour and a total hoot.
I’ve been a proud part of the early years community in Nottinghamshire since 2009. When my first little one arrived, I decided to put my music and performing background to good use and launched a preschool music and movement group called Bongo Bongo, which later evolved into BeBops Music. I’ve always believed that children are the very best people on the planet—give them a warm, creative space to play, and they’ll grow into absolute legends. Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to entertain thousands of families across the Midlands and work with some smashing corporate clients, from Capital One to the Theatre Royal and everything in between.
After five fabulous years of bongo-ing about, I leapt at the chance to create something truly magical: a family music festival. It was a dream come true, so of course I dived in headfirst! Now, in 2025, I’ve stepped back from preschool classes and festivals to spread my wings. These days, I work as a freelancer, events manager, and celebrant.
Missing deeper connections with people, I trained and qualified as a family celebrant, creating bespoke naming ceremonies, weddings, vow renewals, and funerals. It’s an absolute privilege—meeting incredible people, hearing their stories, and adding a creative touch to life’s biggest moments brings me so much joy. Freelancing has been a real treat, offering flexibility and the chance to work with a wonderfully mixed bag of clients. Life’s a wild ride, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! 💛
Vanessa-Mary
Hi, I am Vanessa!
I am passionate about supporting families be at their best, healthy, financially secure, happy and in harmony.
During my background in local government and regeneration organisations, I spent many years helping to shape local public policies that would improve the lives of families across Nottingham, Lancashire and beyond.
Today, I blend my role as a home educator with being a lifestyle and Holistic well-being coach supporting leaders of family-led businesses. I am passionate about supporting my clients in group and individual settings. I believe I am a high vibe coach who aims to support to gain clarity and ignite new ideas. With the aim to successfully achieve your desired goals with ease and flow! My strategic enterprise coaching support will also elevate your business focus. This holistic support will assist you to increase your sales and flourish at every stage of your journey.
I host a range of events to help professionals and business owners focus on personal and professional well-being. The sessions aim to provide you with opportunities to network and gather information. Our events are high vibe and fun. Expect to experience a range of activities to strengthen your mindset and personal development.
I am a Licensed Zumbini Instructor who enjoys hosting a range of well-being, music and social exercise classes for caregivers and their families across Nottingham.
I am looking forward to supporting the Nottingham Baby & Toddler Community Awards
Aiysha Chohan
Aiysha is the founder of Woddle, a modern platform created to support parents through one of their biggest early decisions: choosing the right nursery.
Woddle was built from a place so many parents will recognise — that moment when you realise just how big your childcare decisions are, and how confusing, inconsistent, and overwhelming the process can feel. After living through that exact experience herself, Aiysha set out to build something different: a platform that truly works the way parents actually live and think. That’s why Woddle is built by parents, for parents.
Today, Woddle works with nurseries across the UK to help families find high-quality early years settings, while championing the incredible work happening across the childcare sector. Built on trust, clarity, and collaboration, Woddle bridges the gap between families and providers, giving parents confidence in their choices and helping nurseries be seen and understood.
Newly set up, Woddle is excited to connect with the local community and support parents across Nottingham. Aiysha is looking forward to working with the NBT Awards for the first time and can’t wait to meet everyone involved.
Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson is the Founder and Director of Positively Empowered Kids CIC, a Nottinghamshire-based social enterprise dedicated to improving children and young people’s mental health, wellbeing and life chances through compassion-led, youth-informed practice.
With a strong background in counselling, coaching & self-development, and community development, Jackie is also the founder of Empower Education, where she works with schools, professionals and organisations to strengthen early intervention, emotional wellbeing, behaviour support and inclusive practice. Working with 2-18yr olds over the last 23 years, her work bridges education, youth services and community spaces, with a clear belief that prevention, connection and trusted relationships change lives,
Through Positively Empowered Kids, Jackie has led large-scale community festivals, wellbeing hubs and outreach programmes engaging thousands of children, young people and families across Nottinghamshire. Additionally, Next Move is a youth-led outreach and engagement project focused on giving young people a voice, tackling antisocial behaviour, supporting those at risk of exclusion or offending, and co-creating safer, healthier communities alongside local partners.
Jackie is passionate about trauma-informed practice, neurodiversity, youth voice and co-production. She creates safe spaces with a balance of strong safeguarding and governance with warmth, creativity and humanity, ensuring young people feel heard, valued and empowered rather than judged or excluded. Her leadership style is rooted in care, collaboration and courage — challenging systems while building spaces where young people and families can genuinely thrive.
Jackie is excited to be involved in the NBT Awards and is looking forward to meeting, celebrating, and supporting the wonderful Nottingham baby & toddler community.