Meet The Team

Magic wouldn’t happen at Angel Eyes NI without the fantastic team we have.

Sara McCracken

Founder and CEO Angel Eyes NI

I am mum to three children, including twins who were registered severely sight impaired when they were 6 months old, due to a rare genetic condition. I felt ill equipped to make the necessary decisions for the twins and I desperately needed support, information and advice. Having circulated my telephone number to other parents via our QTVI and Social worker, I along with other like minded parents set up the charity in April 2007 to ensure other families did not face the same situation.

My eldest daughter who is sighted, went on to qualify as an Orthoptist with a first Class Honours Degree from Liverpool University, so it is all about eyes in our home! As leader of Angel Eyes NI, I am passionate about getting the support and information parents and families need to make life as easy and accessible as possible. We work hard to represent the voice of parents in all arenas to ensure services meet their needs. I believe that harnessing Social Innovation can make a positive impact, and create a society that can adapt to the needs of children with visual impairment.

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Danielle McMullan

Senior Administrator

I joined the Angel Eyes NI team in April 2023 as the Administrator.

My background is very diverse from gaining a degree in Urban Planning & Property Development to working as cabin crew for Emirates in Dubai. I am now a mum of two young boys and strongly feel that all children and young people who are blind and partially sighted should have access to a fully inclusive society.

I am excited to be part of the team at Angel Eyes NI who are changing society for the better for all children and young people who are blind and partially sighted.

Karen Wilson

Education Services Manager

Over the last three years, through my work at Angel Eyes I have gained extensive knowledge on how children with vision impairment can be best supported on their educational journey.

This is information I have acquired both through professional training, and most importantly through parents; the experts on their children’s vision.

I am passionate about the positive role education plays in the social and economic mobility, and wellbeing of all.

I advocate on the rights of all children to participate fully in all aspects of school life; to be provided with the necessary support and opportunities to fulfil their potential.

Rebecca Sowney

Children & Young Person’s Advocate

I have 10 years experiencing of working with young people, in particular supporting their mental health and emotional wellbeing. I have worked both in youth work as a Personal Development Coach and in education as a Special Needs Classroom Assistant and Maths Tutor. In 2020 I completed a Masters in Psychology, focusing on the impact of trauma on young people in NI.

I am passionate about the mental health and wellbeing of young people (particularly those who face challenges and barriers) and finding ways to give children and young people the best possible chance in life, providing them with the opportunities, support, knowledge and tools to fulfil their potential. I listen to, support and advocate on behalf of children and young people to try and remove these barriers and create opportunities.

My role as Children and Young People’s Advocate is to provide specialised emotional support to children and young people with vision impairments. I provide support through 1-1 sessions and will be creating a peer network and mentoring opportunities to share experience and knowledge and offer advice. Additionally, I will be working to increase engagement of children and young people in their community and school and provide a space for young people to voice their views to help shape future services.

Kerrie Cartmill

Family Services Manager

Supporting families and their children who have sight loss, and additional needs is something I am very passionate about, and have personal experience of.

My background is in education, and I worked as a Primary School Teacher for 7 years, prior to having my children. For the last 5 years I have been a full-time carer to Matthew, being kept busy with everyday responsibilities for caring for a young disabled child.

We have been service users of Angel Eyes from Matthew was 1 years old, and I have experienced and benefited from the support and sharing of information I have received from the team. I started working with the Angel Eyes NI as Parent Support Co-Ordinator in November 2018. I am delighted to now be working as part of the team, and want to use my personal journey and knowledge gained, to support and empower other parents and support them in their journey.

Lisa Allen

Family Support Co-Ordinator

I am delighted to be part of the Angel Eyes NI team, a charity that supported us as a family. I have two children Aaron and Rebecca, Aaron has down syndrome and dual sensory loss and Rebecca has autism. My amazing children have been the driving force behind my passion to want to support and make a difference in the lives of children and young people as well as parents/carers and their families.

I have a Cache diploma in childcare in education and I have over 23 years’ experience working in mainstream settings, as well as 1:1 support with children who have special educational needs. After my son was born, I noticed the gap in support for parent/carers. I fully understand the impacts that this lack of support has on families. I made it my goal to try and change this and completed my NVQ level 3 in family support and have recently completed a BA Hons degree in early childhood studies. I have over seven years’ experience working in a family support role both in a paid and voluntary capacity offering both practical and emotional support. I firmly believe that peer support, compassion, empathy, and a listening ear can make all the difference in the lives of the families I work with and support whilst helping to reduce feelings of isolation.

My new Role with Angel Eyes is in the capacity of the Family support Coordinator for Belfast and Northern areas supporting parent/ carers who have a child with vision impairment. I will be offering advice, signposting and strategies to families as well as some fun family events. I will also be advocating for families and empowering them with the knowledge to help them in their caring role whist ensuring they are aware of their rights as a carer.

Heather Darling

Family Support Co-Ordinator

I am Mum to 3 daughters aged 20, 17 and 15. My journey in helping and supporting children started almost 13 years ago when I began working as a special needs assistant- a role that I became very passionate about. By putting the appropriate supports in place, I love seeing children thrive, be included, have positive experiences and achieve their full potential. Ultimately, in reducing barriers one can allow children to be children. I found my SNA role to be so rewarding and over the years I built up a vast knowledge and relationships with many multi-agency professionals.

For the past 2 years I worked as a Family Support Worker in the Fermanagh area. This role involved providing children and their families with emotional and practical support and being their advocate. I also facilitated many programs such as Play & Learn, Messy Play, Sensory Programmes, Speech & Language Programmes, Walk & Talk Programmes for mental health & wellbeing and the Nurturing Programme for parents. These allowed caregivers and their children to flourish, gain valuable opportunities and feel supported. I saw that even the smallest change or assistance to a family could make an immeasurable difference.

I am delighted to be joining the team at Angel Eyes NI as Family Support Co-ordinator for the West. I will endeavour to provide nurturing support and help to all children and young people with visual impairment or other additional needs and their families through my work.

Rebecca McCracken

Eye Clinician (currently on maternity leave)

My name is Rebecca McCracken, and I joined the Angel Eyes NI team in September 2021, as the eye clinician on the VisualEyes project. I have been working as an Orthoptist in Northern Ireland since graduating with a first-class honour from the University of Liverpool in 2016. Since graduating, I have enjoyed a very varied career including as an Orthoptist across 2 Trusts, teaching in Ulster University for Optometry students and previously as a dispensing assistant in a local Optician! I like to keep busy and enjoy the variety of my current posts. I love interacting with a wide range of patients and professionals and gaining as much knowledge and experience as I can. I recently completed a masters level module in Ophthalmic assessment of children with Special Educational Needs, which I really enjoyed. I have been able to apply this knowledge into my clinics, and especially within the Child Development Clinics which I am involved in.

Dr Laura Cushely

Vision Scientist

Laura is a recent PhD graduate from Queen’s University Belfast where her research focused on how people with a visual impairment navigate towns and cities. She has also worked in an ophthalmology clinical setting for over 10 years as an administrator and retinal photographer.

Laura is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Public Health in Queen’s University Belfast and her research includes working with people with diabetes, inherited retinal conditions and certification of visual impairment. She has presented her research at both local and international conferences. Her experience in clinics and research has given her an insight and understanding into the daily life of people with a visual impairment.