Who are we?

The TAP social thanking platform is the brainchild of parents Sandie and Phillip Curtis whose special education needs son Donavan has received outstanding care from the education and healthcare sector over the past 18 years.

Sandie and Phillip were often overwhelmed by the care their son received and wanted to thank the staff who helped their son, but often found it difficult to relay messages to them. This is at a time when both the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and education sector has poor staff well-being and retention owing to staff feeling under-appreciated.

Our culture often seems driven to look for the worst, to highlight what is wrong, instead of giving thanks and praise for the good that can be found in so many, especially in Unsung Heroes in education and healthcare. We can all contribute to making others feel worthy and appreciated by giving genuine thanks when deserved. Phillip and I believe that a lack of appreciation, especially in the public sector, contributes hugely to the mental health problems so common in society today.
Sandie and Phillip Curtis, Co-Founders of TAP

Our Team

John Cawdery

TAP US President

15 years’ experience in the digital marketing & technology industry. International expertise in building programs & leading high performing teams responsible for scaling businesses such as Google, Doubleclick and Newsweek.

Matt Findel-Hawkins

CEO

Matt enjoyed a successful two-decade career in international advertising sales before changing direction in 2013 after a health scare. Matt heads up the technical and strategic development at TAP. Through his work with TAP he has learned that he loves to be building a new business with a true social purpose rather than focusing purely on profit. It feels good to be doing something that improves the wellbeing of others.

James McLoughlin

Chief Commercial Officer

James has spent his career working for purpose-driven organizations, both corporates and not-for-profits, all committed to making a positive impact to society. James’s role is to develop long-term relationships with corporate partners who share TAP’s values, with the combined goal of recognising and rewarding the Unsung Heroes in education and healthcare. As well as onboarding education and healthcare organizations to the TAP platform. Most of all, he appreciates the difference that TAP is making to the health and wellbeing of those working in the armed forces, education, healthcare and elder care.

Sandie Curtis

Founder

Sandie started her career in sales, but her entrepreneurial passion soon led her into property investment, ownership and management of hotels. It was in hospitality that Sandie experienced that employees are the most important asset of an organization, and should be valued accordingly. Sandie's personal experience motivated her to start TAP, realizing that so many Unsung Heroes, working in education and healthcare, are not given enough recognition for the amazing work they do on a daily basis. She has enjoyed speaking to a wide range of leaders and sharing TAP's mission to make the world a better place; and delighted by the impact TAP is already having.

Phillip Curtis

Co-Founder

Phillip began his Hospitality career in South Africa, right at the bottom - as a children’s entertainer and magician, but quickly moved on to manage and own hotels in South Africa and the UK. He has implemented and managed staff training and leadership schemes and truly understands the value of giving thanks to employees. “Recognising and rewarding employees as people first and foremost, is what gives them value and self-worth. The “bottom line” is assured when people are re-assured, valued and appreciated”. What he finds most satisfying about working within TAP is the pace at which they are moving and the eagerness of people, within the schools and healthcare, to show appreciation to their employees and colleagues.

Nasreen Anderson

Director

Nasreen has a successful career in the financial services industry. Her personal experience as mother to a son with Special Education Needs also led her to a previous role as an Ambassador for the children’s communication charity, I CAN. Her experience trying to find the right support for her son has given her the strong desire to give something back to all the education and healthcare experts that have helped her son on his journey. TAP provided her with the perfect opportunity to do this.

Patrick Melville

Media Director

Patrick has a CIM Diploma in marketing and has a passion to use communications to make a positive difference. He has worked as a client, agency and supplier in the UK and internationally in different areas of marketing and sales. Patrick’s role is to bring TAP’s brand and platform to everyone’s eyes and demonstrate the impact of gratitude. This is to the public, Unsung Heroes and their organizations, partners, media and investors. To date, he has enjoyed seeing the smiles from TAP’s work: from conducting research, to running campaigns!

Ann Shaw

Operations Manager

Ann’s career started in developing systems and supporting operations in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and recruitment working as a Group Facilities Manager. She moved into property management, school governance and medical monitoring that exposed to her a real need to show appreciation for all employees. Her role at TAP allows her to see first-hand the gratitude being shared by TAP users, and the positive impact it is having. The importance of thanking is paramount to self-esteem and Ann’s vision is to see thankfulness a part of everyday life!

Mylena Quiaper

Marketing Executive

Mylena has a range of experience, studying Information Technology in Brazil and digital media in London. Part of Mylena’s role at TAP has been running the social media and web platforms and supporting the TAP team in and outside the office. She has gained invaluable experience and a greater appreciation for those working in the public sector, and TAP gives her the opportunity to demonstrate it.

Payam Taaghol

Strategic Advisor

An executive, blessed with a diverse background from R&D to Operations and Sales in the wireless telecommunications and technology field. Fortunate to have worked and continue working with excellent professionals throughout my career. Close partnership with venture capital and private equity teams to create value with an established track record that includes multiple acquisitions and exits.

Chris Grad

Healthcare Advisor

Chris has been a serial entrepreneur over his 50 year career mainly focusing on the IT, medical and educational sector. He has been a pioneer and innovator creating many opportunities and successes for his team. Over the past 10 years he has been steering companies through the complexity of growth and development in a non-executive capacity. Through his philanthropic network he discovered TAP and loved the concept of being involved in an organization that gave thanks to many caring members of society.

Simon Gamewell

Content Producer

Simon enjoyed a long career in ESL, teaching English in various locations around South East Asia, where he often received messages of gratitude from his students. It made him realize the power of gratitude, making the long hours worthwhile, knowing that it’s possible to make a difference to people’s lives. In 2016 he had a life changing accident which left him in a wheelchair with a spinal cord injury. This put him on the opposite side of gratitude. The healthcare workers who worked tirelessly and selflessly to provide the care that was needed to aid his recovery were truly thankful and appreciative of the gratitude he gave them. Simon came to TAP because he realized the potential of giving and receiving gratitude has the power to make the world a more positive place and by devoting his time and energy to such a socially energizing cause, he could be part of that positive change.

Nick Brennan

Head of Application Development

Nick has enjoyed a long and varied career in a number of creative and technical disciplines, from web design, application development and IT management through to graphic design, motion graphics and 3D design and animation, all while enjoying a successful career in music composition and production. Nick has joined the TAP team to refresh and enhance our web presence, and ongoing to lead development in the second generation of the TAP platform.

Have immediate impact - send a message of thanks to a frontline worker, a department or an organization today. Our teams are dedicated to ensuring they see your message which will make a real difference and brighten their day!

Say Thanks

Feel inspired by reading messages people have sent. Simply search for an organization or browse through the thanking walls for armed forces, healthcare workers, elder care workers, education workers or other frontline workers

Thanking Walls

You can make a donation through TAP’s matched funding service. This will increase your kind gift as it will be matched by one of TAP’s corporate partners - allowing your chosen charity to receive even more.

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