TARKA make children fall in love with being active

Ben grew up in Essex and was educated at Framlingham College. He developed his love for sports and exercise from a young age and represented the school in the first team for rugby, hockey and cricket from the age of 16.

Following school, he became a ski instructor in Canada before travelling in central America. He worked with children as a cricket coach and loved seeing the joy and development that sport brought to the children. Ben read environmental science at Queen Mary’s University of London, joining TARKA as an instructor alongside his studies. He quickly established himself as a firm favourite with the children so we couldn’t resist snapping him up on a full time basis on the completion of his Masters.

In his free time Ben loves playing and watching sport (especially Chelsea), heading back to his family home on the Suffolk coast whenever he can.

He joined the Army after leaving Oxford University, serving in the Household Cavalry, including a couple of tours of Iraq. He has an MBA from London Business School, years of experience in businesses, has run a chain of gyms and has been working at TARKA since 2020.

Mike is passionate about children’s development and the importance of exercise, particularly since Covid and the limited opportunities for young children to develop their motor and social skills during that period.

Mike is active himself: he has run multiple marathons and ultra-marathons, plays some rugby and cricket as well as coaching a childrens’ netball team.

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Move on up by Curtis Mayfield

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

The Jungle

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

The green Gonge islands

Fun fact you didn’t know about Mr Jack

He played a gig on to of Scotland’s Fourth Rail Bridge (361 feet above water)!

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Papa loves Mambo by Perry Como

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Under the sea

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

All the snakes!

Fun fact you didn’t know about Miss Olivia 

She is a fierce goal defence on the netball courts!

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

S Club Party by S Club 7

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Football

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

Quadroplay to build a home

Fun fact you didn’t know about Mr Theo

He has two titanium rods in his back!

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Hair Up by Justin Timberlake

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Seaside Adventures

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

Tug of war rope

Fun fact you didn’t know about Miss Polina

Polina runs a mindfulness company

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

I like to move it move it by Reel 2 Real

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Unicorns and princesses

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

The Gonge bridges

Fun fact you didn’t know about Miss Molly

She has nine nephews and nieces!

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Firework by Katie Perry

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Superheroes

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

Bricks

Fun fact you didn’t know about Mr Matteo

He can speak five languages!

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Bossa Nova Baby by the Elvis

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Mario Kart

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

The large parachute

Fun fact you didn’t know about Mr Jack

He was gifted his special TARKA trainers by a real life cowboy!

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Ride on Time by the Bamboos

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Mario Cart

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

Magna-Tiles, an endless opportunity for building

Fun fact you didn’t know about Mr George

He can do a walking handstand!

Rufus was educated at Harrow and Oxford Brookes University before joining the British Army in 2006, where he comissioned into the Household Cavalry and went on to complete a tour of Afghanistan as well as ceremonial duties in London. He also spent a year at a training regiment instructing phase one recruits whic he adored.

After leaving the army in 2014, Rufus embarked on a career in property development but missed the challenging and reawrding nature of army life, as well as the opportunities it presented for working with young people. TARKA was therefore set up as an opportunity to go back to what he enjoys the most.

Rufus loves all sport, particularly cricket, rugby and skiing. He has bicycled across the United States, completed the Marathon des Sable twice and has rowed the Atlantic Ocean.

Caroline went to Oxford Media and Business School after leaving school.

She has lots of experience working in jobs related to children, including time spent working at Great Ormond Street hospital. She made the move to TARKA as she felt passionate about children learning through exercise.

Caroline runs the operations here at TARKA London. She is the wizard who organises all our popular birthday packages, books your children into our classes and is always at the end of the phone to answer any questions you have!

In her free time, Caroline is a keen tennis player, runner and loves hanging out with her eight nieces and nephews!

Ollie was educated at Ludgrove and Oundle school where his love of sport saw him represent the school in all his chosen sports including Athletics and Rugby.

Following school, he spent a season as a ski instructor in Austria. His favourite lessons were with younger children as he could see the rapid improvement in their confidence and ability as well as their sheer joy and excitement.

Ollie came to TARKA through his father, who was Rufus’s Commanding Officer in the Army, and brings with him some of his military upbringing as well as being hugely popular with TARKA children and parents alike!

Since starting at TARKA Ollie quickly rose to become Chief Instructor in TARKA classes and birthdays and travelled to several countries as a Mentor with some of our TARKA families over the holidays in this role. Ollie is now heavily involved in the expansion of TARKA!

Leonora was educated at St Mary’s School Ascot and read Early Childhood Studies at Oxford Brookes. For two University summers, she worked at Camp Echo in upstate New York where she ran the aquatics for the children.

After graduating from Brookes, Leonora worked at Pippa Pop-ins Nursery in Notting Hill for 3 years. She taught the eldest age group, preparing them for their school assessments. Leonora chose to move to TARKA as she strongly believed in the importance of physical activity and making learning fun and active.

Leonora oversees the running of TARKA, alongside Rufus. Outside of work, Leonora is a keen tennis player and skiier.

Damani attended Brighton University, studying Business Management with Marketing, where he enjoyed splitting his time between the seaside city and his hometown, London.

Once he left school, he spent a year working out what brought him joy and he landed on an answer: working with children. Without any more time wasted, he jumped into an Early Years Initial Teacher Teaching course, becoming a qualified Early Years Teacher and worked with Leonora at Pippa Pop-ins!

After 5 years at the nursery Damani joined Leonora and the rest of the team at TARKA! Since starting with us, Damani has led holiday classes, hosted birthday parties to great success and taught in many different nurseries to show them our TARKA magic.

As Head of Product, he ensures every TARKA class is of the highest possible quality and our growing group of instructors perform at the top level.

In his spare time, Damani is a dedicated gym-goer and basketball player.

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Call me by Blondie

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Mario

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

A bouncy castle

Fun fact you didn’t know about Mr Henry

He has run the London marathon!

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Shake it Off by Taylor Swift

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Disney

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

Big lego bricks so I can build a sturdy shelter

Fun fact you didn’t know about Miss Ellie

She has an incredible memory, especially remembering song lyrics!