Our Trustees
We are currently seeking new trustees. Click here for more information.
Charles Wade, Chair
Charles joined us after over twenty years serving as a full time judge in the west of England. Much of that time was spent concentrating on cases involving the welfare of children until he retired in 2014.
Through his experience of dealing with children – both personally and professionally – Charles has always been interested in their development and welfare. He is acutely aware of the difficulties facing families in crisis and the need to develop appropriate strategies to help children to reach their full potential. |
Derek Conaty, Trustee
Derek is married with three adult daughters and four grandchildren.
He and his wife have lived in Gloucester for 31 years and Derek was a GP in Brockworth for 28 years until he retired in 2013. As well as being a GP, he also worked part time in the Learning Disability services of the 2gether NHS trust. |
Jennie Dwight, Trustee
Jennie joined our board of trustees in the summer of 2015 and has considerable experience working in the public sector across Gloucestershire.
She spent eight years as a police constable in the county before undertaking a degree in teaching. Jennie has taught in primary schools in the Gloucester, Cam and Stroud areas and in 2006 became Head Teacher of Staunton & Corse C of E Primary School. |
Elaine Haines, Trustee
Born in Gloucestershire, Elaine returned with her family in 2010, after spending nearly 30 years away studying and working in Cambridgeshire.
Her own life and work experience means that she believes investing time in listening to people, particularly young people, can be extremely rewarding. She remains committed to making a difference to the future of young people whilst also working as Business Development and Marketing Director for Harrison Clark Rickerbys. |
Joanna Jensen, Trustee
Joanna and her husband were previously foster carers for Community Foster Care.
They retired as foster carers in October 2014 and Joanna was pleased to change her position on the board from Carer Representative to Trustee, with a new role as Children’s Ambassador. She looks forward to meeting more of the children and young people we work with and hearing their views. |
Mariana Straton, Trustee
Mariana joined our board of trustees in June 2011.
Her background for many years has been frontline social work, however more recently she has moved into working at a strategic level for local authority services. Mariana is extremely child-focused and offers the board a current view of services for children and young people and an understanding of the challenges faced by public sector services. |