All our Trustees/Directors are volunteers (i.e. they work on an unpaid basis). They come from a variety of backgrounds with a wide range of skills required to run an organisation like the Basement Project.
Ann has lived in Bromsgrove for over 40 years and was a biology teacher in a Redditch school. She was an active member of a county-wide group dedicated to improving all aspects of education in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Ann has been a school governor of three local schools, and chairperson at one of them. Once retired, she served as a County Councillor, chaired the Children and Young People Sub-committee and was closely involved with the implementation of the Government’s ‘Quality Protects Initiative’. This included listening particularly to the views of young people from the ‘looked-after’ sector. During this time she became a founder member of North Worcestershire Basement Projects. She also became a Trustee on the Board of the local CAB and a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Council (now Community First). After her County Council service she was appointed a Non-executive Director of Redditch and Bromsgrove PCT where she remained until reorganisation in 2006.
Christine is originally from Birmingham where she worked in Sales, Advertising and Marketing. She has lived in Bromsgrove for 35 years, where she brought up her three children. Before retirement she worked for 10 years with the Family Support Child Protection Team, and in Social Care in Bromsgrove and Redditch with 10-16 year olds and their families, and later with the Community & Education Team. She has also worked for Mencap (people with Learning Disabilities) and Coventry Churches’ Housing Association on shared ownership housing. Christine is a trained counsellor and has worked in a voluntary capacity with both Cruse Bereavement Care and Victim Support. Apart from the Basement Project work she is a member of Manresa Link Spirituality Group (an Ecumenical Organisation) giving ‘Retreats in Daily Life’. She became a Trustee with the Basement Project in 2006.
David’s background is in Business Management, Sales, Marketing and Business Analytics. He has been a business consultant and was previously the International Business Director for an American supplier of high tech communication aids for people with speech disabilities, running the UK company, which he took from start-up to become the market leader, and with responsibilities for distribution in Europe and Australasia. He has been a main Board Director of the British Healthcare Trades Association and is currently chairman of the Speech Aid Sector. He is also the County Organiser for the National Gardens Scheme in Worcestershire, a voluntary Ranger on the Birmingham/Worcester canal, a member of MENSA, a Methodist Lay Preacher and a published author. A Bromsgrove High School ex pupil he has spent most of his life in this area and has been a Trustee/Director of the Basement Project since 2011.
Originally from Kidderminster but now living in Foxlydiate, Redditch, John retired as Finance Manager for a subsidiary of an international group of companies which specialises in the provision of financial services to other businesses. He has previously worked with Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland subsidiaries and a large automotive organisation. He now also works as a volunteer with the National Trust, Canal & River Trust (formerly British Waterways), and is a trustee of the pension scheme of his former employer. He joined the Basement Project in 2012.
Sheila Collins Sheila has a lifetime of experience in Guiding. She was a member of the Girl Guide Association as a Brownie, Guide and Sea Ranger and later as a Guider in all three sections. On retirement, she started a Toddlers’ Club and joined the Trefoil Guild. She worked for Worcestershire County Youth Service for 15 years . In 1999, with three other Youth Workers, she founded Bromsgrove Youth Homelessness Forum, which later became known as ‘The Basement Project’. She was the first Chairperson and has remained a Trustee/Director ever since. She also has experience in a ‘hands-on’ capacity, having worked as a volunteer for several years. She was awarded, by Rotary International, The Paul Harris Award for ‘Service to the Young People of Bromsgrove’. Sheila worked in the Dairy Industry before retiring to have her three daughters. Her interests now include gardening, singing in a church choir, running the Toddlers’ Club, watching cricket and rugby, and enjoying her six grandchildren. Sue Walton Sue has also been co-opted onto the Board of Trustees and will be formally appointed at the next AGM in June 2018. She is an HR Manager for a growing IT logistics company in Redditch and has worked in HR for the last 30 years for national and international companies.
Lindsay joined the Board in 2013 and has a background in marketing, communications and organisational development within the Voluntary Sector. Formerly a managing editor of a national charity magazine, she later focused on communications, training voluntary sector organisations in marketing and communications and WordPress. She is a former CEO of Worcester Volunteer Centre and its community transport operation.
Hilda Roxborough Hilda is one of the original founders and directors of The Basement Project. Now retired from her job in Education, she became a Lay Minister of St John’s Church in Bromsgrove in 2013. Sheila Nunnerley Sheila has lived in the area for over 25 years and, prior to having three children, was a District Nurse in Sussex. As the children grew older she was a voluntary youth worker with Worcestershire County Council at a ‘help and advice’ centre in Bromsgrove. In 1999 she was a founder member of the Bromsgrove Youth Homelessness Forum (The Basement Project) and its first treasurer and has been a director since. She has also worked as a volunteer within the organisation on and off for several years. Sheila is also a supporter of the NSPCC, being on the Bromsgrove Fundraising Committee . Her interests also include stitched textiles and she belongs to several groups that include embroidery, patchwork and quilting. Jean Spencer Jean has been associated with the Project since its early conception and worked as the administrator for a while. Jean joined the board of directors shortly after this and continues to support the Project. Jean is an active member of Bromsgrove community and works in a local middle school. Margaret Sherry (Biograpthy to follow) Robert Martin Robert has leadership skills from his days working with the scouts and manning. He undertakes voluntary work with NewStarts in Bromsgrove, where he helps to refurbish furniture. Luke Mallett Luke has been co-opted onto the Board of Trustees and will be formally appointed at the next AGM in June 2018. He is a serving District and County Councillor.
Jackie’s passion for supporting, enabling and advocating on behalf of young people led her to become another of the founder members of The Basement, having already worked with young people for a number of years. She has been involved in work for Youth Services, including outreach, youth centres, the youth enquiry service, schools, behavioural support, sexual health advice and also peer mentoring before coming to work for The Basement 7 years ago.
Sarah recently took over this role, having previously worked for the Citizens’ Advice Bureau. Sarah has experience of supporting people in crisis in particularly around debt advice.
Marina has worked at the Basement Project since 2007, initially as the Private Tenancy Scheme Coordinator before moving on to becoming a full time floating support worker. She is trained in counselling and is a mediation practitioner. She enjoys the challenges of working with many diverse and complex needs and is passionate about young people being given a voice. During her time at the Basement Project she has built strong working relationships with other agencies.
Barb joined the Basement Project in 2013 and has a range of experience working with young people. She recently returned to live in Worcestershire after a time working in Bristol. Her last role was in a hostel providing high level support to vulnerable adults and she has previously worked with NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training) and homeless young people.
Nina came to work as a volunteer at the Basement Project in 2010 while she was finishing her degree in social work. She applied for a vacancy for a new floating support worker which she was offered in 2012. Nina has a lot of experience in the area of homelessness and is passionate about supporting young people.
Amy joined us in May 2015. In the past she has been an instructor in PHSE in a school in Birmingham; has run youth clubs; has been involved in schools work and faith-based church work. She has previously been a volunteer at the Basement and is now our youth support worker based at Axis in Kidderminster.
Kennedy joined us as a temporary support worker to cover Amy’s maternity leave and is now a regular member of staff. Kennedy, who is from Redditch, was previously a healthcare assistant for young disabled adults.
Sadie joined us in April 2018 and has experience of working with young people across a variety of settings, namely Connexions; a local Further Education College, Social Care and a County-wide Careers Service.
