Touchstone’s trustees are volunteers who have overall responsibility for Touchstone’s work and strategic direction. They come from a variety of backgrounds and generously donate their time to the organisation.
Sam has worked in various leadership roles within the charity sector for 20 years, specifically within the palliative and end of life care area.
She currently leads the Strategy and Impact function at Marie Curie, and has much experience in developing strategies, business planning and performance, measuring impact and evaluation. Equally she is experienced in operational management, service redesign, user involvement and income generation.
As well as being a strategic leader, Sam is also a registered nurse and has over 30 years’ experience of working in a healthcare environment. Through this experience, she strongly believes that mental health and wellbeing services should be available and easily accessible for everyone, wherever and whenever they are needed.
Sam is delighted to have joined the Touchstone team, as she is passionate about help and support being delivered in local communities.
I have been a registered social worker for many years working predominantly in Adults services in hospitals and in the community. I am currently working at the University of Bradford and with the Open University as a Practice Learning Tutor on their social work degree courses, organising and supporting student social workers on placements. In this capacity, I have organised successful student placements at Touchstone and greatly value their contribution to social work education.
In addition, I am member of the national NICE/SCIE Guidance Development group on Social Care services for Older People with multiple long-term conditions, published in 2015, and currently a member of the NICE Guidance Development group working on Social Work interventions for Adults with Complex Needs.
Richard is an entrepreneur and seasoned programme manager with extensive experience in business development. In a varied working career, he has held senior management roles across multiple sectors and now collaborates with several organizations on a consultancy basis, specializing in business growth, coaching, and mentoring.
With a focus on guiding individuals and businesses to achieve their goals, Richard brings a wealth of expertise in developing effective strategies for sustainable success. He is passionate about supporting professional growth and team cohesion, using his skills to empower others and enhance organizational performance.
Richard values the opportunity to contribute to Touchstone’s impactful community initiatives, bringing his commitment to service and leadership to the organization’s ongoing work.
In a varied working career, Stephen has worked in senior management roles in both public and private companies and currently works for several organisations on a consultancy basis, specialising in financial assignments, coaching and mentoring.
A Chartered Accountant with Post Graduate Qualifications in Executive Coaching, he has a passion for developing people and works with individuals and teams to realise their potential. Additionally, he has over 10 years-experience delivering a range of training programmes improving financial awareness, knowledge and management in open course and organisational settings.
He values the opportunity to support Touchstone in its endeavours of providing outstanding work in the community.
Sally is a project and programme manager with 25-years of experience in the IT & digital services industry delivering complex projects and transformation programmes for a diverse range of international clients in the charity, public and private sectors. Throughout her career, she has sought opportunities to use my skills and experience and to apply technology for good. This includes ensuring accessibility is designed into new systems, actively promoting diversity in recruitment, and volunteering to train and mentor young people not in employment. Sally is passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion and she tries to be an advocate for inclusivity in everything she does.
She currently volunteers as a mentor for women in technology, and for a local foodbank. She is very much looking forward to using her business, IT and financial skills as part of the Touchstone board of trustees. She has lived experience of both mental health issues and dementia and understands how important it is to provide both support and work to remove any stigma. She was born and raised in Leeds, and now lives in South Yorkshire, which means the communities served by Touchstone are very close to my heart.
I have over 16 years of Compliance and Regulatory experience spent across the Financial Services, Manufacturing (medical devices) and Government sectors and over 11 years’ experience in blue chip financial services companies, which equips me to offer an exceptional mix of knowledge and experience.
The ability to transcend from different environments demonstrates that I can swiftly adapt, absorb information enabling sound judgements at a strategic level. I am proficient in working with the FDA/FCA/FOS/MOJ and other regulatory bodies covering many areas of compliance. What I bring to Touchstone is utilising my work experience, and knowledge in the business sectors, to support the charity with its strategy and ambitions and be there as a touchpoint for progress and direction.
Tom is a local businessman and director of an IT Consultancy firm, Urban IT Support Ltd. As an entrepreneur, Tom has vast experience in strategic business growth, and is particularly knowledgeable in using technology to improve business performance and productivity. Equally, Tom is experienced in Information Governance compliance and GDPR, with active roles within the charitable sector and technology sector.
Likewise, having gained a Masters in Entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge, Tom has extensive knowledge in the practical skills needed to scale and grow organisations across the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. Tom feels this, combined with his IT knowledge, provides Touchstone with hands-on experience of how innovative technology can be used to grow, reach new service users, and deliver programmes and initiatives even more effectively, and is truly honoured to be a member of the board.
Gary is a qualified actuary and investment consultant with a strong passion for supporting organisations that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, particularly in mental health and housing. Having faced his own mental health challenges – and benefited from hundreds of hours of counselling and support – he knows firsthand the importance of the right help at the right time. His experience volunteering on a mental health textline has given him direct insight into supporting people in crisis, deepening his understanding of the challenges they face.
Gary strongly believes in Touchstone’s mission to provide inclusive, recovery-focused, and accessible mental health and wellbeing services. He is passionate about addressing the deep connections between homelessness, addiction, and mental health, and is eager to help drive meaningful change.
Jonny is a Senior Consultant working as a Delivery Manager in the tech industry. This involves ensuring the safe and timely delivery of software in complex environments, it also involves team management, risk management and championing a culture of user centred design. He has spent most of his time in this role working on an NHS project.
Before he ventured into the world of tech, Jonny spent almost a decade as a senior manager in the third sector, leading projects, teams and initiatives connected with young people, training, disability and education. He has sat on the other side of the fence and reported to boards and is excited to have the opportunity to role model positive stewardship of the trustee role.
He is a family man with two young children and enjoys board games, walking and cooking.
ElizabElizabeth developed her career across a variety of roles within the NHS and charity sector, both in operational and senior managerial roles.
Although now retired her career, spanning 36 years, consisted of roles as a Registered Nurse, Midwife and Health Visitor, with the last 15 years of her career based within the palliative and end of life care sector.
Throughout her career her focus has always been to deliver the right care, outcomes and support for individuals and those important to them, with compassion and understanding. She has continually dedicated time to helping people build the skills to live their lives to their very best.
Elizabeth is currently using these skills to coach managers and leaders working predominantly in the health & Social care sector. She is keen and excited to take on this new challenge as a Trustee with Touchstone and is hoping to contribute a valuable lens for the organisation to meet its full potential.