Trustees Statements

Our Board of Trustees play an invaluable role as we build for the future; supporting individuals and the Swale voluntary and community sector to thrive and flourish.

John Baker – Chairman

I have had a long career in management positions based around training and HR provisions for a number of private sector organisations. In addition to these jobs I also worked part time as a lecturer at Mid Kent College, teaching about Manufacturing Technology. Since 1978 I have always undertaken a number of voluntary positions including acting as a Governor at two Medway schools, Chairman of Young Enterprise Boards and Chairman of Kent Approved Training Organisations. In 2004 John took over the role as Chairman for Swale Community and Voluntary Services, where I continue to this day.

Jim Duncan

I have 14 years experience working across the public, private and Voluntary and Community Sector. I have led on multi-million pound regeneration projects targeting deprived communities and the delivery of early years, family support and family health related services targeting child poverty. In business I oversee the management of two early education settings, a mobile childcare business and a children's workforce recruitment agency. I am also proud to be a founder of the Family Food Bank service that provides support to families in crisis.

Pamela Prescott

I am a retired bank manager, who followed this up as a marketing director of a local regeneration charity and then undertaking project management for Medway CVS. Now I am an associate hospital manager within the mental health service of East Kent Hospitals Trust and a trustee of local charities including SYDF. I still retain interest in financial matters but the wellbeing of those disadvantaged by health, physical or mental is now my priority. During my husband’s term of office as Mayor of Borough of Swale I was able to meet many of the local groups within Swale and this engendered further interest in helping organisations benefitting the community particularly those without guaranteed funding.

Paul Murray OBE

I have been a teacher for 38 years. I graduated from Durham University in 1975. I have only ever taught on Sheppey and I am proud to be associated with the island. My main passion is working in the community with our students. I am on several groups representing the Isle of Sheppey Academy. Swale Community and Voluntary Services is an important organisation to me because it does such good work in Swale and beyond. The staff are outstanding in producing the goods. I work alongside them on several community projects and their product is rigorous and stands out in its field. I am pleased to be part of this organisation. Paul also took on the role as Vice Chairman for Swale Community and Voluntary Services, where I continue to this day.

Ken Pugh

More details to come soon

Sue Gent

More details to come soon

George Bobbin

More details to come soon

Sam Ithell

Sam took on the role as Treasurer for Swale Community and Voluntary Services. More details to come soon

Bryan Pringle

I have been a Trustee of Swale Community and Voluntary Services since 1995/6 having been initially 'recruited' as a volunteer to take over the role of Treasurer to the Board. My suitability for such a position was based on a 27 year career in Banking with its assumed knowledge and experience of working with, and interpreting, 'Accounts'. At the time I became involved I had experience of Charity work and Charity Accounts dating back some 25 years. Two years of my banking career were spent working in Faversham and I have lived in Sittingbourne since 1983."

Ross Gill

I have experience of working in local government in Kent, London and Liverpool, focusing on strategy, regeneration and economic development. Outside of work, I have also volunteered with a number of organisations, in particular Samaritans, where I served as Director of the Maidstone branch in 2005-08, and of which I am currently Treasurer. Ross took on the role as Vice Chairman for Swale Community and Voluntary Services, where I continue to this day.

Laura Jobson

I have worked in Sittingbourne and on the Isle of Sheppey with children and families and committees for nearly 25 years. I understand how important it is to encourage trustees to become fully involved and committed to the organisation. As a Manager of a small charity I have experience of applying for funding, budgeting, supervising staff, recruiting and training volunteers and complying with Charity law and government regulations.