Our Team and Trustees
Reedham Children’s Trust is led by a dedicated team and governed by trustees who bring experience across education, fundraising, youth work, safeguarding, finance, regulation, community engagement and organisational leadership.
Registered charity number: 312433.
Staff team with experience across education, fundraising, child protection, finance and community engagement.
Trustee board with expertise across finance, youth work, governance, regulation, inclusion and organisational leadership
Focused on supporting vulnerable children, young people and families in Croydon.
Working through schools, voluntary organisations and grassroots partners.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND REEDHAM
Reedham Children’s Trust is a small charity with a long history and a clear local purpose.
The team works with schools, voluntary organisations, grassroots providers, supporters and partners to help vulnerable children and young people in Croydon access practical support, education, confidence-building opportunities and trusted local projects.
The trustees provide governance, support and challenge. Their role is to help Reedham stay focused on its charitable purpose, operate responsibly and make decisions that serve the children, young people and families the charity exists to support.
OUR STAFF TEAM
Sarah Burns
Chief Executive Officer
Sarah leads Reedham Children’s Trust and provides strategic leadership for the charity.
Posey Furnish
Executive Assistant
Posey supports the team with administration, coordination and day-to-day
organisational active.
Jess Ritchie
Fundraising Manager
Jess leads fundraising activity and supporter engagement, helping Reedham secure
the income needed to support projects, appeals and partnerships.
Aarti Sharma
Finance Manager
Aarti supports Reedham's financial management and helps ensure the charity's
resources are handled with care and accountability.
Rachel Smart
Youth Strategy Manager
Rachel supports Reedham's youth strategy and partnership work, helping shape
activity that responds to the needs of children and young people in Croydon.
Dami
Youth Partnerships Officer
Dami supports Reedham's work with youth partners, including project coordination
and relationship-building with organisations supporting young people
OUR TRUSTEES
Reedham’s trustees bring professional experience, lived perspective and personal commitment to the charity’s work.
They help guide the charity’s direction, oversee governance and ensure Reedham remains focused on its purpose: supporting vulnerable children and young people in Croydon
TRUSTEE PROFILES
Mike Nevill, APFS (Chairman)
“The world is a small place and I still have a lot to see, but also now is the time in my life to give something back to those less fortunate than me.”
Mike’s working life has been in the financial services industry and working with major institutions, including Prudential and Fidelity Investments, where he was one of the UK Directors.
In 1991 he set up a financial planning business with a firm of accountants, developing this into a major business turning over £7.5m. In 2012 Mike took a number of his closest clients, and joined a colleague, to set up a new financial planning business.
Mike is now working part-time looking after about 50 wealthy clients, assisting them achieving their financial objectives. A keen runner, cyclist and skier for many years, Mike still competes in running and cycling events. This year Mike supported Reedham by taking part in the Prudential 100 Bike Ride.
Another of Mike’s interests is a passion for travelling.
Megan Rhodes
She has held leadership roles across youth charities, with a focus on safeguarding, inclusion, and organisational development and has a passion for increasing access to opportunities for young people early on. As a Designated Safeguarding Lead and advocate for equity, she brings deep understanding of the challenges facing young people today and has championed inclusive policy change at both team and strategic levels.
Passionate about community engagement and amplifying youth voice, Megan joined the Reedham Children’s Trust Board to support the charity’s commitment to children with the least advantage and ensure their needs remain at the heart of decision-making.
Jess Parsons
Jess started her career as a teacher working in inner city schools for seven years. In that time, she held curricular and pastoral roles focused on closing educational gaps and supporting young people.
On leaving teaching, Jess joined a charity focused on keeping young people happy and safe online. After this, she led learning and operations in a homelessness service in Croydon and then became Director of a charity working to tackle structural inequality in housing. She continued to support young and vulnerable people directly over text during her five years as a mental health volunteer and is now proud to contribute to the great work of Reedham and their partners.
Jess lives in Penge with her husband and two young children and enjoys reading and travelling. She is also trying to enjoy running.
Sharon Eyre
Her background spans finance operations, consulting and senior leadership roles in large, complex organisations, giving her a practical, hands-on understanding of how to embed sustainable change.
At Board level, she brings a constructive and collaborative approach, providing effective support and challenge while helping organisations build robust foundations that enable them to maximise their impact.
She has experience as Trustee and Treasurer for a West London charity supporting young people leaving care to build independent, fulfilling lives. Now at a stage in life where her children are growing up, she is keen to give back to her community and is committed to supporting disadvantaged children and young people to achieve their potential.
Sharon lives in London with her husband and two teenage daughters and enjoys walking (especially in the Lake District) as well as meditation, fitness and Pilates.
Kaj Patel
Kaj is committed to helping ensure the Trust operates with integrity, remains focused on its charitable purpose, and continues to provide high-quality support and opportunities for children and young people. Having grown up in Croydon and coming from an underprivileged background, she brings a lived perspective.
She lives in the local area with her husband, teenage daughter and son and dog Quintus.
Virginia Wright
Virginia holds a PhD in Public Health and Health Economics Decision Science from the University of Sheffield, where her research centred on effective and cost-effective interventions for parents with a substance use disorder.
She lives with her husband, son and dog in Croydon. Virginia enjoys hiking and yoga and is an enthusiastic (though sporadic) participant in her local Parkrun. She has hiked to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and Kala Patthar, Nepal.
GOVERNANCE AND ASSURANCE
Reedham Children’s Trust is a registered charity governed by its trustees. The trustee board helps ensure that Reedham
• Uses resources responsibly.
• Supports work that responds to the needs of vulnerable children and young people
• Maintains oversight of risk, finance and governance
• Supports the staff team with appropriate challenge and guidance
• Supports the staff team with appropriate challenge and guidance
• Mental health and wellbeing challenges
SHARED EXPERTISE
Together, Reedham’s trustees bring experience across a wide range of sectors including:
• Charity leadership
• Education
• Finance
• Law
• Communications
• Youth Services
• Mental health and wellbeing challenges.
• Governance
• Public Sector Leadership
• Community development
• Safeguarding
• Strategic planning
• Fundraising and partnerships
• Mental health and wellbeing challenges.
This combination helps Reedham connect its long-standing charitable purpose with the practical needs of young people and families in Croydon today.
WORKING WITH PARTNERS
Reedham's model depends on strong local collaboration.
The team and trustees support a partnership-led approach, working with schools,
youth organisations, voluntary sector providers and grassroots groups to help young
people access the right support.
This includes projects linked to school engagement, safe spaces, young refugees and
family support, youth homelessness prevention, and the Youth Innovation Fund.
JOIN, SUPPORT OR CONTACT REEDHAM
If you would like to support Reedham, discuss a partnership, ask about a project or
contact the team, please get in touch
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FAQ
Who leads Reedham Children's Trust?
Reedham Children’s Trust is led by its staff team and governed by its trustees. The team manages the charity’s day-to-day work, while trustees provide governance, support and oversight.
Who are Reedham's trustees?
Reedham’s trustees bring experience across finance, youth work, education, safeguarding, regulation, governance, inclusion and organisational leadership.
What does the trustee board do?
The trustee board helps Reedham remain focused on its charitable purpose, use resources responsibly, manage risk and make decisions in the interests of the children and young people it supports.
Does Reedham work directly with other organisations?
Yes. Reedham works with schools, charities, voluntary organisations and grassroot providers to support vulnerable young people and families across Croydon.
How can I contact the team?
You can contact Reedham by phone, email or through the website contact form.
Can I work or volunteer with Reedham?
Current opportunities should be listed on the website when available. If no roles are listed, you can still contact Reedham to ask about future opportunities or ways to support the charity.
Contact Reedham Children's Trust
Reedham Children's Trust, 23 Old Lodge Lane, Purley, Surrey, CR8 4DJ
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HOW THE TEAM WORKS
Reedham’s team works closely with local partners because the charity’s impact depends on collaboration.
• Listening to local need.
• Supporting schools, voluntary organisations and grassroots providers.
• Helping partners develop and sustain projects.
• Supporting fundraising and donor relationships.
• Maintaining clear communication with supporters and stakeholders.
• Keeping young people’s needs at the centre of the work.
The team’s role is not only to manage projects. It is to help build the connections, support and resources that make those projects possible.