Trustees

We are managed by a board of trustees who bring experience in operational and financial management and marketing at a senior level. Most of the trustees became involved because of their experience as carers.

Mary Whittington – Chair

I am a retired Architect and Project Manager and bring a wealth of experience from many years working in the private sector, in partnership with NHS Trusts and other healthcare providers, supporting them to improve the patient experience and generate savings. I try to apply my project management, business development, strategic management and stakeholder involvement experience to the work of the Board of Carers Support Centre.

I am passionate about improving the lives of carers. I was the carer for my mother during the last few years of her life and saw how my father-in-law struggled to care for his wife when she developed dementia. Through my role with Carers Support Centre, I want to ensure that their voices are heard, awareness of their challenges increases and that support is provided that meets their needs.

In addition to my role with Carers Support Centre, I am also a trustee of BRACE, the Alzheimer’s and dementia research charity and a member of Rotary.

Jen Cheshire – Vice-chair

I am the National Implementation Project Manager for a young person’s charity. I manage the development and UK rollout of a digital platform to support young people with cancer. 

I have developed services across the NHS and charity sector, and have a special interest in digital service delivery.

I am passionate about supporting services for carers and am excited to join the Carers Support Centre as a Trustee.  

Jen Tomkinson

I currently work within the NHS as a senior manager leading community specialist adult health service. Prior to this, I worked for 15 years as a physiotherapist in both hospital and community sectors.

My current role involves management of services to ensure that they deliver safe, effective care for people with Long Term Conditions. I bring a broad skill set to the trustee board of all elements of operational management including for example managing patient safety and governance, financial management, Human Resources management, and service performance as well as leading transformational change involving people who use services including carers. The role includes involvement in the system-wide development programmes within Healthier Together to deliver transformation across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. 

Although I am not directly a carer myself (although I do have 2 young children), I have seen the impact and value that caring has on people who need help as well as throughout my career. I want to ensure through my role as a trustee that there is increased awareness and support given to this often-under-recognised group. 

Louise Manley

My background is in social policy, health and public involvement. I am passionate about ensuring that everyone’s views are heard and taken into account in decisions which impact them.  I feel this is particularly important for carers whose views and concerns can sometimes be overlooked.

I am currently a School Governor and also work for the Breck Foundation, a charity which works to keep children and young people safe online.

I have first-hand experience of being a carer and am passionate about the work of the Carers Support Centre.

Sian Jones

Watching my parents age and become more dependent has given me firsthand insight into the vital and challenging role that carers have. This personal experience has strengthened my commitment to support others in this position through my role as a trustee. I bring to this role a diverse skill set and a wealth of experience to help CSC in serving its users. 

I am a registered nurse with a lifelong career in the NHS, where I have held senior leadership positions across various settings. My work has focused on evaluating and enhancing patient services, workforce education and training, and commissioning services for the Bristol population. A significant part of my career has focussed on leading change management programs that promote the spread of best practice. 

I have wide experience of supporting people to develop and grow, particularly during periods of transition and change. As a certified coach and mentor with a background in psychology, my approach includes tried and tested methods that originate from that discipline.

Beyond healthcare, I provide consultancy services to the VCSE sector, specializing in development, resilience, transition, and change. This work reflects my passion for empowering people and organizations to thrive in times of transformation.

Graham Hunt

I am married with two children and four grandchildren. Trained as an accountant, I became FD and General Manager of a steel stockholding group before moving to Bristol and spending 25 years as FD of McArthur Group Ltd. where I had a wide range of responsibilities. I have also been Chairman of the Board of John Riddel & Son Ltd.. 

There have been Carers within my family: no doubt this provoked the interest which led to my being a founding Trustee and Treasurer of Frenchay Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme – a role I held for about ten years. Subsequently, I have ensured that organisations I have been involved with supported Carers and Young Carers organisations – financing projects, events and equipment for them.  

My aim is to use my business and carer organisation experience – and my enthusiasm – to help make life better for users of, and all involved with, Carers Support Centre. 

Matt Jackson

I have over 15 years of experience in the creative sector specialising in branding and digital. I’m currently Head of Digital and Senior Strategist at Toward, a creative studio specialising in strategic brand and digital development. I have experience of the challenges within the care sector from Toward’s continuing work with Social Care Wales (the governing body for social care in Wales) and through family members who have been both carers, and cared for. I was born in London, raised just outside of Bristol, and now live in South Wales.

Page last updated 27.02.24