COMPAID - Key Persons
Amanda has 20 years' experience in education and training, the last twelve having been spent with local charities. As a services manager and business development manager, she has worked in partnership with other local charities, businesses and authorities.
"I have especially enjoyed partnership working over the last 12 years with some amazing people; developing new projects and supporting and working alongside some of our more vulnerable groups is my passion. I am really looking forward to developing this further with Compaid"
Prior to working in the voluntary sector, Amanda worked in retail and in contracting. She is an avid reader and enjoys walking, crafts, motor racing and music … "in fact anything that gets me out and about!"
Job Titles:
- Transport Services Manager
Andy has been in the Passenger Transport industry since1990, and started by driving buses and progressed to taking a Management CPC Qualification.
He has been Transport Manager at Compaid for 4 ½ years, helping the transport department expand, working with other charities such as Age UK, and launching our Out & About Service in 2022.
David is currently between roles and most recently worked for Bupa as Group Head of IT Risk Assurance. He brings 20 years' experience of helping organisations to manage their information technology, data privacy and cyber risks with a particular focus on the security of IT systems and information. David has helped businesses to manage their risks to keep their systems and information secure and resilient to support the delivery of critical business processes. In his spare time, David enjoys sailing, walking, golf and spending time enjoying good food and wine with friends and family.
Diane has over 16 years fundraising experience in the voluntary sector having worked in mental health before coming to Compaid. Previous employment has been in banking and even ran a Children's entertainment business for seven years. In her spare time Diane is a qualified endurance running coach at Tonbridge Athletics club and is a keen racewalker, having competed at international level. She lives in Tunbridge Wells with her husband and has three grown up children. "It's all too easy to get wrapped up in our daily lives without paying attention to what's happening around us. Working for Compaid gives me a sense of fulfilment, seeing the difference we make to other people's lives is all the reward I need"
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Trustee
- Partner at BDO LLP
Fiona is a Partner at BDO LLP and specialises in the audit of charities. Her career started with Deloitte in Leeds, Cape Town and London where she worked with a wide range of public and international corporates. On joining BDO in 2004 Fiona specialised in the Not for Profit Sector. She has worked with many UK brand name charities including Barnardos, Sue Ryder, Help for Heroes, Addaction, Arthritis Research and Amnesty International. Outside of work, Fiona enjoys running and general fitness but spends most of her spare time watching her two young sons enjoying their many sporting activities.
Ife joined Compaid in 2022 as a graduate through the Job Centre's Kickstarter Scheme, helping young adults get into work, which was especially helpful during the pandemic.
Now, as Compaid's Social Media Assistant, she creates and manages all online and offline marketing efforts for Compaid, using her talent for creative writing to bring the impact of Compaid's services, and share stories of our staff, volunteers, service users and community.
She is an avid reader, a passionate creative writer, and is currently doing her Masters Degree in Creative Writing.
During her working career Irene was a teacher, Compliance Officer and an Independent Association of Prep Schools Inspector. Since leaving work to be the full - term carer for her disabled husband she has set up and runs Every Step Counts which each week provides 8 walks and 2 seated exercise classes for older, lonely or for people with mobility issues.Until recently Irene was a Sevenoaks District Councillor and is the Chairman of Riverhead Parish Council roles she has used to work within her local community on many varied issues.
Irene, a great dog lover, volunteers for Guide Dogs for the Blind as the Vice Chair of the Sevenoaks Branch for fund and awareness raising. She is also a qualified speaker for Guide Dogs and is currently training her 5 th Guide Dog puppy Jago. In her spare time Irene loves to run and this year completed the London marathon, her second marathon for Guide Dogs.
Jean-Pierre has 30 years business experience as a founder, CEO and MD of SMEs, in business to business and business to consumer fields. In 2020, he trained as an executive business coach, and now acts as a sparring partner for other business leaders, helping them to stay ahead of the game and giving them support at the top. Married to a British lady for nearly 30 years, Jean-Pierre moved to Tenterden in Kent in 2021 after many years in France just outside Paris, to be closer to his three children who have been working and living in England since they went to University.
Jonathan has been working with disabled people and in education since 2008. He trained as a teacher and then worked at Knole, in Sevenoaks, for the National Trust, setting up community education and disability access initiatives. At Compaid he has been overseeing the training centre since 2015. He specialises in creative writing and self-publishing, music, programming and web-writing, while these and a wide range of other activities are offered by our team of around 40 staff and volunteers, who deliver sessions to our clients in our centre and remotely. Like all our centre staff he is trained to support people with all kinds of disabilities, but he has a particular interest in language and numeracy problems following brain injuries.
His hobbies include walking, creative writing and trying to remember that thing he was thinking of just a moment ago.
Judith's first encounter with the voluntary sector was as a volunteer with Trinity Theatre when her daughter was at primary school. After this she worked for a Council for Voluntary Service in Tunbridge Wells, an organisation that supported front line charities in various ways: including low cost training, support with funding applications and volunteering support.
She became office manager at this charity but after 7 years, decided that it was time for a change. She is very much a ‘people person' and wanted to work for a charity that supported people directly. When a vacancy became available at Compaid for a Volunteer Recruiter this seemed perfect, and she joined in May 2008.
Over the years her role has evolved and changed many times and she is now the HR Manager, dealing with both staff and volunteers, a role that she really enjoys.
In her spare time Judith horse rides at a local stables, an activity she rediscovered after many years gap. Her other interests include music, reading and gardening. She is also interested in various crafts as she knits and sews.
Kathy comes from a background of supported employment and disability. Her pioneering work in Kent in transforming day services and developing supported employment featured in Changing Days. She became the National Employment Lead for Valuing People Now at the Department for Health in 2009, and was involved in setting up the British Association of Supported Employment where she is still a member of the National Executive Committee. She now works as an independent trainer and consultant, and has being working on the introduction of National Occupational Standards and new qualifications for supported employment. She also leads on employment and supported internships for the Preparing for Adulthood programme.
Laurence has over 30 years experience in investment, strategy, and growing businesses. Laurence's most recent employment was at Aviva Investors, where she has led the growth of the infrastructure debt business to top 10 in Europe and built a strong governance which contributed to significant fund raising. Laurence is an experienced board and investment committee member, and she has led teams in different organisations, where she has gained hands on experience in organisational design, leadership and management. Laurence has been living in Kent for 18 years, where she enjoys walking, cycling and spending time with friends.
Paul has been a client at Compaid's Training Centre for over 10 years, and has a keen interest in new technology and its application in art.
Peter has over 40 years experience in sales and business management within the IT sector, latterly within his own Consultancy Company. He also qualified as a Driver Trainer leading to volunteering with a transport-based Charity in Devon after retiring from full-time employment. He additionally has former experience of being a Charity Trustee prior to joining the Compaid Board. As well as being a Trustee, he is also currently a voluntary Compaid minibus driver. He hopes to draw on his professional experience of both commerce and driver training to assist and support Compaid in various elements of their operation and transport structure. Peter lives in Paddock Wood with his wife and outside volunteering and charity work has a keen interest in all things motorsport and classic cars.
Sara has been with Compaid for 8 years as an Outreach Trainer. Prior to taking on this role, she volunteered in the Training Centre. Over 16 years, she has held various training positions and also has teaching experience.
Sara goes out and about to reach those that require help with digital and employability slills, bringing Compaid 's services to local venues. This allows her to meet a wide range of people and engage with local communities.
'I am really enthusiastic about bringing Compaid's services out to the local area, to enable more people to access vital digital skills. This is becoming more and more essential to everyone for everyday life. I love seeing clients have that 'lightbulb moment' where they understand how to do something or access vital information.'
In her spare time Sara loves dancing, music and learning languages.
Simone is retired from a career in accounting and works as a volunteer in Compaid's Training Centre. Simone enjoys the learning opportunities and social life within the Paddock Wood U3A group.
Srikanth has worked in Finance and Accounting departments for over 17 years both in charity and commercial sector at Managerial level reporting to Directors and CEO's with expertise in SAGE accounting and IRIS payroll programmes, He is AAT Level 3 part qualified.
"It is so pleasing and rewarding that I am able to apply my knowledge and skills in managing the financial operations to give maximum benefit to our service users."
Srikanth enjoys sports and lives with his wife and two children in Paddock Wood.
Steve joins Compaid after some 13 years in the charity sector in Kent working with veterans and supporting people with disabilities and health conditions. He is passionate about enabling individuals and communities to develop. His earlier career was in the Army with considerable international experience.
Now, firmly Kent-based, Steve is looking forward to growing Compaid's social impact through organisational transformation, increasing partnerships and building our impressive volunteer team. In his spare time Steve enjoys sport, including; long distance running, cycling, hill walking and coaching an U16's football team which he has done since the boys were U7s!