OUR STAFF

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OUR TRUSTEES

Clare Carmen
Clare is a fully qualified and experienced careers adviser having worked in a wide variety of education institutions most recently a university and is now a part time adviser in psychometric assessments working mainly with year 11 students. Her previous jobs include working for Coca Cola and Santander as well as being a legal executive specialising in conveyancing. Clare previously ran a job club at Redditch Library working with the long term unemployed which is where she became aware of BARN and the volunteering opportunities available through them which were invaluable for some the of the Job Club clients looking for employment providing them with work related skills for future careers. Currently because of her love of gardens Clare volunteers at Coughton Court in Warwickshire and at Gwrych Castle in North Wales and is currently undertaking a post graduate research degree in Garden History. Clare is also a trustee of Acts of Kindness and a foundation governor at Mount Carmel RC Primary School.

John Cochrane
John worked as a GP in Redditch for over 20 years and a then a few years in Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS). After retirement he was a Justice of the Peace in the adult criminal and family courts. He has been involved in Redditch One World Link(ROWL) Emmanuel Church at the Ecumenical Centre, Redditch, YMCA Worcestershire, Redditch Children’s Centres’ Advisory Board, Redditch Interfaith Group, and Bromsgrove and Redditch Welcomes Refugees (BRWR). Outside Redditch he is on the board of a charity supporting a rural hospital in Sierra Leone where he worked for a few years in the seventies and have visited several times again recently.

Andy Hopkins (Treasurer)

Karen Jones
Karen manages Home-Start North East Worcestershire, an independent family support charity based at Community House working exclusively with Worcestershire families who may be needing support for a wide array of reasons. These may include mental health, domestic abuse, disability and many other difficulties. They help these families to tackle whatever issues they may be facing whilst offering a supportive and friendly approach which is almost exclusively delivered via the help of volunteers. As well as being a trustee of BARN she is also a trustee of Community House, Redditch.

Fiona Mitchell

Keith Pople
Recently fully retired from a second career in management consulting, having been an Army Officer for more than 20 years.  Lately Keith specialised in leadership and organisational development, mainly in health and local government.   His career experience gives him some useful insight into what really works in organisations that are under pressure to produce excellence, while balancing the books.    Once a proud Westcountryman, he is now a proud Worcestershireman, living in Lickey End.  He has 2 children and 3 grandchildren.  He relishes volunteering in his local community.   He also enjoys walking, cooking, music (he sings in a choir and a shanty group), reading, flying and the performing arts.  He hopes that, as a trustee of BARN, he may contribute to making people’s lives as safe, happy and fulfilling as possible, in difficult times.

Yvonne Rendell (Chair)
Yvonne is an experienced manager and consultant with particular expertise in all areas of business change management and ICT related management. Areas of business specialisation include Higher Education, Central & Local Government, Housing Management, Property Management, Payment Management, Defence, Logistics, Manufacturing, Retail and Utilities. She runs her own consultancy company, and has acted as project manager and consultant for clients such as the University of Westminster, University of the Arts London, and the Learning and Skills Council. She is an active member of Bromsgrove and Redditch Welcomes Refugees and Churches Together in Bromsgrove.