Our Board of Trustees
Our Governance is built upon third sector best practices and the guidance of the Charities Commission. Trustees/Directors come from a wide variety of backgrounds with a broad and relevant range of skills and experience required to run an organisation like the Basement Project.
Chair – David Morgan
David’s background is in business management, sales, marketing and commercial analytics relating to health and wellbeing products. He has been a business consultant and was previously the International Business Director for an American supplier of high tech communication aids for people with speech disabilities, running the UK company, which he took from start-up to become the market leader, and with responsibilities for distribution in Europe and Australasia. He has been a main Board Director of the British Healthcare Trades Association and was chair of the Speech Aid Sector. He is also the County Organiser for the National Gardens Scheme in Worcestershire, a voluntary Ranger on the Birmingham/Worcester canal, a Methodist Lay Preacher and a published author.
Treasurer – Alan Deakin
Elected at the 2023 AGM –
Alan grew up in South Birmingham and worked in and around the West Midlands area in various finance roles primarily in the Motor Industry, latterly working for a string of French based organisations, before a spell living and working in the USA and Mexico. After finishing University Alan qualified as a Management Accountant, and enjoyed Financial Controller, and Director positions in various organisations in the OEM supply chain, all the way back to Stainless Steel manufacturing and distribution.
But time came for a complete change, and in the early 2000s, on returning to the UK, Alan retrained as a mathematics teacher, and has subsequently worked in Secondary Education, firstly in South Birmingham and most recently in leading teams and teaching in Redditch.
Alongside his professional life, Alan has undertaken extensive work with young people through church -based youth work, and has been a long time volunteer in supporting the work of a local non-league football team alongside a self-confessed obsession following Aston Villa.
As Alan reduces his professional work load he is relishing the opportunity to contribute his skill set and experience to this worthwhile initiative [The Basement Project] in his local area.
Chair Governance Group – Jamie Morris
Jamie joined the Board in 2022. His professional background has been largely in local government as Executive Director with Walsall MBC and Assistant Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council. Prior to this he was a management consultant with Deloitte. Jamie is a Non-Executive Director of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust. He has been chair of their workforce committee and is currently chair of the recently formed mental health collaborative committee, overseeing mental health provision and commissioning across both counties.
Chair Advertising, Marketing and Publicity (AMP) – Group Jez Hanson
Jez is Consultant and Framework Manager for a company in Birmingham and brings project management skills to the board, together with customer relationship management, business development and Experience of CRM systems and operations. His commercial skills will support the charity as we develop our work across the county. He also has a commitment to support young people in crisis.
Safeguarding Trustee Lead – Jean Spencer
Jean has been associated with the Project since its early conception and was employed as the Project Administrator for a period of time. Jean joined the Board of Trustees after this and continues to support the Project, additionally providing safeguarding and governance expertise to the Governance Group and management team. Jean is an active member of the community and works in a local middle school.
Emily Gambles
Elected at the 2023 AGM
Katherine Haynes
Katherine is currently Acting Director General of a UK wide trade association in the tourism sector. Her background includes leading Public Affairs at National Highways and working as a Senior Policy Advisor in the civil service. She also has experience in research and external affairs in the housing sector, and holds a Masters in Planning & Economic Growth from the University of Cambridge. Katherine lives in Bromsgrove with her partner and two young children.
Richard Hood
Richard is an experienced legal and governance practitioner who has worked in the private, public and the charity sectors in permanent, interim and consultancy roles. Richard is currently General Counsel & Company Secretary at Salix Finance Ltd (a company working with the Government to fund decarbonisation projects) having completed recent assignments in the last two years as Head of Legal at World Animal Protection, General Counsel at the Methodist Church and as Director of Governance at Action for Children.
Sheila Nunnerley
Sheila has lived in Worcestershire for over 25 years and, prior to having three children, was a District Nurse in Sussex. As the children grew older she was a voluntary youth worker with Worcestershire County Council at a ‘help and advice’ centre in Bromsgrove. In 1999 she was a founder member of the Bromsgrove Youth Homelessness Forum (The Basement Project) and its first treasurer and has remained a Trustee. Sheila has volunteered within the organisation on and off for several years. Sheila is also a supporter of the NSPCC. Her interests include stitched textiles and she belongs to several groups that include embroidery, patchwork and quilting.
Claire Pennell
Elected at the 2023 AGM
Margaret Sherrey
Margaret is a Bromsgrove District Councillor and holds the portfolio for Environmental Services. She serves on the board in a personal capacity and not as a representative of the District Council. She has been personally committed to the charity for several years.
Pippa Trueman
Elected at the 2023 AGM
Key People & Contacts
Chief Executive Officer – Jerry Robinson MSc, FCIPD
Jerry is all about making a positive difference, sustainable organisational income solutions and driving impact opportunities (particularly for those under the age of 25). His successful background in multiple sectors (commercial, retail, hospitality travel, tourism and charity) provides a broad range of skills, experience and leadership.
In 2020 Jerry instigated and led the re-purposing of the YHA (England & Wales) hostel network to support the Government initiative for the homeless with some c100,000 overnights through 47 repurposed Hostels. Prior to this (2014-2020) Jerry was credited with transforming YHA’s people, commercial and operations into the modern, efficient customer and impact focused organisation that has provided the foundation for YHA’s recent success.
A real “magpie” for personal and people development, good working practices, innovative ideas, process engineering and progressive, inclusive cultures. Jerry has benefited from working in, and contributing to, many leading hospitality, travel, tourism and charitable organisations, as well as volunteering as a Business Mentor with the Princes Trust and now as Non-Exec Director at the Mead Education Trust and Coventry University Students Union.
Operations Manager – Marina Price
Marina has worked at the Basement Project since 2007, initially as the Private Tenancy Scheme Coordinator before moving on to becoming a full time floating support worker. She is trained in counselling and is a mediation practitioner. She enjoys the challenges of working with many diverse and complex needs and is passionate about young people being given a voice. During her time at the Basement Project she has built strong working relationships with other agencies.
Senior Support & Finance Manager – Nina Wilkes
Nina came to work as a volunteer at the Basement Project in 2010 while she was finishing her degree in social work. She applied for a vacancy for a new floating support worker which she was offered in 2012. Nina has a lot of experience in the area of homelessness and is passionate about supporting young people.
Fundraising Manager – Kelly Turner
Kelly joined the Basement in March 2019 having previously worked with young people in education and youth work settings. Kelly aims to build positive relationships with local businesses, schools, community groups and individuals in order to raise much needed funds for our vulnerable clients. 100% of all fundraising from the community goes directly to support young people in crisis.
Youth Support Worker – Barbara Bunce
Barb joined the Basement Project in 2013 and has a range of experience working with young people. She recently returned to live in Worcestershire after a time working in Bristol. Her last role was in a hostel providing high level support to vulnerable adults and she has previously worked with NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training) and homeless young people.
Youth Support Worker – Kennedy Adams
Kennedy joined us as a temporary support worker to cover Amy’s maternity leave and is now a regular member of staff. Kennedy, who is from Redditch, was previously a healthcare assistant for young disabled adults.
Youth Support Worker – Sadie Howell
Sadie joined us in April 2018 and has experience of working with young people across a variety of settings, namely Connexions; a local Further Education College, Social Care and a County-wide Careers Service.
Youth Support Worker – Zoe Burford
Zoe joined the Basement Project in February 2020 after being TUPE’d over from Rooftop Housing. She has 13 years’ experience of supporting young people in crisis and has worked alongside the Basement Project for many of these. She has qualifications in mentoring and working with young people.