Trustees
Our Board of Trustees are a group of volunteers who have an important role to play in the governance of the charity:
Providing oversight to ensure the charity continues to serve its population with effective services and meets its charitable objectives
Ensuring the long-term sustainability of the charity through effective risk and financial oversight
Providing support and advice to the senior team
Become a Trustee
You can make a difference to the lives of people across the South West. We're always looking for people with the skills, drive and experience to support us.
To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to hr@fearfree.org.uk
Maureen joined FearFree as Chair in January 2024. She brings considerable experience in governance, finance, strategy and risk management. Maureen’s executive experience spans several sectors including regulated housing, homelessness, IT and engineering industries. She has been serving as a non-executive on charities for over 15 years and has volunteered with charitable organisations helping women and people experiencing poverty for over 25 years in the UK and USA.
Maureen was drawn to FearFree as she has seen firsthand the impacts of domestic abuse, and advocates FearFree’s approach to break the cycle of abuse and help people truly recover.
Clare Fielden
Clare has more than 20 years experience in HR in the not for profit sector. For the past 12 years, she has worked in a variety of senior HR roles at the National Trust and is currently Head of People Business Partners. She has a particular interest in change management in values-led organisations. Clare lives in Somerset with her partner and two daughters. She enjoys cooking, yoga and open water swimming.
Clare became a trustee at FearFree in 2021. Having seen the impact of domestic abuse on families, she believes passionately in the work of the organisation.
Rebecca Ayers
Rebecca Ayers is an experienced independent social worker and expert court witness. She has a wide variety of risk assessment and communication skills. Rebecca has been involved in over 300 cases as an instructed expert witness; prepared over 300 reports for Family Court Proceedings and has provided expert oral evidence over 100 times in family cases. Rebecca has worked for over twenty years in front line social work and management with families in need, including those experiencing domestic abuse and domestic violence.
Rebecca is Co-Director of a safeguarding training company, delivering training to professionals on all areas of safeguarding including relating to domestic abuse. She has delivered training to Goldsmith University students regarding child protection and domestic abuse and has facilitated domestic abuse programs for vulnerable parents, including those with learning needs. She has wide experience of working with survivors and perpetrators of domestic abuse and their children.’
Adrian Long
Adrian Long is a senior civil servant who has held Executive Director roles in some of Britain's most significant public sector organisations - leading teams working on communications, policy, and HR issues. He has also worked for the BBC as a news and current affairs producer and served as Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister from 1998-2001.
Adrian joined the Board in March 2022. He wants to use his professional expertise and personal commitment to the core concerns of FearFree to help the organisation grow and develop into the vital and (even more) effective organisation that it needs to be.
Tim Jackson
Tim is a qualified accountant who has spent the majority of his career in senior positions in social housing focusing in particular on finance, governance and service transformation. Tim has also had a number of non-executive roles for example for Swindon Hospital and two housing associations based in Gloucestershire.
Tim feels that FearFree carries out hugely important work in the south west of England and is proud to be involved to support these much needed activities.
Nigel Stevens
Nigel Stevens is a Senior Finance Business Partner with the National Trust and since Covid has been working with the Support & Revenue Directorate who are responsible for c.85/90% of the Trust’s revenue through fundraising, membership and commercial operations (food & beverage, retail, and holidays). Prior to this, he was working in the South West region of the National Trust as part of the leadership team looking after its history, nature and beauty. He has also held similar positions in Royal Mail working in finance, commercial, as well as change management roles.
Having supported his wife in her role in a pastoral care environment at a secondary school in Cornwall, he now wants to apply his personal and professional experience to FearFree to help it grow in its support of those who need its services
