Changing Lives Charity relies on a wide variety of people. Whether it's paid staff, volunteers, customers or service users, all members of our charitable 'family' play a vital part in the delivery of our ministry, supporting those affected by trauma.

But there is a small, additional, very modest group of people that could easily be overlooked - our trustees. They work in the background, volunteering their time and sharing their expertise and experience for the betterment of the Charity. Through their selfless commitment to our shared mission, they guide and oversee everything that the Charity does. 

So I thought it was high time that we shone a spotlight on this small group of people, without whom we would be unable to function. Without further ado, let me introduce you to our three longest-serving trustees...

Daniel Sibthorpe (Chair of Trustees)

I’m Daniel. I live in Yatton with my wife, Tanya. My daughter lives with us at home. My son has just got married and is living in London. I love this area. I think it is a wonderful place to live.

I enjoy keeping active and can be found at the marine lake swimming, or on a bike, enjoying the back roads on the moors. If you’re really lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of me participating in the Boxing Day run around Clevedon (I’ll be at the back).

I love seeing things restored, whether it's a simple household item, a clock that doesn’t work, or a tool that needs new life. I believe people can be restored just like these items. With help, we can rediscover our purpose and start our own restoration process. This is why I am passionate about changing lives - giving hope and a future to people who have experienced life-affecting trauma.

I have been a trustee for four years, although I have worked with the charity for much longer. It’s been amazing to see the journey from a small passionate group of people with a vision to a self-sustaining fully functioning charity with new programs and people being added.

Ian Burnham (Trustee and Acting CEO)

I am a Chartered Accountant whose last “proper” job (second career) was as Finance Director of Alabare (who used to manage Andrew House). I was involved in the discussions with the founding trustees of Changing Lives (CLC – God bless them) when they (and the churches in Clevedon – God bless them) committed to supporting the ministry, after NSC withdrew funding in about 2015. That followed a first career in the downstream oil industry ending when Texaco sold the division I looked after in 2009.

When I retired from Alabare, I was invited to join the board of trustees.

My involvement in a number of charities over the years has been driven by a long-standing sense of wanting to support the disenfranchised in society using my “gifts”, and so I have been involved in Christian charitable ventures for the last 50 years and have the enormous privilege of being associated with life changing work that CLC does.

In my spare time, I play hockey (fairly seriously … still), take landscape photographs and I am blessed by my 3 (fabulous) kids who are now producing (fabulous) kids of their own.

Dr Jenny Schaefer (Trustee)

Until my recent retirement I was a GP specialising in homelessness and drug and alcohol use. This took me, over a period of twenty years, into HMP Bristol, the Salvation Army detox unit, Fromeside secure unit and Broadmead Medical Centre.

I've been a Christian all my adult life and for a long time I have had the impression that, sooner or later, I would be involved in a Christian rehab.

After Covid I started worshipping at Clevedon Baptist Church where I met some of the existing trustees of Changing Lives Charity.

When they heard of my experience from the therapeutic side (I know nothing about finance and business!) they invited me to join the board of trustees. Because this fitted with my "calling" I was pleased to accept.

Check the blog again next week for pen portraits of our two newest trustees!

Ant