In the previous blog post I introduced you to our three longest-serving trustees - Daniel, Ian and Jenny. Now it's time to meet the two newest recruits to our trustee team. Catriona and Martin both joined earlier this year, bringing with them a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to our Charity's mission. So without further ado, let me introduce them...

Catriona Aldwinckle (Trustee)

I have been married to Paul for 37 years and we have two grown up daughters Kirsty and Hannah, both of whom have now left home.  The space has been filled by a very cheeky miniature poodle (Bobby) who is much more demanding than our two amazing daughters ever were.

We came to live in North Somerset and settled in Yatton almost 20 years ago, where I developed a passion for Social Justice projects, particularly through the lens of local mission.  As part of this I have been involved in a number local projects over the years such as Christians Against Poverty as a money coach providing individual mentoring, and at Clevedon and District Foodbank where I was the project manager and chair of trustees.  Now more recently I have become a trustee for Changing Lives Charity.

I am committed to using my skills and experience gained over a number of years, both as a civil servant and through community support programmes, to serve with compassion, respect, trust, understanding and kindness; supporting both the vision and mission of Changing Lives Charity and that of associated projects and programmes.

Martin Knight (Trustee)

Having graduated from Southampton Uni in 1972, I spent a number of years designing and implementing computer systems in industry before setting up my own IT company in 1989.  This was eventually sold in 2005.  Since then I have been involved with a number of Accountancy practices in the Bath/Bristol area and, since 2011, helped to run a number of companies building property in the leisure industry in Switzerland, Norfolk and Northampton.

I am passionate about people and helping them to develop and fulfil their potential – I have  been a leader and Trustee of a church in Portishead, have managed a charity focused on housing homeless people and supporting them in Weston-super-Mare and am also a Trustee of a Christian based charity transforming lives in Burundi and Kenya.  I am also a befriender and facilitator for a couple of supported gentlemen in a Hope into Action house in Portishead.

By way of relaxation, I run a “virtual shop” on eBay selling model trains, buses and cars and help to run the Audio Visual component of services for Gordano Valley Church.  My long-suffering wife is called Lois, and together we have two grown-up daughters and three grandchildren.

I possess a real heart for what the staff and Trustees of Changing Lives Charity are doing in Clevedon and would like to be an encourager and facilitator of the team; in time I would like to look at ways to provide affordable and desirable property in the Clevedon area using the latest technology available.

So there you have it. Hopefully you've found these pen portraits of our trustees interesting and informative. Check back in with the blog in a couple of weeks time for more news about the Charity as we head towards Christmas...

Ant