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Escape Site

Our charity is guided by a dedicated Board of Trustees who help steer the ‘ship’. They make sure we stay true to our mission, move in the right direction, and plan wisely for the future. But they’re not just behind-the-scenes decision-makers; they’re hands-on, too! Our trustees regularly visit our services, bring their specialist knowledge to meetings, and help us stay on top of everything.

They are there to help with legal responsibilities and financial good practice. Their insight and oversight help us be the best we can be. For the people and communities, we serve.

Lived experience

Our trustees don’t just lead, they lead with their lived experience. Whether that’s managing mental health challenges, or supporting someone close to them, their personal journeys shape how they listen, learn, and lead.

Our trustees’ decisions are grounded in real life, which keeps them connected to the people they’re here for. And it means they’re always striving to do better. It’s not just about having a seat at the table. It’s about making sure the voices shaping decisions truly understand what those decisions mean in real life.

Why is this important?

  • Real representation: People with lived experience bring insights you can’t find in a textbook.
  • More empathy, better understanding: Services are more likely to reflect real needs.
  • Calling out blind spots: Lived experience helps challenge assumptions.
  • Building trust: Representation at the top shows people they belong.
  • Fresh thinking: Real-life experience sparks creative, grounded ideas.

Lived experience can mean lots of things. Being a carer, witnessing trauma, or growing up alongside someone with support needs. It makes us human.

Committees of the Trustees

The YOU Group Board meets throughout the year to undertake the business of the charity. We also have several Committees to specifically focus on different aspects of the charity’s work. The Committees include:

  • Liaision Committee
  • Group Renumeration Committee
  • Group Finance
  • Commercial Committee
  • Quality Assurance, People and Performance Committee

YOU Trust Trustees

Derek Marshall

Chair of the YOU Group

Derek Marshall, Chair of the YOU Group

Derek stepped into the role of Chair in early 2024, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his five years as a trustee and Vice-Chair of our Finance Committee.

A barrister by profession, Derek is the retired Head of College Chambers Barristers in Southampton.

These days, he continues to lend his legal expertise as an Arbitrator, Private Financial Dispute Resolution Judge, Civil Dispute Mediator and Chair and Legal Adviser on Police Misconduct Panels.

Beyond his work with us, Derek is a trustee of MDRCollab, a charity focused on medical and epidemiological research. He also serves as a Public Governor for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Derek has a particular passion for good governance in the charity sector and holds a Financial Times Non-Executive Directorship Diploma, awarded in 2016.

When he’s not in the boardroom, you’ll likely find Derek out running or cycling. One of his favourite YOU services is Cycling Without Age. A cause close to his heart and one he’s especially enthusiastic about.

Caroline Sharman-Mendoza

Chair of Quality Assurance, People & Performance

Caroline Sharman-Mendoza, Chair of Quality Assurance, People & Performance

With a career leading exceptional teams at three major cultural organisations, Caroline brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for making the arts accessible to all. She is currently developing Article 12 Arts, a project designed to offer creative opportunities to young, unaccompanied asylum seekers.

Driven by a belief in the transformative power of the arts, Caroline is excited to contribute this passion to the YOU Trust’s unique blend of healing and support services.

Anne Ridley

Deputy Chair of Quality Assurance, People & Performance

Anne Ridley, Deputy Chair of Quality Assurance, People & Performance

Before moving to the South Coast in 2016, Anne lived in London. Her early career included working as a PA in marketing and then as a promotions executive for a travel company.

After time out to raise her family and various part-time roles, she studied for a degree in psychology and completed a PhD on the effects of anxiety on eyewitness memory.

Anne went on to work in a widening participation university, lecturing and researching forensic psychology. Anne also explored factors that predict academic success to inform effective student support initiatives.

In 2008 she was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship by the Higher Education Academy for this work and in 2013 she compiled and edited a book called Suggestibility in Legal Contexts.

Anne has experienced both bullying and harassment during her working life which, along with the stories she heard from her students and while volunteering for Victim Support in Sussex, has contributed to her interest in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. She is currently the Trustee lead on this.

Anne has been a YOU trustee since 2019 and is also a Director of My Learning Cloud.

Gareth Pugh

Deputy Chair of Quality Assurance, People & Performance

Gareth Pugh, Deputy Chair of Quality Assurance, People & Performance

Gareth’s working life has been split into two parts; retail banking and Human Resources. For 14 years Gareth worked for Lloyds Bank and then Lloyds TSB.

After that, Gareth has spent 20 years getting the best out of people. His HR experience is broad, and includes supporting small businesses and being an HR Manager for a large building and maintenance company. Most recently, Gareth has been involved in the public sector. He looks forward to supporting The YOU Trust and seeing it continue to thrive and develop.

Steve Pitt

Trustee of Quality Assurance, People & Performance

Steve Pitt, Trustee of Quality Assurance, People & Performance

Steve is a professional whose career spans over 45 years in social work and public service. A qualified social worker, Steve began his journey as a Probation Officer before holding a variety of senior leadership roles within Social Services. Including serving as Director of Adult Services in Dorset.

His expertise later extended to national oversight as Assistant Chief Inspector and Regional Director with the Social Services Inspectorate, formerly part of the Department of Health. He has also contributed as a consultant with the Institute of Public Care.

Beyond his professional life, Steve has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to community service. He is a long-term Samaritan, a Director with Healthwatch Suffolk, and a Trustee with Suffolk Family Carers. He has held governance roles in education, serving as a school governor and Chair of Governors.

Steve joined the YOU Trust Board in 2010 and stands as its longest-serving trustee. He held the position of Group Chair from 2020 - 2024.

His academic background includes a degree in law and master’s degrees in both Social Work and Business Administration, underscoring his strong foundation in both human services and strategic leadership.

Simon Bowden

Trustee of Quality Assurance, People & Performance

Simon Bowden, Trustee of Quality Assurance, People & Performance

Simon is a former senior police officer with extensive experience in leadership, policing, and partnership development. He spent the majority of his career with Thames Valley Police, retiring from a final post seconded to the National Police Chiefs’ Council. His career spans collaboration with local and national government, as well as with organisations across the private and voluntary sectors. Outside of his professional work, Simon is a keen writer and a published author in the crime fiction genre.

“I joined the board of trustees because I believe everyone deserves equality of opportunity and the chance to live a better quality of life. The work of YOU helps make that possible for its clients, and I’m proud to support that mission.”

Alison Bradley

Quality Assurance, People & Performance

Alison Bradley, Quality Assurance, People & Performance

Alison joined YOU as a trustee in August 2025. She was drawn by the Charity's Portsmouth roots, a city where she has both lived and worked, and its vital support for victims of domestic abuse. Her commitment to this cause is longstanding, having previously served as a trustee for a women’s refuge board.

With nearly four decades of experience in education, Alison brings a deep understanding of safeguarding, leadership, and community engagement. Her career spans roles as a teacher, headteacher, local authority adviser, and one of His Majesty’s Inspectors. She also established a Governor Services unit to strengthen school governance and accountability.

Throughout her professional journey, Alison has championed the needs of vulnerable communities and upheld rigorous safeguarding standards across all settings. Since taking early retirement in August 2023, she has continued to contribute as a self-employed education consultant and as a trustee of the Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation.

Alison’s decision to join YOU reflects her desire to give back to an organisation that shares her values, and to put her wealth of experience to meaningful use.

Anthony Quinn

Chair of Finance and Commercial Committee

Anthony Quinn, Chair of Finance and Commercial Committee

Anthony has spent much of his working career in the public sector with the aim of making a positive difference to communities. Becoming a trustee of The YOU Trust enables Anthony to continue making a positive difference.

Outside of his work, Anthony is a keen runner and has completed four ultra marathons to date, as well as marathons, half marathons and weekly Park Runs. He also enjoy watching rugby whenever he gets the chance.

Amanda Jobling

Deputy Chair of Finance & Commercial and Chair of Property Working Group

Amanda Jobling, Deputy Chair of Finance & Commercial and Chair of Property Working Group

Amanda stepped away from work to support local groups and organisations and found The YOU Trust. Having had a career in local government, she knows the importance and value that organisations YOU make to people’s lives and the communities they work in. Amanda is excited to be joining the charity and hopes to help build on its success.

Amanda has strong links to the Portsmouth area having grown up there, returning back 25 years ago. Her professional background is in housing and recently planning and has worked in all levels of local government. Although busy with lots of interests and projects, her focus is her family including, her much-loved dogs.

Edward O. Vera-Cruz

Trustee of Finance & Commercial

Edward O. Vera-Cruz, Trustee of Finance & Commercial

Edward is a commercial solicitor and adviser with over 30 years of expertise. These cover legal, commercial, and strategic sourcing expertise across private practice, the public sector, and public utilities. Edward has many legal, commercial, and academic interests. Edward also has experience in the not-for-profit sector, including as trustee/non-executive director.

Edward is passionate about all his work and interests, professional and otherwise, He is even more so about the positive impact that his contributions make to society. He makes these via his wide spectrum of both commercial and legal expertise and experience. He has a well-established, extensive network across local government, wider public sector, and among private/ not-for-profit entities which do business with the public sector and utilities.

Brian Colvin

Finance & Commercial

Brian Colvin, Finance & Commercial

Brian is a seasoned business leader operating in multiple business sectors in the UK and overseas. His wide experience covers business start-ups, business growth, turnarounds and acquisitions and disposals, ranging from privately owned enterprises to private equity groups. Brian has proven himself as an effective leader of change with an eye for the creative approach to deliver results through the collective strengths of a unified team.

Brian has now disposed of many of his business interests and retired from full-time work. He retains an interest in a social care business operating primarily in domiciliary care.

Brian has strongly shares the values of the YOU trust and the work it undertakes in supporting the vulnerable in our society. He hopes he can use his business experience to help maximise the performance and efficiency of YOU in its work.

Brian still spends part of his time overseas, but when at home you will probably find him enjoying his retirement with his grandchildren or high overhead in his microlight aircraft.

Amanda Partington-Todd

Trustee of Quality Assurance, People & Performance

Amanda Partington-Todd, Trustee of Quality Assurance, People & Performance

Amanda brings over two decades of experience in health and social care, rooted in a lifelong commitment to improving the quality, equity, and safety of support for individuals and communities. Her journey began at age 16 in the United States, where she trained and worked as a nursing assistant in nursing homes and her local hospital. This early exposure to frontline care inspired her to pursue formal studies in social work, leading to a career as a qualified social worker with more than 15 years of experience. Her practice has focused on supporting older people, individuals living with dementia, and advancing leadership and community organising.

After relocating to the UK, Amanda joined the Care Quality Commission (CQC), where she held a range of senior roles including Inspector, Inspection Manager, Corporate Provider Relationship Manager, and Deputy Director of Adult Social Care. Across these positions, she played a key role in regulating and enabling the delivery of high-quality care services nationwide.

Amanda is currently on a 12-month secondment to the Professional Standards Authority, serving as Interim Director of Regulation and Accreditation. In this role, she helps protect the public by strengthening the regulation and registration of health and care practitioners.

Amanda is proud to serve as a Trustee of The YOU Trust, supporting its mission to empower people in local communities to thrive. Her leadership is grounded in compassion, integrity, and a deep belief in the transformative power of inclusive, person-centred care.
Latest news and events
Frontline insight to award-winning innovation

Frontline insight to award-winning innovation

Frontline insight can translate to award-winning innovation when you add passion, skill and a vision. One of our brilliant support workers recently won top honours at the Portsmouth Tech and Cultural Summit Hackathon and Ideation Pitch event. Victoria’s journey began...

Cycling Without Age on the big screen

Cycling Without Age on the big screen

This week, our Portsmouth and Hayling Island service are receiving their big screen moment in Portsmouth. We’re thrilled to share that our short-form documentaries are being screened on the brand-new large screen at Portsmouth Guildhall Square! With the recent...

Supporting joyful lives

Supporting joyful lives

Our professional care workers are committed to supporting our residents to live full, joyful lives. Lives shaped by choice, connection, and opportunity. For six of the individuals we support, attending Diamond Quality Care has become a valued part of their weekly...

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  • Home
  • About
    • Values
    • YOU Trust Board of Trustees
    • Management team
    • Friends and supporters wall
    • Reports, audits and policies
      • Annual reports
    • Blogs and events
      • Podcasts from YOU
  • Support us
    • Support your community
    • Corporate Partners
    • Fundraising for you
    • Corporate social responsibility
    • Campaigns
      • Hundreds and Thousands campaign
      • Anchors of Hope
  • Service locations
    • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
    • Dorset services
    • Hampshire services
    • Isle of Wight services
    • Somerset services
    • Portsmouth services
    • Sussex
    • Swindon
  • Our teams
    • Care & support
    • Community Wellbeing
    • Counselling
      • STAR Counselling
      • Rehab and recovery
    • PARAGON
      • PARAGON Counselling
      • Domestic Abuse
      • Sexual Abuse
      • Stalking
      • Dragonfly
    • Young Lives
  • Work With Us
    • Learning and Development
    • Vacancies
    • Volunteer with us
  • Contact Us

Head office

Get in touch with us

enquiries@theyoutrust.org.uk

Registered address:

Delme 1, Delme Place, Cams Hall Estate, Fareham, Hampshire, P016 8UX

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