Our Organisational Structure
Our Board of Trustees
Our Board of Trustees is made up of volunteers from across our county, the members of the board bring with them a wealth of experience from the VCS , public and private sectors and between them they have strategic oversight of Feeding Gloucestershire.
Our Trustees
Sarah Avery
Sarah has been working within the charity sector for the last 20 years.
As a response to the Covid pandemic she set up the award winning #FeedCheltenham and now through her own venture, “Be a Good Neighbour continues to work with local charities and organisations to help them meet the needs of their local communities through support services and activities.
Sarah is excited to be a part of Feeding Gloucestershire and knows the positive impact we can have to impact food poverty within Gloucestershire.
Helen Hutchings
Helen qualified as a Solicitor in 2006 at a local firm in Cheltenham, before moving to London where she spent her early career working in the IT industry and more recently, the financial services sector.
Helen moved back to Gloucestershire in 2021 with her husband and two young children and is excited to become a Trustee of Feeding Gloucestershire and use her skills and expertise to support and shape the charity going forward.
Corrie Sissons
Corrie is a Gloucestershire local, having grown up in Cheltenham. Corrie has 12 years of experience in humanitarian food security programming and is a Food Security and Markets Technical Advisor for American NGO Catholic Relief Services’ in their Humanitarian Response Team. She has worked in in DR Congo, Mali, Guinea, Iraq, Greece, Niger, South Sudan and Bangladesh on humanitarian food security programs.
Corrie speaks French, Spanish and German and holds a Masters from the London School of Oriental and African Studies. She currently lives in Nailsworth.
Steve Townsend
Steve studied at Hartpury and Brackenhurst before beginning his career in agriculture. He has worked with RHM and Kenneth Wilson, and for 4yrs he headed up Monsanto’s, UK Conservation Agriculture initiative (Ecotillage).
For the last 26 years, Steve has been working with farmers advising them on Conservation Agriculture & Re-generative agricultural systems in the UK, Ireland & Europe – to help farmer’s produce more profit by improving their soil’s structure, biodiversity and fertility. In 2012 he started BASE-UK a farmer information exchange group on Conservation technique’s & experiences.
Steve is married to Sharon and has four daughters, he is keen no-dig/no raised bed gardener and hobby farmer, and he occasionally keeps sheep and pigs.
The Feeding Gloucestershire Team
The Feeding Gloucestershire development worker reports directly to the Board of trustees ensuring the day-to-day operation of the Network.
They also oversees the work of Feeding Gloucestershire at district level, with a remit to facilitate, convene and support organisations and work that is currently happening in each of the districts and to support future work where possible. Each district is distinct and different and this is recognised in the approach that will be taken, but we will seek to connect across common ground, to share ideas and promote best practice.
Feeding Gloucestershire Trustees are pleased to announce the appointment of Joanna Scott as Programme Director. Joanna brings a wealth of experience in food, diet and wellbeing having held numerous roles in global food businesses and the VCSE sector both nationally and locally in Gloucestershire.
Joanna has wide experience of the public health and wellbeing system in the county having previously acted as Non-Executive Director for Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust and most recently working for Gloucestershire VCS Alliance supporting Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust’s ‘Transformation Programme’ in adult community mental health. Joanna holds a master’s degree in human nutrition.
She will take up her appointment immediately.
Commenting on her appointment Joanna Scott said, “I am hugely excited to start the role of Programme Director at what is a pivotal time for Feeding Gloucestershire as it has recently become a registered charity. Feeding Gloucestershire is an established network of organisations from farmers to community groups and statutory bodies. We will build on the excellent reputation and solid foundations and together we can make a difference to communities and individuals across the county at a time when many people face significant challenges to obtain a healthy, sustainable, safe, and affordable food supply.”
The Network Organisations
The aim of Feeding Gloucestershire is to bring together a network of organisations across the county who’s work is connected to food, including community food support, community growing, producers and local authorities. This network will be invaluable resource enabling Feeding Gloucestershire to connect into, and support, the work that is happening across the county from grassroots to countywide, ensuring voices are heard and resources and knowledge are shared.
In line with our Integrated Local Delivery Framework the network coordinator and project manager will facilitate at district level, working to ensure the districts are represented in all our work.