Trustees

Frances Allcock
Trustee

Frances brings a wide range of skills to her role as trustee. She has supported many national organisations manage change and improve their staff management processes and procedures.

Peter Barefoot
Trustee

Former Round Tabler Peter understands the role that community fundraising plays in supporting a charity like ours.

He uses his property industry knowledge to support National Star with capital development projects.

Nick Grinham 
Chair of Trustees

Nick has extensive charity experience and is currently chair of two charities – KeyRing Living Support Networks and Sight Support West of England. During his career Nick led large and diverse teams across the world. Nick has worked in the retail, publishing and oil and gas sectors, holding senior leadership positions in Human Resources, business strategy and transformation and Information Technology.

Chris Hallam
Trustee (Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee)

Chris Hallam is a trustee at National Star. Chris’ 42-year banking career saw him work in Oxford, London and Toronto before putting roots down in Worcestershire 22 years ago. He is experienced in all aspects of banking, business development and general management having led both large and small functional teams across multiple locations.

As well as being a trustee of National Star, Chris is also a Governor of Heart of Worcestershire College and Grimley & Holt CoE Primary School.

Stephen Leslie
Trustee

A qualified solicitor for more than 20 years, Steve leads teams of senior lawyers for a provider of legal content and solutions and is a committee member of the business’s disability employee resource group. He has spent nearly a decade serving as a lay member on ICAEW regulatory committees and is a former chairman, treasurer, and trustee of Cheltenham Round Table.

Sarah Limb
Trustee

Sarah is a values-led operational leader with experience across the charity and military sectors. She is passionate about inclusive practice, effective service delivery, and enabling young people with complex needs to build independence and confidence.

Jane Matheson
Trustee

Jane Matheson is a Governor and a member of the Risk and Assurance Committee, she has considerable experience of the public sector having worked for local government and at a special school. She worked for the Audit Commission for many years reviewing client performance and improvement. Jane’s son was a day student at National Star for four years, leaving in 2019. She knows what it’s like to be a carer and navigating complex systems to try and get the best for your young person.

Martin Mellors
Trustee

Martin has 30 years experience working in social housing, support, care and commissioning, most recently as Chief Executive of a small specialist housing association. Having directly provided housing, care and support to a range of client groups with specialist needs, Martin went on to work for regional and national organisations leading their specialist housing provision. He also led on the design, development and implementation of GDASS, the countywide domestic abuse service across Gloucestershire.

Sara Perera
Trustee

Sara is a chartered accountant with experience of not-for-profit auditing and more recently working in an industry setting. She is also a trustee for Ups and Downs Southwest, a Down Syndrome support charity, and is committed to helping charities aid young people with disabilities to gain the confidence and skills to take them further in life.

Helen Price
Trustee

Helen has worked in children’s services, initially as a children and families social worker and latterly leading the commissioning of services for children and young people for a number of councils. Helen is passionate about young disabled adults and vulnerable young people having the right opportunities, to use their abilities, skills and experiences to enjoy, contribute to and change our society.

Nikki Richardson
Trustee

Nikki Richardson has extensive knowledge of multi-disciplinary working, safeguarding and quality improvement having held Executive roles in the NHS including responsibility for the delivery of services to people with learning disabilities and mental health problems. She has had a long standing interest in National Star and was keen to be part of the team to further develop much needed services to individuals to help them maximise their opportunities and lead rich and rewarding lives.

Margaret Sheather
Trustee

Margaret Sheather was a Governor at National Star for more than 10 years, having previously been a member of the Education and Student Welfare Committee. As a former Director of Social Services / Group Director Community & Adult Care at Gloucestershire County Council she has extensive experience to support National Star in achieving its mission and goals. Margaret is also a school governor and when not volunteering is an active member of the Chapter of Gloucester Cathedral.

Toby Yap
Trustee

Toby is a business leader, entrepreneur and strategic advisor with a strong record in guiding organisations through growth, innovation and impact. He has founded and led companies in Australia and since settling in Gloucestershire has become active in community life while developing social enterprise initiatives that support local opportunity and grassroots impact. He holds postgraduate and undergraduate degrees in business and communication and brings a practical, community focused outlook to his work, always driven by a belief in innovation as a force for positive change.