About us
The Rees Foundation exists to provide life-long help and support to those with care experience.  We are continuously developing our services to meet as many needs as possible.  We want to help make a difference, to help care experienced people thrive.

Meet the team - play this video clip...

Rees staff team

Melody Douglas – Chief Executive
Charlotte Ebanks – Support Worker
Sarah Collett – Business Development Manager
Luke Chapman – National Service Development Manager
Faye Francis – Business Support
Kerry Nicholl - Support Services Manager
Fiona MacNeil - Fundraising Manager
Jemma Shone - Training Co-ordinator and Services Support Officer
Sherrie Spence - Support Worker
Claire Banner – People and Careers Engagement Manager ​
Kathryn Mylott - HR Generalist
​Matthew Williams – Finance Director
Becky Dashfield - Social Media & Marketing Manager
​Magda Orlicka - Marketing Assistant​
​Jenny Hughes - Finance & HR Officer
Steve Kuczerawy​ - Management Accountant
Kate Reynolds - Support Worker
Lucy Buckland - Careers Mentor
Deborah Whybrew - Youth Engagement Officer
​Polly Jones - Service Development Officer
We also work with a number of independent consultants and are extremely grateful to our wonderful volunteers and supporters.

Rees Trustees

Jan Rees OBE – Founder
Jan Rees is widely considered a pioneer in developing therapeutic foster care services and specialist support for children and families, not just in the UK but around the world. In 2016 Jan was recognised and honoured for her services to fostering and support to care leavers by being awarded an OBE.
Rupert Bertie - Chair
Retired social worker with 28 years of social work and senior management experience in the local authority and independent sector.
Jim Robinson - Vice Chair
Retired CEO England Women’s Golf Association. A highly experienced and successful Senior Executive and Non-executive Director who has worked in private, public, not-for-profit and charity sectors.
Carol Rock
​Development professional with over 15 years experience working in Charities and Higher Education​.
Kirsty Watson
​Diverse experience in social pastoral care, media, and e-commerce. 
Currently providing free services to communities to help build careers and confidence. Kirsty is a lifelong learner and is a PhD student with research focused on entrepreneurial skills of individuals in marginalised communities.
Mike O'Hara
​Passionate about mental health based on his own lived experience, combined with 13+ years of service in the Royal Air Force. Mike won the 2020 Legal and General Inspiration Award and was recognized in the 2022 Queen’s New Year’s Honours for his services to mental health.
Nick Cook
​The Director of Young People’s Services for a national children’s charity. An experienced senior leader, having worked in both the voluntary and community and statutory sectors, as well as previously being a Trustee and Non-Executive Director for a number of charities and organisations. 
Zoe Richardson
Over 20 years’ experience in the charity and public sectors working for a wide variety of organisations. As a care experienced person herself, Zoe is very passionate about social justice and giving people who are excluded from the mainstream opportunities to grow. Zoe has been the Deputy CEO across two social care charities in the West Midlands for the last 5 years and is the Chair of a Housing Association. 

Rees Ambassadors

Alison Poole
I am a care experienced person, having been placed into foster care at the age of 13 until leaving to live independently at the age of 17. I became an ambassador as I strongly believe its important for CEP of any age to not just be able to access practical support but also the emotional support that can be gained by linking with people who share similar experiences.
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Brett Service
Hello, my name is Brett and I am a CEP Ambassador for the Rees Foundation. I became an Ambassador in July 2019 as I am passionate that all CEP across the country should be able to get the help and support that they need to succeed in life. For my day job, I work in the UK Civil Service as a Personal Assistant supporting two Senior Civil Servants and their teams with their work priorities.
Jackie McCartney
Proud mother of two. Self-employed, Ofsted registered Childminder of 20 years. Residential care from 5 yrs to 16 yrs in 70’s/80’s.
Jacqui Adams
Retired, worked with learning disabled adults. Kinship care and residential units until 18. Interests are animals, nature, music. Likes challenges.
​Jacqui
I'm an independent member of a Fostering Panel after completing Rees training. Really happy to be a Rees Ambassador and be able to support the work of the organisation. I'm care experienced, both foster care and children’s homes. Enjoy family, friends and walking. 
Li Jean-Luc Harris
I'm care experienced and a health and social care professional in residential child care. I share my life story online about being in care, being sectioned under the Mental Health Act, forming drug addictions and becoming homeless aged 18. I also offer training courses and do public speaking events Because of my past I'm very passionate about helping as many people as I can.
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Matthew Dalton
I live with my girlfriend and hamster. I am care experienced and a self-employed lived experience consultant. I am working towards building my own business providing services to organisations to contribute to social impact change. Whilst empathy and professionalism are of great value, there is a gap in services that needs bridging, which is the voice of lived experiences.
Sarah Francis
I am passionate about sharing my care experience story to help make a difference within my ambassador role. Over the years I have found huge freedom which has empowered me to make sense of my history, my heritage and who I am today. I enjoy walking, reading but most of all being that difference!
Zena Young
I was in foster care from age 3 yrs to 18 and have been a foster panel member for over 10 years. I’m a parent of two adult children.
I enjoy photography, walking dogs and camping holidays when the sun shines. I wanted to become an ambassador for Rees organisation as it's so supportive and something I wish was around when I was a young care leaver.