Meet the Team Alice Wallace Director Alice has had a leading role with LGBT+ organisations, community development, grants administration, mental health and public health. Alice has worked for voluntary and statutory organisations and freelance, as volunteer through to senior manager. Her role is to develop Opening Doors to ensure that it is a vibrant organisation meeting the needs of the LGBTQ+ communities. Adrian Beaumont Head of Operations Adrian (he/they) has responsibility for the operational wellbeing of Opening Doors. Responsibilities include oversight of HR, D & I, IT, policy development and the delivery of client services and volunteering. Their background is in LGBTQ+ campaigning, as director of national and regional operational service delivery programmes within sexual health and HIV and wellbeing services and MSM research projects. They are a qualified counsellor, have run their own businesses and have worked extensively in the public and third sector. Bernadette Latour Operations Officer info@openingdoors.lgbt Bernadette ensures our members, volunteers and staff are kept informed and supported and is responsible for data reporting, liaising with various stakeholders and supporting the operational delivery of services across member engagement and volunteer services. Bernadette is also implementing a new CRM system for ODL. Dr Chryssy Hunter Volunteer Coordinator [email protected] Chryssy coordinates our extensive volunteering activities – everything from supporting the team identify new opportunities to recruiting and inducting new volunteers into the organisation. Chryssy is a published author in the LGBTQ+ field and holds a PhD on the Equality Act. She has managed teacher trainings projects in North Korea and Libya, and is a board member Gendered Intelligence, and is a member of the Bent Bars Collective. Sophie Swain Volunteer Ambassador Development Officer [email protected] Sophie runs the Ambassador programme at Opening Doors which aims to amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ people aged over 50 to ensure that their stories are heard, to influence policy making, to improve the quality of mainstream health, care and housing services and to raise the profile of the organisation with prospective donors and members. She is also a volunteer in the Befriending Service and worked in patient and public involvement, local authorities and English language teaching before spending almost a decade working in higher and further education prior to joining Opening Doors as a member of staff. Ian McGeough Community Engagement Coordinator [email protected] Ian (he/him) leads the coordination and delivery of all our community engagement activities and events including our digital and health and wellbeing programmes and specialised services. Ian’s background is stakeholder engagement and is passionate about improving social inequality, social mobility and sustainability. He’s also a huge music and film fan and enjoys dog walks and gardening. Fleur Finch Community Engagement Officer [email protected] Fleur (she/her) assists with the running and delivery of our member engagement activities and events. Fleur’s professional background is in the heritage sector and support work. Fleur is passionate about social justice, equality and inclusion. Outside of work, Fleur spends her time renovating furniture, perusing junk shops and volunteering at LGBTQ+ events. This post is currently vacant Dementia Engagement Officer [email protected] This post is now filled Trans and Non-Binary Engagement Officer [email protected] Stephen Quashie BAME/PoC Engagement Officer [email protected] Stephen (he/him) brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously worked for many voluntary and community organisations.He has also volunteered and participated with a range of LGBTQ+ groups and is looking forward to working with the diverse range of people in Opening Doors and beyond. Matty Herring Befriending Coordinator [email protected] Matty (they/them) leads and coordinates our befriending and telefriending services. They love matching volunteers and members, working hard to make sure it is the right fit for the member. Matty Matty is also OD's safeguarding lead. They have always worked in the charity sector in support and information services including supporting young people who are homeless, people with learning learning disabilities and those affected by cell changes and cervical cancer. When they aren't at work they volunteer for Switchboard and Bent Bars. They're also a keen cyclist. Fabricio Catroppa Befriending Support Officer [email protected] Fabricio is a Befriending Support Officer supporting the LGBTQ+ communities. He has more than 10 years' experience working on a variety of community projects recruiting, supervising, training and managing volunteers working on befriending, mentoring and advice & guidance projects. Fabricio loves gardening and walking his dog in the countryside. Mark Reeves Befriending Support Officer [email protected] Mark is a Befriending Support Officer supporting the LGBTQ+ communities. With a background in training and coaching, Mark works in the Befriending team supporting clients and volunteers. Outside of work Mark enjoys watching movies, going to see drag/queer performers and volunteering with Switchboard. Mike Goldberg Befriending Support Officer [email protected] He/him. Mike comes from a background in the entertainment industry having run his own lighting business for years. He has volunteered for various charities including The Samaritans, Cinnamon Trust, and Opening doors as a befriender, until joining the befriending team as a Befriending Support Officer. Mike works with the team both training new volunteers and assuring new members. He is currently also working with the Out Together charity in West Yorkshire during the association with OD. Jonathan Buckerfield Head of Fundraising and Communications [email protected] Jonathan (he/him) leads the fundraising for the organisation, overseeing income from a wide range of sources including trusts and foundations, individual supporters, corporate partnerships, community and events. Jonathan will develop increased and sustainable income to meet the growing ambitions of Opening Doors London. Jonathan has worked and volunteered in the charity sector for over ten years at both large and small organisations, including Big Lottery Fund, Crisis, Mosaic LGBT Youth Centre, King’s College London and Spitalfields Crypt Trust. Aroona Shaukat Corporate and Community Fundraising Officer [email protected] Since graduating from university in 2017, Aroona has worked for a range of charities within the youth and voluntary sector such as Pro-Action Hertfordshire, OnSide Youth Zones, and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust to name just a few. She is passionate about working with different groups, businesses, and individuals to make a difference within communities and she looks forward to working with Opening Doors to deliver exciting fundraising initiatives that will continue to support our members across the UK. When Aroona is not working, she enjoys going to the theatre, listening to music and kickboxing. Laura Benin Communications and Marketing Officer communications@openingdoors.lgbt Laura coordinates and delivers our key messaging through targeted campaigns, liaising with press and media, arranging interviews, ensuring our social media is on trend and promoting the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people aged over 50. Martha Margetson Training & Policy Administrator training@openingdoors.lgbt From a background in events administration and film exhibition, Martha retrained during the pandemic to join our team as the Training Administrator. They will be supporting the Training and Policy team and the delivery of the Pride in Care standard, as well as promoting our national and citywide activity. When not working at Opening Doors they are part of the programming and festival team for Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest. Emma Underwood Training Officer training@openingdoors.lgbt Emma (she/her) is our Training Officer, and is passionate about creating systemic change for the benefit of our communities. Her background is primarily in activism and community organising, and now focuses on creating and delivering training to health, social care, and housing organisations. She will be leading on the delivery of our e-learning and digital offer, paying specific attention to the inclusion of bi and trans people in across Opening Doors' work. Professor Ben Thomas Research and Policy Coordinator Ben Thomas is a researcher and policy expert with an employment history of advising governments, managing, and developing health services and working in academia. He is the research and policy coordinator and leads a programme of research aimed at improving the lives of older LGBTQ+ people, including improving health and wellbeing and reducing loneliness and isolation. Ben also supports colleagues by training and carrying out policy reviews as part of the Pride in Care quality standard process. Rob Hamilton Business Strategy and Fundraising consultant Rob is a Business Strategy and Fundraising consultant with over twenty five years executive experience in the third sector. A fully qualified Body Psychotherapist and Executive Coach and with post-graduate studies in Education, Finance and Management he has a wealth of knowledge of the issues affecting third sector organisations and the behavioural science of organisational development. Having raised in excess of £40m from charitable trusts, foundations and statutory bodies he has an in-depth understanding of voluntary sector funding, supporting ODL to maximise our potential to secure the funding required to deliver our objectives.