Simon

Chair

I am a management consultant, and I’ve lived in Horsham for 25 years now.  I’m married to Helen, an Architect, and we have two daughters, both now adults.  I’ve been a Trustee since 2016.

I became very interested in the work of Home Start after I was introduced by a friend.  I’ve always been interested in how families develop, and how family members support each other.  We have been fortunate to see our own daughters grow up to make us proud parents, and I’m interested in the importance and the challenges of bringing up a young family, and in the fact that young parents often find it difficult – simply because it can be tough.  I know from my work in business that good employers invest time and effort in training and supporting their employees. However, for most of us parenthood comes without a rule book or training, and it can also have the impact of making us feel very alone with any struggles. Sometimes all it takes is to have someone there to provide simple, practical help and emotional support to make a big difference.

When I learned more about Home Start, I became keen to get involved with whatever skills I could bring.  Fortunately, we have a diverse range of backgrounds and expertise on the Trustee Board, and this diversity helps us to see different angles and the bigger picture when we’re discussing governance issues.

I am always struck by the dedication and quiet professionalism of our Staff and Volunteers, and am privileged to play even a small part in supporting what they do.  It’s work which sometimes has a low profile, but an enormous benefit to the lives of many parents and children.  As I’m writing near the end of the Pandemic (hopefully!), I can see that the value of what our organisation does can only increase in the near future.

Pat

Trustee

I joined the Trustee Board in 2017 having had several leadership roles in the Civil Service in various departments including what was the Immigration and Nationality Department, Prison Service, the Insolvency Service and Home Office as well as leading cross government projects. My last role, before retiring, was HR Deputy Director of the Home Office where I was Programme Manager responsible for developing HR strategy, policy and implementing business change programmes. I joined Home-Start (CHAMS) because I wanted to continue to use my skills and work in an organisation that aligns with my own values. I know how hard it is from personal experience when you have children under 5. I also have a strong connection with Crawley and Horsham having moved to Crawley from London when I was 3 months old and gone to school in both Crawley and Horsham.

Julia

Trustee

Julia joined the Trustee board in 2024 and is the Safeguarding lead.  She is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist with a career that has included working for the BBC and central government, as well as working as an independent consultant.  She has four children and lives with her family in West Sussex.  Before being a trustee for for Home-Start Julia was a volunteer.  She has also been a school governor for her children’s primary school.  

Sumant 

Trustee

Sumant is a Technology and organisational agility leader. He is a Gallup’s Strengths Coach and has been accredited a ‘Certificate in Company Direction’ from the Institute of Directors. Sumant is an advocate of children and their families’ mental well-being and resilience. He joined the Home-Start Crawley, Horsham and Mid-Sussex Board in March 2018.

After graduating with a ‘Bachelor of Technology Degree in Computer Science and Engineering in 2006, he started his career working for an international consultancy firm. After that, he has worked as an independent technology consultant and various global regulated and non-regulated clients in retail, energy utilities, energy trading and finance industries.

He has lived in Crawley for many years now. He is married to Puja, an agile consultant, and he is a father.