Our executive team

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Sara Thakkar

Sara has worked in the public, commercial and third sector for nearly 30 years. She has extensive experience of enabling the most dis-enfranchised of society to have a meaningful and equal voice. She is a passionate advocate for the voice of the people we support and their families and is an experienced influencer and connector – driving up the profile of social care and the green agenda from central to local government and across the broader environment. Sara is committed to making sure that our Charity is here in another 100 years. She is known for her commercial head and social heart and for her ambition and tenacity to drive our cause.

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Helen Turner

Interim Finance & IT Director – Helen joined the Trust in January 2025 and provides strategic leadership across the charity’s financial management and long‑term organisational planning. She oversees all aspects of financial strategy, budgeting, compliance, and reporting, ensuring the organisation remains resilient, transparent, and positioned for sustainable growth. With more than 20 years’ experience in senior finance and operations roles across the education and charity sectors, Helen brings extensive expertise in organisational development and financial stewardship. She also holds an MBA.

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Lynn Hanford-Day

Interim People Director - Lynn has over 25 years' experience as a People Director across a range of sectors and organisations, from owner-managed to multi-national global corporates, frequently working with organisational change and business transformation. She has held senior executive and interim roles across social care, housing associations, financial services, defence and hi-tech. This is Lynn's second interim assignment with the Trust, originally working with the charity from Dec 21 to Oct 22 as People Director. She is delighted to return to support the next phase of the People Strategy. In addition to her work with organisations, Lynn is a Leadership Coach and has her own private practice as a psychotherapist.

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Paul Moore

Fundraising Director - Since 2010, Paul has developed a background in fundraising and marketing having held a number of senior positions at charities both in the UK and internationally. He has a passion for seeing disadvantaged people reach their full potential and believes that fundraising has the power to pave the way for more adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health support needs to access the life-changing support provided by the Trust. Paul is keen to ensure that the charity grows sustainably and that fundraising continues to unlock the life of opportunity for our beneficiaries both now and in the future.

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Claire Twaites

Estates Director - Claire has a diverse estates, property, facilities and commercial background spanning over 30 years’ experience in Higher Education, Commercial Property, Leisure Destination, and Retail Hospitality sectors. She is passionate about creating amazing places for people to live, work, learn and enjoy, whilst driving commercial success. Claire values the diverse contribution that the people in our teams, communities, families, and external partners make to help deliver the best possible experiences for all. She is a champion for biodiversity and the environment and is driven by a strong purpose to add social value by working with the Charity to deliver its vision and mission.

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Steve Farmery-Vigus

Interim Supported Living Director - Steve is a highly experienced health and social care leader with over 14 year's experience across supported living, learning disability, mental health, complex needs, residential / nursing care, and hospice services. He has held senior executive and interim roles across national charities and independent providers with a strong track record of improving quality, achieving commercial growth, strengthening services and supporting long-ter sustainability. Steve has a deeply personal connection to social care. He has lived experience of childhood cancer and family needing to access palliative care services with family terminal diagnoses. His eldest son has been diagnosed with autism and understands the need for good complex care and LD services for children and adults. These experiences have been his motivation to work and volunteer in this sector and he truly understands the importance of outcomes focused services. Alongside his executive work, Steve is a Trustee at Creative support and Birmingham Hospice, contributing at board level to quality, people, finance and performance governance. He is known for his compassionate, values-driven leadership style and his ability to balance organisational sustainability with truly person-centred support.