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Team Profiles

William Morris

My name is Will Morris and I am the Director of the House of Bread. I have had the honour of leading the work of House of Bread for over 13 years. In that time, I have seen the charity grow from a few hours one day a week to 24/7.

My work background includes a range of careers including working in Harrods, London as well as travelling the world with ceramics company Wedgwood. I also worked for myself and other national charities in the UK. All of my working life has given me the skills to support the staff and volunteers at House of Bread, who support our friends.

My Christian faith has given me, and many who work and volunteer, the strength to endure what is very challenging work supporting the vulnerable and homeless. I preach the gospel always and use words if I have to. Matthew Ch 25 V 40

I have lived in Stafford for many years along with my wife Jeanne. I enjoy running and am part of the House of Bread running team. We run in many races, including 10k and 13k, and through sponsorship, help raise funds to support the work we all do.

Judy Palmer

I’m Staffordshire born and bred and have lived here for almost all of my life except when I strayed across the border into Shropshire for a few years. I was a farmer’s wife for nearly 25 years and during those times I ran a farmhouse Bed and Breakfast and converted old farm buildings into 8 self-catering cottages. I was chairman of Shropshire Tourism for several years and also Treasurer of Stafford Tourism Bureau. Great to get off the farm from time to time. My 3 children had a very rural free-range childhood.

I have been at the House of Bread for just over a year. I help Will with a lot of the admin roles. Recently, there have been lots of Thank You emails and Certificates going out to schools and churches for their Harvest Festival contributions. I’m also involved in applying for grants from various charities and other funders. My other involvement is at Cafe 43 where I help out in the kitchen on a Wednesday with the fabulous Wednesday team.

I was lucky enough to be able to retire early and so I have lots of time on my hands. Where better to spend it than the House of Bread! As a volunteer I feel very valued and it is great to be able to see the difference we can make to our vulnerable friends.

I enjoy traveling, (I’ve recently returned from Uzbekistan ) reading, crochet, chatting and Stoke City. (Well I don’t always actually enjoy Stoke, but you have to keep the faith!)
Random claim to fame – I once sat in the Glass Coach that transported Lady Diana and her father to St Pauls.

Maureen Powell

I’m a volunteer caseworker at House of Bread. Why do I do it and what does it all mean? Perhaps that is best explained if I tell you a little about my background.

I was brought up in the Welsh Valleys in the 60s and was the youngest child with three older brothers and a loving Mum and Dad. Times were hard and whilst my family often struggled financially, I was surrounded by a wealth of love and care and laughter. I was fortunate to progress in my career in the textile industry and got to travel extensively to places including Bangladesh, India, and South Africa. I saw extreme poverty in the shanty towns around Cape Town and Johannesburg but I also experienced kindness and love.

None of us choose the situation surrounding our birth but at various times in our lives we reach a crossroad where we are presented with choices. At those times, many of us turn to our loved ones for guidance. However, not all of us have that option. Having someone listen to you to offer hope and guidance is what House of Bread Casework is about. The common thread in all this is hope and love and that’s why I do what I do – offer hope to some of the most vulnerable in our society who often have nowhere or no one to turn to.

On a lighter note, my career has had some bright amusing moments. Like the time I was introduced to the late Lord Lichfield who had been commissioned to do some photography for my Company. Feeling a little lost for words, I commented “I’m actually a neighbour of yours as I live in a small village just outside Stafford but I don’t think you will have heard of it”. When I told him the name of the village, he kindly replied “my dear, my family own most of the land there!” With kindness he put me at ease immediately. Fortunately, he didn’t know my address so I didn’t receive a bill for unpaid land rent!

Kim Jennings

My name is Kim and I’m a Caseworker at the House of Bread. I’ve been here for 18 months and didn’t know that this is what I needed in my life. I am in awe of the amazing people I work with and humbled by the ways in which we can help our Friends.

Casework cannot be any more different to my previous working career as I was in finance.

My family and the great outdoors are my favourite things, well actually, ice cream is a very close second!

Deryck Wilson

I am a semi-retired, law graduate and am married with three grown up children. I worked in probation before a career in PR and marketing. I spent many years as a solo PR consultant and was also Head of PR for a national animal charity.

I help out by using my communications skills to help get HoB’s message out there. Currently I produce the monthly newsletter. HoB is a great cause which fulfils a very fundamental but much-needed role: providing essential help to those who need it most. As a local charity, relying on goodwill, I am delighted to offer my skills and experience on a volunteer basis to help spread the word and drum up more support.

I am a reggae aficionado and present a regular radio show as well playing my extensive vinyl collection of classic ska and reggae in clubs and at festivals around the Midlands. Along with following Aston Villa, making lamb curries and walking our dogs, this accounts for much of my time.

‘Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honours Him.” Proverbs 14:31

Damon Preece

My name is Damon and I always say I’ve been blessed to live many lives and try different paths. I now find myself in a very rewarding and fitting niche working for one charity and being active with another as a volunteer.

At House of Bread, I coordinate my team in deliveries and collections. All things which come into our stocks will have either come through, or be delivered by one of my team. We also strive for as close to a Zero Waste set up as possible, sharing and supporting our fellow local charities.

I have a strong core belief that those who are able, should be there to help those who have found themselves in difficulty, be that physically, mentally, or emotionally. Working with House of Bread allows me to make a direct difference in people’s lives when they need it most.

My claim to fame is that I’ve been very lucky to have had breakfast with Stirling Moss on one occasion, and Terry Jones on another!

 

Get in touch with house of bread

info@hobstafford.co.uk
01785 332413

head office

Unit 1B Romford Road Stafford ST16 3DZ

CAFE43

43 Browning Street, Stafford, ST16 3AX

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