Emma is passionate about seeing the treasure in every individual and works to build networks to bring much needed resources to the town. A degree in history and career in the art world has opened many doors and honed her project management skills. Always ready to accept a challenge, at the outbreak of COVID-19, along with her four children, she dragged the family freezer down to the church porch for people to donate meals to then be distributed to those in need. By the end of lockdown 150 volunteers had been mobilised and 46,000 meals had been delivered. The Branch Trust’s work was honoured with High Sheriff and Hero of West Oxfordshire Awards. She has led The Branch Trust in raising £5million to renovate and create The Branch.

Jonathan has served as a Policy Advisor and then as a Chief of Staff in the UK parliament, where he worked on the “left behind neighbourhoods” agenda and the community wealth fund, and worked on conflict policy and international development with the HALO Trust.  He supports several charities including a local food bank which he helped found with his wife, and has spent time in Slovakia helping Ukrainian refugees, and is an Army reservist in 7 rifles.

With a background in 3rd sector management and book-keeping, Rachel supports our Trustee Treasurer in managing our finances and accounts. We are enormously grateful to all our donors who are making the vision of what The Branch can be into a reality. 

Gina loves networking and linking those who'd like to give something back to their local community with our amazing vision for The Branch. Having worked with Tearfund, Raleigh International and World Challenge, she loves seeing potential unlocked and is excited about all that The Branch will bring.

I am passionate about the benefits of gardening for social, emotional and physical wellbeing. I know how important it is for children to thrive in wellbeing in order to meet their potential in all areas of life as they grow. As an educator and gardener I love sharing the joy that can be found in all things horticulture related.

Hannah loves people and is passionate about reaching those who feel on the edge of things. Through her work with CAP Life Skills and wellbeing groups Hannah delights in seeing people thrive, grow in confidence and feel part of the community. 

Catherine is passionate about finding innovative ways to give people a voice, hope and to see their lives transformed. Creativity is always part of her approach and with a focus on domestic abuse, mental health and nurture she develops partnerships to advocate for better access to support.

Jenna enjoys using social media to spread our message and raise awareness in the wider community about the work we do.

Bill is the Commercial Director of the clean technology arm, CBS, of Centrica plc and has been responsible for a number of major renewable and low carbon energy projects in the UK. He manages a team of 25 energy professionals and brings experience of establishing and growing organisations. Bill was heavily involved in setting up the Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre in Chipping Norton in 2015 and has sat on St Mary’s church PCC. Bill is the Trust’s secretary and oversees the Risk Register. 

Juliet trained with Mishcon De Reya before qualifying in 2000 into the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group where she worked until 2005.  After having a family, and a move to the Cotswolds, Juliet returned to practice law in-house, in 2016, for a Chipping Campden design company, Robert Welch Designs. Juliet leads our Governance sub-committee.

James qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1989 and enjoyed a career in multinational, private equity backed and Plc business.  In 2002 he established VFDnet, providing financial leadership to help business owners create value and grow businesses and mentoring experienced Virtual Finance Directors to sustainable portfolio careers.  In 2006 James co-founded Christian Business Leaders network.  James is married with three daughters and brings experience as a Trustee at Kingham Hill School.  James heads up the Finance sub-committee and oversees the work of the Assistant Treasurer.

Becca knows the power of well-designed buildings to enable relationship and community. She is excited for The Branch to have just such a platform for its vision and activities.

Nick is married with three children and lives just outside Chipping Norton.  He has been involved in property development all his working life as well as having served as a Trustee of various charities. 

Graham is employed as a Facilities Operations Manager for the NHS and brings experience in health and safety, environmental health and food management.  He is married with three children and is trained as our Deputy Safeguarding lead.

An academic at the University of Oxford who lives in the town, Tom is excited about the impact The Branch has already had, and is concerned to see it establish deep roots, sustained by its Christian ethos, so that many more lives can be transformed.

Tim is an automotive design engineer and lives in Chipping Norton with his wife and three children.  He has been churchwarden at St. Mary’s Church since 2018.