The Charity is managed by a board of 10 trustees, of which 8 are co-opted and two ex-officio (The Warden of New College, Oxford and the Vicar of the Benefice of the Lambourn Valley).
Our trustees hold a vital role in ensuring the charity operates efficiently, ethically, and in line with our objectives. Trustees are responsible for overseeing the charity’s governance, making strategic decisions, and ensuring financial stability by managing resources prudently. They must ensure the charity complies with relevant laws and regulations, including financial reporting and safeguarding practices. Trustees are also tasked with upholding the charity’s values, ensuring its activities benefit the public, and managing risks.
The Trustees:
In alphabetical order as at September 2024
Andrew Chalk – Trustee, Lambourn Almshouses
Andrew Chalk, a long term Lambourn resident, recently retired as one of the senior partners in a UK Top 100 law firm where he worked as a commercial and regulatory lawyer and had a number of charity clients. His extensive legal knowledge and expertise in compliance and governance are invaluable to the Trustees, who frequently seek his counsel. Andrew is also actively involved in fundraising for the Almshouses and leads the organisation’s engagement with external charities and grant-making bodies.
Christian Noll – Chair of the Trustees
Christian retired from a senior executive role with a global technology company and is now dedicated to supporting community organisations and charities. Drawing on 37 years of experience in corporate management and leadership, he has assumed the position of Chair of Trustees. Christian is implementing a range of practices and disciplines from the corporate world to modernise procedures and ensure that the Almshouses operate efficiently and remain fully compliant in all aspects of their work. A resident of Lambourn for over 25 years, Christian is actively involved in several other charitable projects, providing him with a broad perspective on the community’s needs.
Gina Sharon Mooney – Trustee, Lambourn Almshouses
Sharon Mooney has been a lifelong resident of Lambourn, providing her with deep insights into the community’s needs and the integration of the Almshouses within village life. Her strong ties to the racing industry, the largest employer in Lambourn, offer the Trustees a unique perspective on this vital sector. With a background in social care, Sharon brings a compassionate approach, organising events for residents and fostering their engagement. She is also instrumental in grassroots fundraising efforts for the Almshouses.
Hugh Powell – Trustee, Lambourn Almshouses
Hugh became a trustee after retiring as Senior Partner of the Lambourn Surgery, the medical practice serving the local community. His extensive experience as a doctor, combined with the business acumen gained from managing a medical practice, equips him with invaluable insights and expertise. Hugh’s contributions as a trustee are informed by his deep understanding of both the healthcare and social needs of the Lambourn community.
The Revd Julie Mintern (ex-officio) – Trustee, Lambourn Almshouses
Julie Mintern brings a wealth of expertise to the Board of Trustees both from her service in the parish as their Parish Priest and of her experience as a Head teacher along with being a Trustee of a number of other organisations.
With leadership skills combined with her outgoing personality Julie has become a familiar figure in the village and is engaged with many aspects of life in Lambourn. She recognises the importance of the racing industry and offers pastoral care of many who work within it.
Julie relishes the diversity within the village and being inclusive of all she aims to live out her vocation ‘having the cure of all souls’ within the Parish of Lambourn. She has as much a heart for the poorest and most vulnerable in society as she has for the most wealthy with a firm belief that all are made in the image of God and are worthy of love and respect.
Mary Chalk – Trustee, Lambourn Almshouses
Mary Chalk is a resident of Lambourn with extensive experience in public relations gained through her career at the Royal Academy of Arts and Weidenfeld & Nicolson publishers. Latterly Mary worked in academic administration at St Peter’s College of the University of Oxford. Her meticulous attention to detail, paired with her ability to maintain a strategic perspective, makes her an indispensable member of the Board. Mary’s skills are particularly valuable in the balanced consideration of significant decisions and policy matters.
Miles Young – Trustee (ex officio), Lambourn Almshouses
Miles Young represents New College, Oxford, as its appointed trustee to the Lambourn Almshouses. As Warden of New College, Miles has overarching responsibilities for the welfare of students and staff, as well as the financial health and integrity of the College. He is a governor of three schools, and Chair of the English Speaking Union. Previously, Miles pursued a distinguished career as a senior executive in a global advertising agency. His exceptional business acumen, coupled with his understanding of organisations reliant on volunteer goodwill, makes him a vital member of the Board of Trustees.
Nick Spence – Trustee, Lambourn Almshouses
Nick Spence, a lifelong resident of Lambourn, is a farmer and landowner deeply connected to village life. His profound understanding of the community’s history and future potential enriches discussions among the trustees. Nick was very involved with The Riding for the Disabled charity adding yet another perspective and influence to his experiences. Nick’s pragmatic and proactive approach brings a practical perspective to the Board.
Richard Blackwell – Trustee, Lambourn Almshouses
Richard Blackwell is a successful business executive with ownership of his own company and multiple business ventures. His expertise in finance and accounting provides the Trustees with essential guidance on accounting practices, compliance, and contracting. A long term resident of Lambourn, Richard is deeply embedded in the community, offering valuable insights into its social housing needs.
Pete Penfold – Clerk to the Trustees
Pete Penfold has spent all of his life in Lambourn and hails from a family with a longstanding connection to the Almshouses, spanning nearly a century. Both his father and grandfather also served as clerks to the Charity. With a professional background in engineering and quality management systems, Pete brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role. His contributions extend beyond the practical aspects of maintaining and operating the Almshouses to include the development and implementation of vital processes and protocols to ensure safety and compliance. Known for his pragmatic approach, Pete is equally at home on-site as he is in the office.
Sioban Penfold – Trustee, Lambourn Almshouses
Sioban Penfold, AKA sculptor Sioban Coppinger, has created and managed many large publicly sited sculpture projects in her long, ongoing career. A past Treasurer and Fellow of the Royal Society of Sculptors and of the RSA, she has been very active in both her professional life and in her community. Closely involved with the welfare of the Almsmen for decades, she currently Chairs the Wellbeing Working Group. Sioban has been immersed in the Building Development Project since its inception in 2017. Sioban, always prepared to question, finds this an invaluable tool for inquiry and evaluation.
