The Friends for Life team is made up of a small number of staff and a Board of Trustees. Together we look after our growing team of volunteers. If you would like to join us, please get in touch here.
Kathryn Bridge - Charity Manager
With experience in communications, education, and operations across both sectors, Kathryn serves as Manager at Friends for Life, where she oversees the charity’s daily operations.
Outside of work, Kathryn is busy with her young family but also enjoys yoga, swimming, and catching up with friends.
Pauline Carter - Volunteer Lead
Bringing extensive experience in nursing, social care, and the charity sector, Pauline leads and supports our volunteer team, ensuring everyone feels welcomed and supported from day one.
Outside of work, she enjoys knitting, spending time with family and friends, and playing an active role in her local community.
Louise Pearce - Administrator
Louise brings 20 years of experience across the care sector, including private residential homes, domiciliary services, and the voluntary sector, and keeps the charity running like clockwork.
Outside of work, she enjoys family life, gardening, pottery, and spending time with her two delightfully mad dogs.
Hazel Fattorusso - Marketing, Partnership & Activities Lead
Hazel brings a background in marketing, journalism, the arts and community engagement to Friends For Life, where she builds partnerships, raises the charity’s profile, and runs engaging activities with local schools and businesses.
Outside of work, she is an accomplished playwright who loves yoga and wild swimming.
Vacant - Volunteer Co-ordinator
Vacant
Vacant - Fundraising Lead
Vacant
Michael Ridley - Chair
Michael has lived with his family in Bedford for more than 20 years.
He brings with him 27 years of experience within the civil service, most recently at the Department for Education where his policy responsibilities included governance within the further education sector.
Onome Aduwo - Treasurer
With over a decade of international finance experience, Onome brings expertise in financial management and governance to the UK’s health and social care sector.
As Treasurer, she ensures our finances are managed effectively to drive meaningful impact and support our mission.
Sally Davies - Trustee
Sally is the Chief Executive Officer of a children’s disability charity, with more than 17 years’ leadership experience in health and social care.
She brings particular strengths in fundraising, regulatory compliance, and the delivery of high-quality services for children, young people, adults with complex needs, and their families.
Titilayo Majekodunmi - Trustee
Peter Egner - Trustee
Peter has over 35 years’ experience in Human Resources, business change, and business transformation, during which he has worked with several multi-national businesses in both the UK and overseas.
He currently runs his own consultancy business and is a Trustee for a children’s charity.
Helen Wheatley - Trustee
Helen brings over 25 years of HR experience and extensive charity trustee leadership to her role overseeing governance for Friends For Life.
A dedicated volunteer, she has supported causes ranging from Labrador rescue and NHS sewing initiatives to hosting children from the Chernobyl disaster zone.
Steve Bennett - Trustee
Steve brings over 40 years of sales and marketing expertise to the team, having successfully founded several businesses.
A passionate advocate for the non-profit sector, he has worked with numerous charities to boost their awareness, income and
community support.
Sally Hopwood - Trustee
Sally is a lawyer and governance adviser with experience working in legal and compliance teams for charities and commercial organisations.
She is passionate about volunteering and joined Friends For Life after visiting a family friend who was at risk of becoming lonely and isolated. Sally enjoys walking, swimming and traveling.
David Sawyer - Trustee
David has lived in Bedford for nearly 40 years. He has been a Bedford Borough Councillor for over 20 years, representing De Parys Ward.
As a qualified accountant, he is interested in finance and audit, and his voluntary work has included governor of five local schools (at different times), Oxfam, the Princes Trust and currently Bedford Citizens Housing Association.
