Our team

Frances

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary

I was brought up in a family who believed in and practised volunteering and being active in our communities and it stuck. I now have 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector as well as stints in the private and statutory sectors as CEO, director/governor and volunteer.

I came to The Clock Tower Sanctuary on an interim basis but once I was through the door, I realised I wanted to stay!

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?

Working with young people is great: I love their energy and their belief that they can change their future prospects. I am proud to be part of the support system that enables them to do that.

What’s your favourite tea time treat?

My mum’s Victoria sandwich with cream and coffee glacé icing.

Clare

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary
I have worked with young people in a number of different settings for 22 years. After a 12 year gap I have returned to working with young people experiencing homelessness. I love working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary. I am always amazed and inspired by the resilience and determination of the people who come through our doors.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?
My work colleagues and the young people who access the centre.

What’s your favourite tea time treat?
Black decaf coffee, no milk or sugar. Vegan chocolate cake.

Alice

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary
I was homeless for a while as a young adult, drifted around until I had my daughter, and as she was growing up our place became a bit of a drop-in for her friends. Once she left to attend university, I wanted to continue helping young people in some way. So I did some research into volunteering opportunities and found The Clock Tower Sanctuary. I applied to volunteer in 2016, started working here in 2017, and now here I am!

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?

The young people we work with – every one of them has something valuable and unique about them.

What’s your favourite tea time treat?

Mocha coffee and cherry cake

Kirstie

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary
I’ve been a youth worker, worked with young people with emotional behavioural difficulties in care, a teacher of performing arts at MET College, Northbrook and South London and been a touring actress and street performer. I’ve delivered training in domestic violence and sexual abuse and challenging behaviour. I joined Clock Tower Sanctuary as a volunteer in 2011 and became a member of staff in 2015. I love my role here and always am happy to come to work.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?
The work is very varied and rewarding. The clients are amazing and inspiring and the volunteers and staff are very supportive of each other.

What’s your favourite tea time treat?
Tea: strong with milk. Coffee: latte. Lemon drizzle, but all cakes enjoyable especially if they’re from Julien Plumart on Queens Road!

Angelika

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary
I received a diploma in journalism and worked in the field for a few years, when I came upon a lovely story about a young girl who raised money for a local homelessness charity. As I looked into the charity – which I’m sure you can guess by now is The Clock Tower Sanctuary – I realised that I wanted to give them some of my time, and applied to be a volunteer. I started as a volunteer in 2016, and never looked back.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?
I’ve never learned so much so quickly as I have at The Clock Tower Sanctuary, nor have I ever had a job that I loved and valued to the very core of my being. The thing I love most about working here is waking up every morning and looking forward to getting to work. Every. Single. Day.

What’s your favourite tea time treat?
I like coffee from a cafetiere, black as the night, or an oat milk latte.

Claud

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary
Having worked in the homeless sector in Brighton for about 16 years I have always been aware of The Clock Tower Sanctuary and the great work it does. Despite having changed significantly over the years the feeling of a safe, homely, non-judgmental space for young people to go has stayed the same.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?
I am so lucky to coordinate the amazing team of volunteers. They are such a great bunch of truly inspiring people.

What’s your favourite tea time treat?
Strong tea, no sugar with a shortbread finger.

Katya

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary

I’ve worked in fundraising and communications for more than 25 years in London and in Sussex. As a born and bred Brightonian, I jumped at the chance of helping young people in my own community and joined the team in 2018.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?

The people I meet are incredible – our clients, who demonstrate incredible resilience in over coming difficult circumstances; my colleagues and our volunteers who are so committed to helping young people; and our generous and enthusiastic supporters who are aged from 8 to 80 years old!

What’s your ideal tea time treat?

A mug of strong Yorkshire Tea with oat milk. And slice of a lemon drizzle cake.

Molly

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary.

I’m the new girl around the place having been at Clock Tower Sanctuary since October 2020. Since graduating from university I’ve worked in charity events and communications here in Brighton, primarily with students and young people.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?

Our clients are tenacious in the face of adversity, talented, interesting and often really bloomin’ funny. Being part of a community that listens and encourages them to see this for themselves can be life changing – what a privilege to be part of.

What’s your favourite tea time treat?

Why limit treats to tea time!? You’ll see me snaffling hobnobs throughout the day – or anything else biscuit-y for that matter. Also cinnamon buns… Or lemon drizzle cake… OK, now I’m hungry. To drink it has to be black coffee (probably too much of it).

Lorna

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary

I’m quite a newbie here and was delighted to move over to such a great local charity after a long time fundraising for a big national conservation charity. Before that I was an English language teacher, the perfect way to get to live in Indonesian for a few years! You’ll mostly find me playing guitar, singing, listening to records and going to gigs. I also love plants.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?

We have an amazing team with so much dedication to changing young lives. I love the fast pace and varied work that comes with working for a small charity. Being in fundraising means you get to see the very best of generosity and empathy coming from our supporters. There’s no greater job satisfaction than knowing the money we raise will help a vulnerable young person get their life back on track.

What’s your favourite tea time treat?

Oooh, that’s tricky- cake’s my fave. I’ll have a coffee & oat milk with a side plate of something fruity like an apple & blackberry cake please.

Clair

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary
I started working at the Clock Tower Sanctuary in 2016 as a contractor, helping with finance and management reporting.
I initially started as a 2 week contract covering holidays and never left -gaining employment in 2017.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?
I like that we are all working towards something positive and it isn’t all business!

What’s your favourite tea time treat?
Strong coffee with oat milk – there are so many nice cakes I find it hard to choose!

Helen

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary
I began volunteering here a few years back. I’ve always wanted to help in the homeless community and this was perfect. Through volunteering I then became a part time member of staff.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?
I love working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary as we see first hand what a difference we can make to young’s peoples lives and support them with their goals and aspirations. It’s almost a family in itself.

What’s your favourite tea time treat?
I love a builder’s tea with one sugar. Millionaires cheesecake.

Rob

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary

I’m a freelance management consultant, specialising in project management, technology strategy and business change. One of my previous clients is Pret A Manger, whose charitable trust The Pret Foundation is a corporate supporter of The Clock Tower Sanctuary. I was recommended to CTS by the Head of The Pret Foundation and I joined as a Trustee in 2017. In September 2019, I took over as Chair from Georgina.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?

I’m really taken by the positivity, enthusiasm and optimism that our staff and volunteers bring to the organisation. I come away from every meeting feeling motivated and inspired to continually improve. Also, volunteering at The Clock Tower Sanctuary gives me a reason to get out of London (where I live) and spend time in Brighton, a city I really enjoy visiting.

What’s your favourite teatime treat?

A soy flat white and a cinnamon bun please.

Emily

Tell us a bit about your yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary

My current role is Business Transformation Leader at Rickshaw Travel. I’ve previously worked in senior marketing and digital roles at Sightsavers, the RSPCA and Wired Sussex. I was approached a few years ago to become a Trustee and I became Vice-Chair in 2019.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?

I enjoy bringing my experience and expertise to a charity I really believe in. I know that The Clock Tower Sanctuary makes a huge difference to young people’s lives every single day. I’m committed to supporting the fantastic team of staff and volunteers in any way I can.

What’s your favourite tea time treat?

Chopped up pear with chunks of cheese!

Geoff

Tell us a bit about your yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary.

I am a self-employed research consultant running a small business in Hove. I first became involved with The Clock Tower Sanctuary back in 2010 when I ran the inaugural Brighton Marathon raising funds for us having identified a small youth homelessness charity to support! I was then recruited to the board in 2015 having done a few pro bono pieces of work for CTS as we moved from being volunteer led to a professional, staff led charity. In these ten years it has changed immeasurably and I am in awe of the progress made by the staff team, both past and present.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?

It is hard not to be inspired by the commitment, compassion and enthusiasm of the staff and volunteers. And witnessing the talents and humour of the clients, often in the most trying circumstances, makes you appreciate things easily taken for granted.

What’s your favourite tea time treat?

Summer it would have to be scones with clotted cream and raspberry jam! Winter I’d go for malt loaf with lots of butter… all year round white tea, one sugar please!

Mo

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary.

After a career in Sales & Marketing in technology companies, I am now one of the three founders of Watch This Sp_ce, a diversity and inclusion business to help organisations to reimagine how they work to include everyone.

I’ve been a supporter of the Clock Tower Sanctuary for many years and fundraised for the charity. I volunteer for another charity to support young people. So, when I started to think about becoming a charity Trustee, I was really interested in the Clock Tower Sanctuary as the aims to support young people who are homeless with everyday support and help for their futures really inspires and motivates me.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?

Knowing that the charity really helps young people with their futures. The team of staff, volunteers and trustees are so dedicated and inspiring. I am looking forward to helping and bringing my experience and different perspectives to the team and the work that we do.

What’s your favourite tea time treat?

I don’t drink tea, so a strong black coffee for me please. And I’ll have a freshly fried samosa (or 2) and chutney to go with that. Thanks.

Rachel

Felicity

Richard

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be at The Clock Tower Sanctuary.

As a fresh faced 18 year old I worked in Baltimore at a summer camp for young people who were in care, trying to give them get a leg up in life. I adored that work and did that for four summers.
I then dipped my toe into politics working for the Shadow Minister for Children. In Parliament, along with the MP I worked for, I tried to persuade government to do more to protect the most vulnerable and provide the funding for opportunities to young people that I had been lucky enough to have and experience. Since then I have worked in and around politics and PR for 20 years but have moved on to becoming Britain’s only tornado expert (long story, don’t ask). I have no idea where that time went, but I want to use some of my knowledge, contacts and experience to help CTS give a voice to the experiences of the young people in Brighton it does so much to help.

What do you like most about working at The Clock Tower Sanctuary?

Pretty much everyone says it on here but that is because it is true – the passionate people.

What’s your favourite tea time treat?

I sound like a good old hippie when I say homemade seaweed crisps and a green tea with the bag left in. No stirring – just let the strength come naturally over time.