Our people
Meet our small, passionate team
We have a small team of colleagues, an elected Board of Trustees and a wider family of expert consultants and volunteers
Staff
Emma Williams
Emma joined the charity in 2012. As Helpline and Programmes Manager she provides support to older people, their relatives and friends who have queries about care via our adviceline. Emma also leads on our policy work and manages our projects, including producing our publications. Emma has been working in the charity sector for over 20 years with a specific interest in improving the lives of older people. She originally worked as a senior caseworker for Anchor Hackney Staying Put, working to help older residents remain in their own homes through grants for adaptations or vital repairs to their homes. She also worked at Counsel and Care, a charity working with older people, as an Advice Worker.
Trevor Greenidge
Trevor became a core part of the team in 2011. As Helpline Officer he provides individualised support to older people, their relatives and friends who have queries about care. As well as contributing to our projects, campaigns and policy work, he also looks after our website and finance. Trevor began his work in the charity sector in 2005, as a generalist adviser for the Citizens Advice Bureau, where he supported people with a myriad of issues including debt, immigration, and social care to name a few. After several years there, he decided that he wanted to focus on improving the lives of older people, and so in 2009 started working as an adviser for Counsel and Care, before joining our charity.
Helen Wildbore
Helen joined us in 2019. As Director, Helen is responsible for the operational management of the organisation, including oversight of our advice and support service, policy work, campaigns and research. Helen has 20 years’ experience of working in third sector and academic organisations on human rights and equality. Previous positions include Policy and Programmes Manager at the British Institute of Human Rights, Healthcare Engagement Manager at Bliss and Researcher at the LSE. Her expertise lies in using human rights law to improve care and health services. Helen is passionate about improving care services so that older people can live with dignity.
Vivien Levene
Vivien joined as our Administrator in November 2023. She provides support across all areas of our work, particularly to our members and supporters. Vivien has extensive experience in administration and systems management, across a range of organisations, most recently at an Art Therapy CIC.
Trustees
Trish Davies (Chair)
Trish has a distinguished record in health and social care. A qualified social worker, she later became the programme manager for the development of the first National Minimum Standards for Care Homes at what was, then, Department of Health. She became the director of policy and communications at the National Care Standards Commission, the first national regulator, and Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regulation at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. She served as chair for Heritage Care (now Ambient), a not-for-profit social care provider.
Susan Alleyn
Susan started out as a barrister and then requalified as a solicitor in 1986. For the last 30 years she has specialised in private client work. She is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly, advising families on arranging care for their loved ones. She has given advice on contracts with care homes, lasting powers of attorney and mental capacity issues. Her father lives in a care home. Susan was in touch with the charity during the pandemic about the practical steps she could take to improve his quality of life and that of others in homes throughout the country.
Sue Redmond
Sue has worked in health and social care for her entire career. For the last 12 years she was Director of Social Care and Health in various local authorities across the country. She currently sits as independent chair of two adult safeguarding boards. For the past eight years she has helped to care for her stepmom who has spent six years living in care homes. Sue is passionate and committed to helping to improve the quality of care for older people.
Peter Storey
Pete has worked in the charity sector for over 20 years, initially at the Royal National Society of Blind People, where he headed up the fundraising strategy team. He served for 15 years as a director at Kidney Research UK, where he managed fundraising, communications, public affairs, volunteering programmes and the development of health inequalities and rare diseases research, as well as developing strategy. Now retired, he supports his father, who is a resident in a care home.
Samantha Williamson
Originally an investment banker with Goldman Sachs in positions across corporate finance, equities and private wealth management, Samantha has extensive experience in complex financial transactions, developing client relationships and risk management. She holds a Masters in Medical Ethics and Law from King’s College London, which focused on mental health and capacity law, end of life and public health and autonomy. She navigated the palliative health system as carer for her father and supports others as a Macmillan Information and Support Officer. She believes strongly in helping to enhance and empower people in their later life. Samantha sits as a Magistrate in Central London criminal courts.
Stephen Burke
Stephen is CEO of the Hallmark Care Homes Foundation and the Hemraj Goyal Foundation, as well as co-founder, with his wife, Denise, of United for All Ages, an intergenerational ‘think-do’ tank that brings older and younger people together to create a Britain for all ages. He co-founded the Campaign to End Loneliness and Good Care Guide and led mergers to create Grandparents Plus and The Family Mediation Trust. He has been on the board and chair of some twenty national and local charities in the fields of ageing, housing, care, health and families.
Richard Hawes
Richard began his career as a nurse before moving into the care sector 20 years ago, and in recent years he has concentrated on quality assurance and care improvement. Richard has worked with Barchester Healthcare, Caring Homes and the Orders of St John Care Trust. As the Chief Executive of Elizabeth Finn Homes Limited, he was responsible for the continuous improvement in the services offered to the residents. Richard has been a trustee of the charity since 2019.
Nari Ghandhi
Nari is an experienced Company Secretary with a focus on governance. He has significant investment management experience in a long career at an FTSE listed investment company. He has developed and implemented corporate governance, compliance, and risk management requirements and is a skilled board level diplomat and team builder. Nari was previously a trustee and director for the Studio Upstairs charity and chair of governors of Highgate Primary School. As Treasurer of Care Rights UK, Nari provides input to the trustee board on the investment portfolio.
Professional support
In addition, Care Rights UK depends on invaluable professional help from:
David Watson, GDW Associates, Systems and Business Consultant
Mike Williams, Civic Associates, Branding and Website Consultant
Georges Olivier, AAYG Ltd, Accounts Maintenance
David Terry FCA, Ramon Lee & Partners, Independent Examiner
Bob Walters, Video Producer Consultant
Emma Jones, Legal Consultant
Beatrice Morgan, Legal Consultant
Charles Stanley, Investment Managers
Amazing regular volunteers
Sue Toole
Francesca Grandi
We gratefully acknowledge the generous financial support of the CSiS Charity Fund, in particular the grant funding that made the introduction of this website possible.
