Board of Trustees

“I am honoured and delighted to join the Jessie May Board as a Trustee and be able to support the amazing work that the Jessie May team does.”

Tiggy is a partner at Nine Feet Tall, a local management consultancy based in the South West. She first got involved with Jessie May when they were deciding who to select as their Charity of the Year for 2020. When Tiggy heard about the work the Care Team does with children and families, she felt instantly drawn to Jessie May and a desire to become more closely involved.

In her work as an advisor, coach and change consultant, she helps organisations overcome their specific challenges to turn their strategies into actionable plans, which achieve real results. She has over 15 years experience working in non-profit and regulated sectors and hopes that some of this experience may be useful to Jessie May. “My core values are about being passionate and authentic in everything I do and I place a real emphasis on listening first and building strong relationships. I know both will be important in my role as a Trustee.”

Outside of work Tiggy has 3 children, one of whom has educational support needs and so, as a parent, she really appreciates how much difference charity and support services can make to both your child’s life and your own.

"People always used to say to me that once you become part of the Jessie May family you never leave and this is certainly true for me."

Miranda held the position of Director of Finance and Corporate Services at Jessie May for two and a half years before leaving to find a position closer to home. Shortly after she left, the finance chair was stepping down as she was coming to the end of her term and so a vacancy for a finance professional became available. Miranda applied for the position and was thrilled to be accepted onto the board in June 2020.

She is a qualified accountant and has worked in the charity sector since 2007 and now works in the housing sector. Although commercially run, she has a strong sense of social purpose which will enable her to enhance her skills needed to help set the strategic direction of Jessie May and to support the executive team in ensuring resources are continued to be deployed efficiently and responsibly.

"Having worked alongside the nurses at Jessie May I have seen personally the first-class care and support they give to Jessie May families and how hard the rest of the team work to plan and administer the running of visits and making sure that there are enough funds being raised so this support can continue."

Miranda hopes to be able to use her skills to strengthen our position to be able to grow and develop, to continue to support the current Jessie May families and make sure that we are able to help the many more families that need us.

"Jessie May is the first charity I have joined as a Trustee and I am proud to be involved with such an amazing team of staff and trustees in a truly wonderful organisation."

Michael has worked for over 20 years in small entrepreneurial organisations, in the UK and internationally, and has founded four successful start-ups. I hope to bring a passionate energy and business acumen to Jessie May to help grow its reach and influence, so that more children and families can make the choice to stay together at home.

"I have two children, and family is a hugely important part of my life. My children and family will be supporting me with Jessie May and I hope that we can help support other families along the way."

As a Community Paediatrician working in Bristol, Tamsin has seen first-hand the enormous benefit that Jessie May brings to the lives and homes of local families.

"These families face challenges that most of us cannot even imagine, so having the Jessie May team alongside them on their journey feels like a wonderful gift. It’s the relationships that the team builds with families that are so precious - helping them enjoy the time they have together and supporting them through their darkest moments."

Tamsin has the privilege of being the Community Paediatrician for a high proportion of children with life-limiting illnesses. This experience supports her role as a Trustee, ensuring the charity’s focus remains centred on the needs of the children and families it serves.

"I’m glad to bring my knowledge of children’s health services in the area, as well as my clinical expertise, to the role. I see myself as a valuable link between the charity, the children and families, and the wider health services working to meet their needs."

Tamsin’s understanding of clinical governance also plays a key role in ensuring the charity is run safely and effectively. Working part-time allows her to dedicate time to Jessie May while her two children are at school, and she looks forward to attending some of the family events with them.

"I first came across the wonderful work that Jessie May does in 2016, when my daughter was born with kidney failure and required intensive medical care at home and in hospital."

The nurses have provided Emma's family with much needed breaks when visiting their home and within the hospital setting. They have supported them through many highs and lows – advocating for their daughter when needed.

"As parents having someone who listens and just ‘gets it’ has been invaluable. We see them as part of our family and feel so comfortable when they visit our house. They show such care and compassion to our daughter who loves when they come to play!"

Emma's professional background involves managing industrial science partnerships within the higher education setting, having previously been a climate research scientist. When the opportunity arose to join the Trustee Board of Jessie May, she jumped at the chance.

"We have relied so much on their support over the years that this is a way for me to give something back having experienced the service first-hand. Outside of work, in addition to my daughter, who is cared for by Jessie May, I also have a little boy, benefiting also from many of the family Jessie May events that take place each year."

"I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to share my knowledge, skills and experience to support Jessie May Trust with its ambitious plans for the future."

Tracey has over 20 years of human resources management experience, gained in a variety of sectors. She is now a freelance HR consultant, specialising in services to the voluntary, charity and social enterprise sectors in the greater Bristol area.

In the last 25 years she has held various voluntary positions including Chair of Governors, Trustee and Appropriate Adult. This combination of professional expertise and voluntary commitment gives Tracey a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the charity sector. Her strong background in HR, governance, and community engagement equips her to be a thoughtful, strategic, and compassionate Trustee, supporting Jessie May’s mission to provide vital care to children and families.

Tracey lives with her husband in South Gloucestershire and is a proud mum of two daughters and a doting grandmother to two energetic young grandsons. She has a passion for travel and a love of live music, always on the lookout for her next adventure or gig

"We have been receiving respite care from Jessie May for about 6 years. This is an invaluable service for us as a family but also is something that my daughter really looks forward to as Charlotte, Gemma and Lois are not just her nurses, they are her friends."

Jim has been looking for a way to give back to Jessie May and is hoping that he is able to bring a parent’s perspective to the Board as well as offer his experience from 15 years working in the civil service across finance, risk management and most recently governance and assurance.

"It is a great privilege to be working as a Trustee for Jessie May; a charity I have long admired for its work with children and families at such precious times."

Elaine has worked as a GP in Bristol for the past 20 years and prior to this spent some time working in paediatrics. She values building relationships with her patients, getting to know families and helping them through challenging times and trying to understand that everyone has a unique set of needs.

"I realise this is even more crucial when a child is affected by an illness and yet more so when that condition is life limiting. I recognise that family and friends also require support to be able to care for their loved ones to allow everyone to gain the most that they can from living."

Family life is hugely important to Elaine. She has three children who have taught her a lot. "I’m excited to be working with an organisation that is so family centred."

With her background in both general practice and paediatrics, alongside her deep understanding of the emotional and practical needs of families, Elaine brings a compassionate, informed perspective to the Trustee role. Her personal and professional experiences give her the empathy, insight, and dedication to help guide Jessie May in continuing its vital work.

"I am excited to meet and learn from the families who benefit from Jessie May’s support, as well as the incredible staff who make such a difference. I look forward to contributing in any way I can to help the charity continue to grow and thrive."

"It’s a great honour to be part of the Jessie May Board and be able to support such an incredible and essential service."

Laura is an ESG Analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, a financial services firm based in Bristol. She first connected with Jessie May during the pandemic when she and her husband were looking for a way to support a charity in such challenging times. Since then, they have been deeply moved by the life-changing impact of the work Jessie May does, inspiring Laura to become more actively involved with the charity.

"My work revolves around understanding what makes businesses tick, and distilling it into accessible content for everyday investors. I have a genuine passion for communication and the ever-pressing need to connect with Jessie Mays audience is what gets me out of bed in the morning. I hope to leverage my background in communications and finance to help move Jessie May forward and support the great work they do. This is an exciting time of change for Jessie May and I am so grateful to be a part of it. I hope my enthusiasm will add to the positive momentum and ensure we can grow and develop in a way that meaningfully supports the families that need us."

"I am delighted to have been appointed to join the Board of Trustees at Jessie May."

Anne is qualified as a children’s and adults’ nurse, having trained at both Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London Hospital and worked as a staff nurse in London prior to moving to Newcastle to train as a social worker.

The majority of her professional career has been involved with supporting children with life-threatening or life-limiting illness, most recently as the Director of Care Services at Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity. She is a passionate advocate for whole family support and in delivering care and support in the place chosen by the family.

"I have worked closely with the Jessie May team for many years and have seen the tangible difference their support makes to families living with a very sick child and I look forward to being a part of the growth and development of the service."