Trustees

Sarah thake, Trustee - strategy
Dr Jamie carruthers, Trustee - governance

Sophie Kimber, Trustee - VICE CHAIR / marketing and Communications

Sophie grew up in Henley and moved to Caversham in 2018 after living in East London for ten years. She is a civil servant and has worked in communications in national, regional and local government.

In her spare time, she enjoys walking her dog Bailey and baking. Walking her dog around Reading made her aware of the level of homelessness in the town which is how she originally got involved with New Beginnings Reading in 2019 by volunteering at the All Night Cafe.

JANE TAYLOR, Trustee - fundraising

Jane has worked in advice and guidance settings for the last decade, supporting those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Prior to this Jane worked in London managing hospitality venues, transferring those skills to the oil industry later on during her time in the capital.

Jane lives in Hampshire and currently works at the Reading University Student Union offering independent advice to students and running partnership community and housing projects with the university.

Jane loves dogs, she currently has 3! she also enjoys yoga and cycling.

SIMON SCHNIEDERS, Trustee - digital and IT

Simon Schnieders is the founder of the UK’s largest SEO agency, Blue Array. He’s also an investor and advisor to tech companies.

Simon is also an alcoholic in recovery and has been sober for almost two decades. He’s passionate about the ability individuals have from any background to have seismic change in their lives and believes in New Beginnings Reading as a step towards that change for those at the very bottom of society. He was also magnetised to wanting to become a Trustee of a front-line charity that's local to his business and home town of Reading.

Sarah beisly, Trustee - HR

Sarah was born in Scotland, but spent most of her life on the South Coast. She moved to Reading in 2018. She has worked for a large retailer since 2001, and is a Crime and Security Incident Response Manager. In her spare time she enjoys travelling and planning adventures with her husband, family and friends.

Sarah has worked in London for the past six years, and seeing the homelessness both there and in Reading inspired her to get involved with New Beginnings Reading in 2018, by volunteering at the All Night Café.