Swindon’s Big Breakfast Plus charity, which provides cooked breakfasts for homeless and hungry people in the town, has a new chair of trustees.
James Puttick, who first joined the charity as a volunteer, has taken over the reins from long-standing chair Charlotte Mannion.
Charlotte, who oversaw the reopening of Big Breakfast Plus following the pandemic, has been instrumental in developing the charity. It is now open seven days a week at the Pilgrim Centre, and is regularly catering for more than 100 guests a day.
James said: “I began volunteering after Covid, when the charity reopened, after seeing a Facebook post from a friend of mine, who was also volunteering.
Charlotte, who oversaw the reopening of Big Breakfast Plus following the pandemic, has been instrumental in developing the charity. It is now open seven days a week at the Pilgrim Centre, and is regularly catering for more than 100 guests a day.
James said: “I began volunteering after Covid, when the charity reopened, after seeing a Facebook post from a friend of mine, who was also volunteering.
"I have lived in Swindon all my life and wanted to be more involved in the local community. On that first day, we had five volunteers and three guests, because the word hadn’t got around that we were up and running again.”
James, who works in business development for a financial services organisation, soon stepped up to become a trustee and has now taken on the role of chair.
“Charlotte didn’t want to carry on indefinitely, so we did some succession planning. We have now appointed a full time charity manager, to take over much of the work Charlotte was doing, and I can focus on the trustee role. Plus, we have appointed two new trustees.
“For me personally, had Charlotte not been in the role I wouldn’t have felt confident to step into it. Her passion, energy and drive are what has got us to where we are today. A big thank you to Charlotte and I hope we can build on what she has achieved, to carry the charity forward.”
Charlotte, who will stay on as a trustee, added: “I have every confidence in James and the board of trustees, who are now in a strong place. There are exciting things to come for Big Breakfast Plus, whose services are needed now more than ever.”
More information about Big Breakfast Plus and how to support the charity can be found at https://bigbreakfastplus.org.uk/
James, who works in business development for a financial services organisation, soon stepped up to become a trustee and has now taken on the role of chair.
“Charlotte didn’t want to carry on indefinitely, so we did some succession planning. We have now appointed a full time charity manager, to take over much of the work Charlotte was doing, and I can focus on the trustee role. Plus, we have appointed two new trustees.
“For me personally, had Charlotte not been in the role I wouldn’t have felt confident to step into it. Her passion, energy and drive are what has got us to where we are today. A big thank you to Charlotte and I hope we can build on what she has achieved, to carry the charity forward.”
Charlotte, who will stay on as a trustee, added: “I have every confidence in James and the board of trustees, who are now in a strong place. There are exciting things to come for Big Breakfast Plus, whose services are needed now more than ever.”
More information about Big Breakfast Plus and how to support the charity can be found at https://bigbreakfastplus.org.uk/
Your Comments
Be the first to comment on this article
Login or Register to post a comment on this article