TRAIN is governed by our Board of Trustees, who set the strategic direction of the charity and ensure we comply with our charitable aims and regulatory requirements.
Andy previously served as CEO of Wokingham Borough Council, followed by his role as CEO of Birmingham Children’s Trust. During his time in Birmingham, Andy led the Trust through a remarkable transformation, taking Children’s Services from an Ofsted rating of “Inadequate” to “Good”. Currently, he serves as Chair of Birmingham Children’s Trust and as a children’s services commissioner for the Department for Education.
“I am delighted to be taking on the Chair of Trustees for Train. I grew up in Didcot, my kids went to school in the town. I’ve spent my career trying to make a difference to the lives of children and young people. The opportunity to support the team doing such great work at Train was too good to resist.”
Jackie is an experienced charity finance manager, having held senior finance roles at large Oxfordshire charities. Jackie has a postgraduate diploma in Charity Finance and Management from the Centre for Charity Excellence at Bayes Business School. Prior to entering the charity sector, Jackie was CEO of two successful Waste Management and Construction business following a career in taxation management. Jackie joined the Board in 2024 as TRAIN’s Trustee for Finance.
Sabiene joined the Board in 2024 – bringing a wealth of experience from her unique career trajectory. During her career in investment management, she primarily worked as a Private Banking Manager with Lloyds Private Banking and St James’s Place Wealth Management. After a career change, she joined the charity sector in 2020, gaining experience in fundraising, before taking on the position of CEO for a local charity, Be Free Young Carers. Sabine sits on the Oxfordshire Safeguarding and Children’s Board, representing the Voluntary and Community Sector. She has volunteered as a mentor at Didcot Girls’ School for several years. Sabiene is also a trustee at the national charity Supershoes. Her passion, focus, and main area of expertise is in supporting young people, children, and the youth sector.
Nicole is a chartered accountant and CFA charter holder. She trained with Price Waterhouse, London, and worked in investment banking before becoming a Financial Trainer at Fitch Learning. Nicole joined the board as Treasurer in 2017, after moving to Didcot the previous year. In 2023, she undertook the role of Chair and continues to be inspired by the dedication of staff, volunteers, and trustees, as well as the generosity of sponsors and donors of TRAIN. As Didcot expands, Nicole envisages TRAIN continuing to thrive with the support of the community, ensuring it can meet the growing needs of young people in the town and surrounding areas.
Paul is Head of Strategy & Impact at Reading FC Community Trust, shaping the strategic direction of the club’s community programmes, including Premier League Kicks and Reading Alternative Provision, and developing new and existing partnerships with agencies in the public, private, and voluntary sector. He is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead at Reading FC Community Trust, as well as a member of the Environmental Sustainability and EDI Working Groups at the Trust. Paul has over 10 years’ experience of supporting young people that display multiple risk factors and joined the Board in 2023. He is passionate about providing young people the support they need to overcome increasingly complex societal challenges.
Arthur is an experienced charity leader and youth work specialist with a career spanning over 25 years in youth and community development and intercultural engagement. He is currently Director for Mission at one of the world’s oldest international charities. Previously, Arthur spent over a decade in Lebanon, developing youth work programmes and training future youth leaders at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary. He has also managed government-funded youth projects in the UK, mentored at-risk young people, and led a youth work degree programme. A published author on youth work and mentoring, he has contributed to books, journals, and training materials.
Brian has lived in Didcot his entire life despite working across the UK and internationally for National Grid as a Senior Manager in the Gas Distribution and Transmission sector. He is an experienced business and personal coach and mentor, running a successful consultancy business for over 14 years. Brian is passionate about ensuring young people are given the best opportunities, support, and guidance to become the best version of themselves. After being the Chair of the Board of Trustees at TRAIN for over seven years, Brian is now our ambassador, championing the services we provide to young people. He was recently recognised by the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire (2023) for his charitable services to the county.
Lord Ed Vaizey has been a patron of TRAIN since 2010 and continues to actively support the work we do with young people in Didcot and Wallingford.