Our Trustees
Fran Beckett: Chair
Fran is a Hove based experienced CEO and Board Chair including large national voluntary and housing organisations, Government advisory groups, London and Borough-wide organisations, and grass-roots community organisations and churches. Currently providing charity consultancy, governance development, and leadership mentoring as an independent consultant. Fran is passionate about the practical empowerment of people and communities, especially those on the margins.
Erin Barnes
Erin is an award-winning producer and programme consultant. She is passionate about education and social change, and motivated by work that champions young people, their creativity and voice. She has over 20 years’ experience at the BBC as a senior manager and with NGO’s, national cultural organisations and charities, including Tate and the National Literacy Trust. Erin has been a trustee since 2021 and is the trustee safeguarding lead for YMCA DLG.
Michael Chawatama
As a trained mental health nurse, Michael spent the early part of his career working with children and adolescents on young people’s wards. Following this Michael moved onto managing Community CAMHS clinics across East Surrey where he worked closely with the local YMCA. Michael was also involved in leading on behalf of the local CCG, an emotional behavioural transformation project across West Surrey. After spending several years working as Head of Clinical Services in various private sector mental health organisations, he moved onto his current operational management role at Sunrise Senior Living.
Mike Gercke
Mike was appointed a Trustee in 2019. He is a chartered accountant and was a partner at PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) specialising in Restructuring & Insolvency, until retiring in 2008. Since then he has been on the board of a number of charities notably including The Children’s Trust as Vice Chair and Hon Treasurer. Most of the charities with which Mike is involved are concerned with children & young people.
John Holmstrom
John has been the Chief Executive of Worthing Churches Homeless Projects since 2013. This followed 30 years working in the homelessness sector. John originally trained in theology with plans to be ordained but when he started working with homelessness, his vocation shifted to meeting the housing and support needs of those who are socially excluded. Through his career, John has worked closely with YMCA and maintained an interest in young homelessness. He became a Trustee of YMCA DLG in 2017. John is also chair of the South-East Homelessness Forum and a governor of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Nick Mourant
Nick joined the Board of Trustees at YMCA Downslink Group in February 2023. Nick graduated with an Economics degree from Cambridge University and spent his career in finance and Corporate Treasury. Nick qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Peat Marwick in Central London before moving into industry in various financial roles. Nick spent the majority of his career working in the Treasury department of Tesco PLC where he was Group Corporate Treasurer for several years prior to retiring in 2010.
Since 2010 Nick has held Trustee roles with One YMCA, YMCA England and Wales and Keep Britain Tidy, as well as advising Save the Children on funding and pension issues.
Andrew Newall
Andrew joined the Board of Trustees at YMCA Downslink Group in January 2023. He is a committed Christian and is a Churchwarden at Holy Trinity Church, Northwood. He brings to the Board over 30 years’ experience in the UK Personal Financial Services Industry in senior finance roles.
He has previously served as Chair at One YMCA between 2013 and 2022, as Group Treasurer of East Thames Group Ltd, and as a Trustee at Crisis UK. He is currently a Trustee of Langley House Trust and Deputy Chair of Council at the University of Kent.
Caroline Stearman
Caroline joined as a Trustee in 2017. She is an independent consultant working in organisation and leadership development, with clients in both the private and charitable sector. Prior to self-employment Caroline worked in a range of organisations: Esso, Tearfund, Amnesty International, English Heritage and Roffey Park. She has served as a trustee on the board of Radstock, an international Christian network and has been a volunteer youth mentor in Surrey.
