About Us
WHAT IS THE CHURN PROJECT?
The Churn Project has been supporting people across the community in Cirencester and nearby villages since 2001.
Our aims are to reduce isolation and improve wellbeing, particularly for those who are lonely, at a point of crisis or transition in their lives, or experiencing poverty or mental health issues. Our vision is that all our residents are included and involved in their community, feel supported and valued and have the opportunity to achieve their potential. We support over 2000 people each year, focusing on older people, young families and those who are suffering from mental health, poor wellbeing and social isolation. We offer a mix of one to one support and group activities, catering to different interests and needs.
We work with people to help find practical solutions to the issues they face. Many tell us that coming to The Churn Project improves their wellbeing and makes them feel less isolated.
We are proud of our relationships with the people we support and listen, respond and help to bring about positive change.
MEET THE TEAM
Sarah Bourne
Chief Executive Officer
Sarah leads The Churn Project growing and developing the organisation to reflect the changing needs of our local community. She has over 20 years experience in both the voluntary and statutory sector working with children, families and the wider community.
Kathryn Bell
Finance and Operations Manager
Kathryn manages the charity’s finances, HR, and the day to day running of the organisation. She keeps track of all of the charity’s funding and expenditure and makes sure it is allocated to the correct places!
Louisa Widmann
Finance and Operations Admin Assistant
Louisa supports our Finance and Operations Manager. She assists with with the Charity’s finances, HR work and is an integral part of the the smooth, day to day running of The Churn Project offices.
Katherine Crawshaw
Volunteer and Communications Coordinator
Katherine is our Volunteer and Communications Coordinator. She manages all our volunteers, making sure they feel valued and supported. She also manages all aspects of the The Churn Project’s communications, marketing and events.
Frankie Russ
Volunteer and Communications Admin Assistant
Frankie supports Katherine, our Volunteer and Communications Coordinator, with the volunteering and communications work such as social media updates, website, publications and supporting volunteers.
Rachel Stainton
Family Service coordinator
Rachel leads the Family Service team supporting families through our groups and individual support. She is responsible for co-ordinating and running the antenatal and the postnatal groups and oversees the delivery of several weekly toddler play sessions.
Laura Smith
child and family support worker
Laura’s role involves providing stimulating play activities for babies and children under five years old in our weekly parent and child groups. Laura is part of the busy Family Service team, offering support to families and their children.
Amy Harvey
Family Support Worker
Amy is one of our Family Support Workers, part of the busy Families Team, offering support to families and children through our groups and individual support. Amy leads our New Baby New Life group for parents and babies up to 12 months old.
Sam Abbott
Family Support Worker
Sam is one of our Family Support Workers, working with the team to deliver play sessions for families with young children. Sam leads our Catch Your Breath Coffee mornings, supporting children and families at local primary schools, as well as our After School Activities Programme.
Naomi Nethercott
family support worker
Naomi joined our growing Family Team in October 2024. In her Family Support Worker role, she supports families in our Mini Toddlers and Families Matter groups at The Churn Project, and facilitates our New Baby New Life group at Cirencester Baptist Church.
Michelle Bradburn
Community Wellbeing Service Coordinator
Michelle leads the Community Wellbeing Service. Her focus is to ensure that people in need can access information and support with a particular emphasis on mental health, unemployment and reducing isolation.
Amanda Griffiths
Employment and Wellbeing Worker
Amanda offers intensive support to people looking to improve their wellbeing and employability skills. Her role includes supporting our ‘We Welcome Wellness’ programme, ‘Creative Skills Workshops’ for young adults, and ‘Chat and Connect’ social group.
Jenny Slater
Employment and Skills Hub Outreach Worker
Jenny is our Employment and Skills Hub Outreach Worker supporting people in Cirencester, Moreton-In-Marsh and Tetbury. Jenny works with people on a one to one basis helping through job searching, training, work experience, volunteering and education.
Graham Harris
Engagement Worker
Graham is responsible for The Churn Project Men’s Shed and Community Shed in both Cirencester and South Cerney. He also leads the South Cerney Positive Strides group, a men’s walking group, supporting mental health and wellbeing.
Andy Brachi
Mental Health Engagement Worker
Andy offers one to one support to people with a focus on mental wellbeing and connecting with their communities. As part of the Community Wellbeing Team, he offers client-led support, encouraging personal development and confidence building.
KIM KIMBELL
AGEING WELL Service Coordinator
Kim leads the Ageing Well Service and is responsible for the support we provide for older residents in the community, which encompasses all groups, wellbeing programmes and one to one support including bereavement and carer support sessions, and our Good Neighbours befriending programme.
Sarah Townsend
ageing well engagement Worker
Sarah is an Engagement Worker in our Ageing Well team supporting the delivery of our Friendship Café, Memory Café and Living with Loss bereavement support groups. She also supports the running of our Good Neighbour Befriending Service and leads our Sociable Stroll in South Cerney.
Carolyn thrussell
ageing well engagement worker
Carolyn is a new member of the Ageing Well Team. In her role she helps with the delivery of our Friendship Café, Memory Café and Living with Loss bereavement support groups. She also supports the running of our Good Neighbour Befriending Service and gives one to one support to our older residents who are in need.
BUSTER
Chief Office Dog
Buster is The Churn Project’s Office Dog and is a highly valued member of the team. Buster loves to join in with our weekly Positive Strides and Sociable Stroll walking groups, as well as meet and greet visitors to our offices.
You will often find him sniffing out treats around the office and he loves to make friends, especially if food is available.
MEET THE TRUSTEES
Rosemary Lynn
Chair
Rosemary worked at Cotswold District Council for over 16 years and has been involved with The Churn Project since its inception. She chaired the Supporters’ Group since 2007 and now as Chair of Trustees she is integral in supporting the charity through its new development and growth.
Robert Towill
Treasurer & Secretary
A chartered accountant, Robert held a number of finance director roles in various industries, ending up as Finance Director and Joint Managing Director of a company making push back tractors for aircraft. During his time as Treasurer he has been a huge support to Churn Project staff who manage the charity’s finances.
Fran Penny
Trustee
Fran is the Visitor Experience Manager at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre with an interesting background as part of the National Trust and the museum sector. She has also volunteered for several years as a Listening Volunteer with the Samaritans.
David Bellamy
Trustee
David Bellamy is Founder and CEO of Happiness Lab, a business dedicated to helping organisations to unlock the benefits of happiness at work. David previously spent 18 years as a management consultant working on projects associated with “every conceivable organisational challenge”. His first book “Cultivating Organisational Happiness” was published in 2018.
Simon Jones
Trustee
After 25 years working in the IT sector, Simon now is a Founding Partner of Winning Quarters, a sales training and coaching organisation. Starting over 10 years ago with initiatives in Cambodia, Simon has worked closely with local communities to empower families facing extreme poverty. Now focussed on the UK, he continues to advocate for disadvantaged families.
David Sutherland
Trustee
For the last 23 years of his working life David was the Vice-Principal of Cirencester College, responsible for its academic function. He managed large teams of staff and large budgets, while continuing to teach and to develop the curriculum. Trade-unionism has always been an important part of Dave’s professional life and he remains active in the Gloucestershire District of the National Education Union.
Shirley Alexander
Trustee
Shirley has been involved with The Churn Project since its inception when she was a Town and District Councillor for Beeches Ward. She is also a Director/Trustee of Cirencester Community Development Trust, The Bingham Library Trust and New Brewery Arts. She is a member of Soroptimist International Cirencester & District, an international women’s organisation.
Cathey Groombridge
Trustee
Cathey is a retired doctor having moved to Cirencester over 35 years ago to work as a GP. Passionate about enabling people to live well into later life, she retrained as a psychiatrist with a special interest in older people and treatments for dementia and was the lead consultant for the Memory Assessment Services in Gloucestershire. She has also worked as a medical journalist and medico legal adviser.
VACANCIES
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Inclusive statement: We are committed to providing equality of opportunity for all irrespective of age, disability, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, pregnancy or maternity, caring responsibility or economic hardship. We will make whatever reasonable adjustments we can to enable everyone to take part.