Charitable Objects

The objects of the Charity are, for the public benefit, the education and care of people who have physical disabilities and other complex health needs, particularly but not exclusively children and young persons (the beneficiaries) including the conduct and maintenance of a special school (the School) within the meaning of the Education Acts and of a transition service for beneficiaries.

The Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees has overall control of the Charity, its property and funds, and meet as a full Board at least three times a year. They are supported by a Board of Governors with delegated powers in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation and both boards operate through a sub-committee structure (shown below).

Chailey Heritage Foundation Scheme of Delegation

Governance structure from September 2024

Governance Structure at April 2025

Committee Terms of Reference

Governor Training, Focus Visits and Attendance

Effectiveness surveys and skills audits are carried out by both the Trustee and Governing Board, alongside training and regular Governor/Trustee visits to the services. Governor attendance is reported annually.

The Chief Executive provides a strategy update and performance digest at each Board Meeting. The Trustees are alerted to new Charity Commission guidance, other relevant alerts and to new regulatory requirements with training provided as required.

Appointments

Newly appointed Trustees and Governors are selected through an open process of advertisement, application and interview and managed by an Appointments Committee. This committee meets as required and also oversees the appointment of the Chief Executive and other key senior executives.

The election of parent and staff Governors is overseen by the Chair of the Board of Governors and the process is carried out by the Governance Manager.

There is a Governance Handbook for Governors and Trustees, together with a thorough induction programme for new Trustees and Governors.

An enhanced DBS check is required for all Governor and Trustee appointments. An annual declaration of interests’ form is completed and Governors and Trustees are expected to declare their interest in any item on the agenda of a committee meeting.

Our Patron

HRH, The Duchess of Gloucester, has been our patron since 2003. Her genuine interest and understanding have encouraged both children and adults alike and we are sincerely grateful for her truly valued support.

Our Patron

HRH The Duchess of Gloucester

Our President

Verena Hanbury is the Granddaughter of our Founder, Dame Grace Kimmins. She was educated at Elmhurst Ballet School and continued in the theatre until she married. She has five children and 12 grandchildren. She became a Governor/Trustee in 1962 and chaired this joint committee from 1986 to 2004. When the Trustees and Governors separated, Verena remained a Trustee until she retired in 2018. She continues as our President.

President of Chailey Heritage Foundation - Verena Hanbury

Verena Hanbury, President of Chailey Heritage Foundation

Our Trustees

The Board of Trustees has overall control of the Charity, its property and funds, supported by the Board of Governors.

  • Mark Creamer head shot

    Mark Creamer

    Trustee, and Chair of Trustees

    Mark is a Chartered Surveyor, having most recently been Deputy Managing Director and Head of European Valuation at an International Property Consultancy based in London. Mark is Chair of Trustees

  • Jenny Clark Head shot

    Jenny Clark

    Trustee, Governor, and Chair of Governors

    Jenny was the Director of Social Care for all services to disabled adults and children across Brighton & Hove. Currently, she works independently as a Chair and Consultant in Fostering and Adoption Services

  • Darren Head Shot

    Darren Chilcott

    Trustee, Vice Chair of Trustee Board, Governor, and Chair of Chairs Meeting

    An experienced strategic leader with a proven track record in establishing and leading global compliance functions, particularly in the compliance monitoring and testing space. Darren was Global Head of Regulatory Compliance Risk Assurance for HSBC

  • Alison sized

    Alison Grover

    Trustee, Governor, and Vice Chair of Governors

    Having been associated with the school through her daughter Mollie, who now enjoys the Leisure & Skills Centre and The Hub, Alison wanted to give something back to the organisation that provided so much support. Alison's background is in accountancy, Human Resources and Payroll

  • Andrew Hodson head shot

    Andrew Hodson

    Trustee

    Before retiring, Andrew was a Managing Consultant at Old Mutual plc and Finance Director at Bakkavör Group plc. He has a wealth of experience as both a Governor and a Trustee in a local SEN school and college

  • Helen Head Shot

    Helen Britton

    Trustee

    Helen is a retired Consultant in Perioperative Medicine and Consultant Anaesthetist. For 5 years, Helen was a Governor at Hazel Court Special School, Eastbourne. She is a member of the Parent Advisory Committee for Sparks Charity

  • Denise Head Shot

    Denise Garland

    Trustee, and Chair of Finance, Audit & Risk Committee

    Denise is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst. Denise most recently worked at McGill and Partners in the City, a boutique specialist (re)insurance broker. She has now retired from full-time executive life

  • Neil Benett Head Shot

    Neil Bennett

    Trustee, and Chair of Development Committee

    Neil is Chief Executive of H/Advisors Maitland, Europe’s leading financial, corporate and political communications consultancy. Previously, he was City and Business Editor of the Sunday Telegraph and Deputy Business Editor of The Times

  • Charles Kimmins Head Shot

    Charles Kimmins

    Trustee

    Charles is the great grandson of our founder, Dame Grace Kimmins. He specialises in all areas of commercial law. Charles was called to the bar in 1994 and, since then, he has practiced at 20 Essex Street

  • Lucinda Head Shot

    Lucinda Baker

    Trustee

    Lucinda is the great granddaughter of our Founder, Dame Grace Kimmins. As a child, she spent many happy times with the children at Chailey Heritage. Lucinda now works in London but endeavours to keep a close family connection

Our Governors

The Board of Governors is responsible for securing the effective and efficient operation and management of all the Charity’s services.

  • Jenny Clark Head Shot

    Jenny Clark

    Trustee, Governor and Chair of Governors

    Jenny was the Director of Social Care for all services to disabled adults and children across Brighton & Hove. Currently, she works independently as a Chair and Consultant in Fostering and Adoption Services

  • Jenny Turner Head Shot

    Jenny Turner

    Futures’ Parent Governor

    With a background in HR, training management and performance improvement, Jenny managed a home carer team of 8 people supporting her son, Mikey, at home until he became resident at Chailey in 2016. Mikey has now transitioned from school into adult services

  • Alison Head Shot

    Alison Grover

    Trustee, Governor and Vice Chair of Governors

    Having been associated with the school through her daughter Mollie, who now enjoys the Leisure & Skills Centre and The Hub, Alison wanted to give something back to the organisation that provided so much support. Alison's background is in accountancy, Human Resources and Payroll

  • Darren Chilcott Head Shot

    Darren Chilcott

    Trustee, Vice Chair of Trustee Board, Governor, and Chair of Chairs Meeting

    An experienced strategic leader with a proven track record in establishing and leading global compliance functions, particularly in the compliance monitoring and testing space. Darren was Global Head of Regulatory Compliance Risk Assurance for HSBC

  • Lawrence Head Shot

    Lawrence Mudford

    Governor and Chair of People & Culture Committee

    Lawrence has worked within the health care sector, including leadership appointments within Health Education England, and the General Dental Council. He is currently the patient representative for the Centre for Perioperative Care.

  • Deirdre Head Shot

    Deirdre Prower

    Governor, and Chair of Safeguarding & Quality Standards Committee

    Deirdre is a retired Advanced Nurse Practitioner and held a Clinical Lead role with Dementia & Community Services for Brighton & Hove Clinical Commissioning Group. She is the Safeguarding and Whistleblowing Governor for the Foundation

  • julie head shot

    Julie Tilbury

    Teacher Governor

    Julie has a Masters Degree in SPMLD and helped to design the pioneering CHILD curriculum used throughout Chailey Heritage, as well as influencing the way other special schools are providing teaching and learning opportunities

  • Susan head shot

    Susan Duke

    Staff Governor

    Susan’s role as Head of Referrals, Placements and Transitions involves her working across most areas of the Foundation. She is a valued member of the Bank Staff team directly supporting young people on the bungalows, and was elected to join the Governing Board in 2022

  • Christine Head Shot

    Christine Russell-Vick

    Local authority nominated Governor

    Christine worked at CHF for 33 years as a class teacher and member of the Senior Leadership Team, before retiring in 2015. Christine joined the Governing Board in 2025, after offering her time and expertise to East Sussex, as the Local Authority Nominated Governor.

  • Kelly Platt

    Kelly Platt

    Parent Governor

    Kelly held a position as Teaching Assistant at CHS, in St Martins, and then as a support worker in residential services, which is where the idea of becoming a foster carer for a child with SEND, was nurtured. Kelly has been a foster mum to Levi since 2018

  • Julia James Head Shot

    Julia James

    Co-opted Committee Member for Education

    Julia has worked in the field of SEND for 30 years, as is currently an Executive Director at a specialist school MAT, with 14 schools and 9 college centres. With her professional and personal experience of SEND being so relevant we’re delighted Julia is able to join the Education Committee as a Co-opted Committee member.

Governor information
Governor Governor type and date of appointment Committee membership

Jenny Clark
(Chair of Governors)

Trustee-appointed
16.04.2015

Governing Board (Chair)
Social Care (Chair)
Education (Chair)
People & Culture
Safeguarding & Quality Standards

Alison Grover
(Vice Chair of Governors)

Futures Parent Governor
28.02.2017

Trustee-appointed
10.12.2018

Governing Board (Vice Chair)
Social Care
Development

Jenny Turner

01.11.2022
Futures Parent Governor

Governing Board
Social Care
Education

Darren Chilcott

Trustee-appointed 04.04.2022

Governing Board
Social Care
People & Culture

Lawrence Mudford

Trustee-appointed
08.01.2019
Reappointed for 2nd term 07.01.2023

Governing Board
Education
People & Culture (Chair)

Deirdre Prower

Trustee-appointed
13.08.2018
Safeguarding Governor
26.05.2022
Reappointed for 2nd term
12.08.2022

Governing Board
People & Culture
Safeguarding & Quality Standards (Chair)

Julie Tilbury

Elected Teacher Governor
01.09.2021

Governing Board
Safeguarding & Quality Standards

Susan Duke

Elected Staff Governor
04.01.2022

Governing Board
Social Care

Christine Russell-Vick

Local Authority nominated Governor
31.03.2025

Governing Board
Education

Kelly Platt

Parent Governor
04.06.2025

Governing Board
Education