Meet the Board…
Jeremy Morgan
Melissa Wiggins
Belinda Hooke
Adam Brunning
“I left school in the mid seventies and joined a small engineering firm, doing a five year apprenticeship as a toolmaker. After this I moved around within the engineering world, finally ending up in British Telecom as a field engineer in 1986. This is where I stayed for the rest of my working career and during that period I saw huge changes, not only in the business but also across the world; the internet, mobile phones, laptops, emails and so much more. The last twenty four years of my career was spent managing various teams of engineers, with ten years at BT’s innovation centre (Adastral Park).
After retiring in 2024, I found the The Befriending Scheme and I became a volunteer at the Red Rose Community Farm. Here I’m able put to use all my DIY skills, drive the mini bus alongside supporting the members. I am privileged to have two children and four grandchildren who all live locally too.”
“My life’s been quite an adventure, including spending a decade living in South Africa working in the music industry and in event production. I’ve spent the majority of my career helping organisations to connect with their audience and become more trusted by aligning brand, culture, customer experience and communications. I’m proud to have achieved several long-held ambitions, so far including being a Mum to two sons, becoming a therapeutic foster carer and achieving my Masters in Marketing Leadership.
I’m a purpose-driven person who’s strongly motivated to do my bit and make a difference. Having done quite a bit of volunteering in my past, and working with young people with diverse needs in my capacity as foster carer, I was keen to see where I could contribute to a local organisation that’s making a significant difference to service users and their families in our area. I’m inspired by what The Befriending Scheme has achieved so far, and excited at being able to support the amazing opportunities that lie ahead for us as an organisation and our members.”
“I spent over twenty-five years in the corporate world, working my way up to lead digital transformation, IT, and customer experience teams for the UK branch of a multinational organisation. Like many who spent decades in technology, I have seen massive changes in how we connect, communicate, and work over that period.
In 2025, I decided to step away from corporate life to focus on supporting my family through a major life chapter and to pursue new interests. Since then, I’ve returned to education to study for an MSc in Psychology, and started my own initiative helping young people develop creative and critical thinking skills.
Joining the board as a trustee feels like a great opportunity to put my background in strategy, technology, and problem-solving to good use for the local community. Outside of my work and studies, I am always on the hunt for the next idea to bring to life.
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“I bring nearly 20 years of experience in the public sector, primarily within the NHS and now in higher education, having worked across some of the country’s most complex and challenging environments. Throughout my career, I have held a range of roles spanning operational delivery, commissioning, service transformation, and policy development, contributing to improvements in health and wellbeing at both local and national levels. I also hold a Masters degree in Healthcare Leadership, a personal achievement that reflects my commitment in working with others to grow and develop both teams and services.
As a local resident, I have long admired the work of The Befriending Scheme and the positive impact it has within the community and its members. Becoming a trustee is not only a privilege but provides an exciting opportunity to use my skills, knowledge, and experience to support the organisation’s continued growth and help it make an even greater difference to the lives of those it serves.”