Meet The Trustees

Allison Baines

Allison has lived in St Leonards for 25 years. She retired from teaching in 2014 having spent 40 years working in primary schools in Kent and East Sussex.

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She has a particular interest in the educational provision for children with SEND and whilst Headteacher at a local school set up a facility for children with autism. She has been involved with EFT from its earliest beginnings and is proud to be a trustee and is the charity Chair.

Alison Waterhouse

Alison Waterhouse is a self-employed Educational Psychotherapist, SEND and Wellbeing Advisor for schools, Parent Coach, Supervisor of Heads and Mental Health Leads in schools.

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Alison has worked in several schools in Hastings as a SENCo, Inclusion Manager and Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead. She was the founding Head of a Special Therapeutic School in Kent, the Head for an Alternative Progressive School in Lewes, and has also worked abroad, spending two years in Kenya as Head of Special Needs.

Simon Hubbard

Simon Hubbard is currently a carer. As well as being a trustee, he is a volunteer at Hastings Voluntary Action and worked particuarly on the response to COVID. He provides input to the organisation’s policy work and supports the Hastings Community Hub and its development. He is a board member of the Lets do Business group and has recently joined the board of Rother Voluntary Action and will be involved in the development of community hubs there.

Prior to this he served as Director of Operational Services with Hastings Council and shared the responsibility of CEO. His background is regeneration and community development, and prior to Hastings, he worked in inner Birmingham, Lewisham and Greenwich, in a variety of third sector and council roles.

Simon lives in St. Leonards and his children attended local schools and colleges. He served as a governor of Sussex Coast College and its predecessors. He is committed to our town’s future and particularly the need for transformed lives for many families and young people as this is absolutely central to Hastings’ sustainability. He regards EFT as an absolutely central part of the town’s future and its success as one of the most beneficial regeneration projects that the town has seen.

Stephen Manwaring

Steve Manwaring is the Director of Hastings Voluntary Action and has been involved with EFT since its establishment as an educational trust. He holds a legal qualification and was formally Deputy Leader of a Local Authority. Steve was also one of the founder Trustees of the Sussex Community Foundation – a philanthropic organisation which has distributed over 10 million pounds to community groups in Sussex. He specialises in enabling partnership working and serves as the current chair of the East Sussex Strategic Partnership bringing together public sector, voluntary sector and business interests.

Clive Galbraith

Clive Galbraith, who formerly headed Green Insurance Group before retiring, has over 40 years of business experience, with expertise in finance, management, and strategic planning.

Clive has also been Chairman of Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce for 15 years, is a former trustee of XTRAX charity, working with marginalised young people, and is Chairman of Magdalen & Lasher Charity.

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As a Trustee, Clive is particularly interested in securing a sustainable future for the charity.

Geoff Burt

Currently working with the DWP, Geoff has most recently worked in the area as a Business Connector for Business in the Community, developing and supporting links between the business and charitable sectors.

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Formerly a lead tutor in vocationally focussed supportive education with the highly successful Motorvation project, Geoff also has experience in adult and basic skills education.

Hannah Brookshaw

Hannah Brookshaw heads up Engagement and Communications for the One Public Estate programme at the Local Government Association. Born and raised in Hastings, Hannah has extensive local knowledge and experience having worked for Hastings Borough Council for 19 years until January 2022. During that time Hannah worked in the regeneration, community development and tourism marketing teams, leading a range of projects and programmes over the years alongside local, regional and national organisations, including Education Futures Trust.

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Hannah served as a school governor for 10 years, chairing both the New Horizons and Hollington Primary Academy boards, giving her extensive experience and understanding of school operations, as well as the challenges and issues faced by families in Hastings.

Alex Reed

Alex Reed is Assistant Principal at Robsack Wood Primary Academy and has been a teacher in the local community for 15 years. Alex also works voluntarily as a guide leader, providing opportunities for girls aged 10-15 outside of school.

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Organised and motivated, Alex has worked with a range of people within her role in a school and is looking forward to making links with the local community while working with a charity that supports young people in the area.

James Hopkins

James lives in East Sussex with his wife Lynne, who works with the NHS, and his three daughters.

He has previously held positions on the boards of various voluntary organisations; The East Sussex Deaf Children’s Society - Treasurer, Eastbourne Football Club, and is currently Head of Girls and Women's Football at Hastings United FC. 

With three daughters, James is passionate about opening pathways for girls and all children, to play sport and to experience the lifelong wellbeing that a physically active lifestyle can create. 

James' role will be to open EFT up to the business and commercial community in order to create a long term growth strategy for the Charity.