Mike Barrett
Chief executive
Mike has worked in housing and social care for more than 30 years within local authorities, a national supported housing association and the charity sector.
Our people
Our work wouldn’t be possible without our staff and volunteers
Our staff and volunteers are our biggest asset. They put our core values into action, working across Kent to change people's lives for the better.
Current vacancies
Find out about all the latest job opportunities at Porchlight. We have a range of available roles across Kent. Find out what we have on offer.
Last year, our volunteers gave more than 5,000 hours of support
More than 8,300 people were supported by Porchlight and our partners
We offered staff and volunteers more than 100 different training opportunities
Our leadership team
Catherine Keen
Finance director
Catherine has more than 20 years' experience of working with charity accounts. Within Porchlight she oversees the finance function, IT and compliance.
Sarah Dennis
HR director
Sarah joined Porchlight in 2015. She oversees the HR and volunteering function within the charity.
Julia Hargreaves
Director of services
Julia has a background at senior level in the voluntary sector, providing services for a wide range of vulnerable groups and disadvantaged communities.
Jo Dawes
Director of fundraising and communications
Jo joined Porchlight in 2014. She's previously worked for national charities including Crisis, Scope and Action Medical Research.
Adam Colthorpe
Director of development and innovation
Adam has a background in strategic planning and service development in the private and charity sector, working with health inequalities including mental health, men's health, suicide prevention, domestic abuse, and brain injuries.
Our trustees
Hilary Edridge, Lady Melville
Chair
Hilary joined the charity in 2015. She is Head of Strategic Relationships at the University of Kent and currently leads an ambitious £30M campaign for the new Kent and Medway Medical School.
Dr Nick Ward
Nick has been a GP in East Kent for 30 years. He has experience in the way that physical health, mental health and homelessness are often interlinked.
Tom Evans
Tom is a solicitor with a Kent-based law firm. He has experience advising on residential and commercial property matters.
Stephanie Goad
Stephanie has 15 years experience at board level within the public sector. She currently works at MHS Homes as operations director.
Jenny Robson
Jenny has a long career history as a practitioner, leader and academic in children and family services. She currently works at the University of East London.
Patrick Fuller
Patrick is a digital communications consultant who has worked in specialist media for 25 years. He cut his teeth as a journalist in Kent.
Sue Baker OBE
Sue has worked to de-stigmatise mental health for almost 25 years. This work has taken place in the UK, New Zealand and now happens globally. Sue set up the Time to Change campaign in England which has changed public attitudes to mental health and led to a reduction in discrimination.
David Leah
David is a chartered management accountant. His early career was with BT before taking up the role of finance director at Thanet College. He has 31 years’ experience of working in senior positions within further and higher education and is currently chief financial officer at Canterbury Christ Church University.
Tim Child
Tim has been involved with homelessness charities for 26 years. This includes a being a long-term volunteer and trustee at Crisis and also Deptford Reach, a homelessness centre in South London, where he spent 10 years as Chair of the Trustees. A former Royal Marine, Tim has spent most of his career in the oil and commodity business.
We’re looking for people to join our board of trustees and make a real difference to the lives of homeless and vulnerable people. If you’re driven, enthusiastic and believe in coming up with creative new ways to help others, we want to hear from you.
