
Meet the trustees!
Jun 3, 2024
2 min read
Today marks the start of National Volunteering week in the UK.
It seems like a very good time to introduce you to our Trustees, and to thank them for volunteering their time to support our charity.
Volunteering comes in many forms and over the last 18 years The Free Town Trust has benefited in many ways from the support we have received from volunteers.
Nicola Sawyer

Hello! I am Nicola and am very pleased to join the Free Town Trust as a Trustee. For a number of years I have followed the fantastic support that has been given to young women and girls in Sri Lanka from Sarah and Ian. The inspirational efforts from all involved and the individual successes in improving lives make it a privilege to be part of the Trust.
With many years of experience in social care and health and particular, safeguarding, I am hoping to bring a critical friend approach to the Board.
Ian Parry

Ian is a governance and scrutiny specialist working for a UK national social purpose consultancy as Director of Governance Services. He is also a trustee-director of a charity providing opportunities for young adults with additional needs, to learn employable skills in a range of vocations. His interests also include serving as a trustee-board member of a nationally acclaimed theatre.
In his earlier business career, Ian founded and operated for a marketing and communications business, which he run for over 15 years, specialising in oil and gas, manufacturing and renewables sectors.
He has degrees in business and marketing and an MBA from OUBS.
Dickie James MBE

We are delighted to welcome Dickie to our board, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and experience of the voluntary, charity and community sector.
Dickie is a former CEO of Staffordshire Women’s Aid and now works nationally and internationally as a consultant to third sector and government organisations, advising on governance, violence against women and girls and feminist leadership.
Ed Parry

Hi, I’m Ed and I’m delighted to join the Free Town Trust as a trustee and lend my support to this incredible charity. As a longtime STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) ambassador, I've seen firsthand the power that opportunity, trust, and someone to believe in you can bring to young people, and I believe this to be true around the world.
My professional background as a software engineer and product manager has taught me the importance of clear communication and connecting with audiences in meaningful ways. I look forward to applying these skills to help the Free Town Trust achieve its ambition, providing access to education and opportunity for as many young people as possible.