Penny

Trustee (UK)

Penny has been involved in fundraising for Biojemmss, since the early days of the Biojemmss home.

She has a background in church leadership, and has worked with children and young people in churches for over four decades, including a stint as a parent governor at her children's school. For nearly 30 years she has worked in local councils, in services for adults and children, also in housing and homelessness. She supported an older people's group to establish an advocacy scheme (Older Citizens Advocacy York) and helped them to successfully bid for £180,000 of Big Lottery funds.

Penny is currently a trustee of a York homeless charity (Restore) and a parenting facilitator at Family Matters York. She also served for 7 years as a grant-maker with a York based charity. Penny uses this experience and insight in her work with Biojemmss. She also encourages others to contribute ideas and host fundraising events.

Penny has recently retired after nearly 9 years working as a Local Area Coordinator for City of York Council. This brought her into regular contact with people facing life's challenges, and she enjoyed supporting people to develop their strengths and to find community-based solutions.

Penny attends York Elim Church. Her hobby is trawling through charity shops in search of hidden treasures! Also going on country walks with her husband, dog and grandchildren.

“I love the way Biojemmss treats its young people with such respect and dignity. It seeks to be a model of good practice, which others can follow.”