Menu

Our Trustees

Our Trustees are vital supporters of our programme. They use their skills and experience to help us make good decisions and achieve our goals. 

Would you like to make a positive difference to adults with learning disabilities and autism? Join our Board!

We are recruiting for a new Chair to replace our current Chair who is retiring, and also another Trustee to further strengthen our existing board and diversify their experience and approach.  If you are interested please scroll to the bottom to read the full details and find out how to apply.  Closing date Midnight February 9th 2026.

 

Chair of Trustees Roz has a background in agricultural economics and began her professional career as a fellow of the Overseas Development Institute in Belize, Central America. She was a lecturer in the Department of Agriculture and Food Marketing, Newcastle University and more recently in the School of Agriculture and Policy Development, University of Reading. She worked for LMC International as a consultant and Director of Sugar and Sweeteners Research, and has also worked with the pharmaceutical sector as a consultant. She ran “Charity Mentors”, an Oxfordshire-based charity offering free-of-charge mentoring to charity leaders in Oxfordshire for 8 years and is now a member of the Step Change Oxfordshire funding panel.

Roz Warren

Chair of Trustees

Roz has a background in agricultural economics and began her professional career as a fellow of the Overseas Development Institute in Belize, Central America. She was a lecturer in the Department of Agriculture and Food Marketing, Newcastle University and more recently in the School of Agriculture and Policy Development, University of Reading. She worked for LMC International as a consultant and Director of Sugar and Sweeteners Research, and has also worked with the pharmaceutical sector as a consultant. She ran “Charity Mentors”, an Oxfordshire-based charity offering free-of-charge mentoring to charity leaders in Oxfordshire for 8 years and is now a member of the Step Change Oxfordshire funding panel.
Judith grew up on a small holding in rural Devon. A walk in the garden and woodland planted by her parents from the 1960s remains a pleasure. Although she has not inherited her parents’ green fingers, Judith does enjoy helping on the land and tends a much smaller garden at home. Having graduated from Oxford in 1982, Judith is a clinical psychologist with over 37 years experience working within health, social care and special educational settings starting in the East End then moving to Greenwich and onto Oxfordshire where she has lived and worked for the past 27 years. Her clinical work has been mainly with adults and children with learning disabilities. Her research and service development interests have focussed on Intensive Interaction. Judith has had a long-standing involvement with the Oxford Doctoral Course in Clinical Psychology. She became Head of Psychology Services for Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust (Ridgeway Partnership) in 2008. On retirement in 2016, she resumed clinical work part time. Judith has had two stints, twenty years apart, as the national chair of a committee for the British Psychological Society and is a mentor for the BPS. She was chair of the year-long Edward the Confessor Millennium Festival in Islip in 2005. For several years Judith was chaperone coordinator and safeguarding lead for Musical Youth Company of Oxford. Since 2000 she has been a volunteer in the Islip community shop. It is a joy to support the opportunities for personal development and fulfillment that FarmAbility offers its co-farmers.

Judith Samuel

Judith grew up on a small holding in rural Devon. A walk in the garden and woodland planted by her parents from the 1960s remains a pleasure. Although she has not inherited her parents’ green fingers, Judith does enjoy helping on the land and tends a much smaller garden at home. Having graduated from Oxford in 1982, Judith is a clinical psychologist with over 37 years experience working within health, social care and special educational settings starting in the East End then moving to Greenwich and onto Oxfordshire where she has lived and worked for the past 27 years. Her clinical work has been mainly with adults and children with learning disabilities. Her research and service development interests have focussed on Intensive Interaction. Judith has had a long-standing involvement with the Oxford Doctoral Course in Clinical Psychology. She became Head of Psychology Services for Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust (Ridgeway Partnership) in 2008. On retirement in 2016, she resumed clinical work part time. Judith has had two stints, twenty years apart, as the national chair of a committee for the British Psychological Society and is a mentor for the BPS. She was chair of the year-long Edward the Confessor Millennium Festival in Islip in 2005. For several years Judith was chaperone coordinator and safeguarding lead for Musical Youth Company of Oxford. Since 2000 she has been a volunteer in the Islip community shop.
It is a joy to support the opportunities for personal development and fulfillment that FarmAbility offers its co-farmers.
Lawrie has recently retired after a variety of roles in education. He began as a subject teacher in three comprehensive schools, moved into the commercial sector in several management positions, and latterly became Director of an International College in Oxford. Career breaks have provided some of his outstanding memories: VSO at a university in Qena, Upper Egypt; Education Officer at Avebury Stone Circle; teacher/manager at the British Council in Caracas, Venezuela; and teacher at a residential school in Wiltshire for children with specific learning difficulties. Since August 2021, Lawrie has enjoyed volunteering with FarmAbility once a week, first at Blenheim and presently at Willowbrook Farm. Inspired by the experience, he created his first raised-bed garden at home this year – but says he's still got plenty to learn!

Lawrie Coupland

Lawrie has recently retired after a variety of roles in education. He began as a subject teacher in three comprehensive schools, moved into the commercial sector in several management positions, and latterly became Director of an International College in Oxford. Career breaks have provided some of his outstanding memories: VSO at a university in Qena, Upper Egypt; Education Officer at Avebury Stone Circle; teacher/manager at the British Council in Caracas, Venezuela; and teacher at a residential school in Wiltshire for children with specific learning difficulties. Since August 2021, Lawrie has enjoyed volunteering with FarmAbility once a week, first at Blenheim and presently at Willowbrook Farm. Inspired by the experience, he created his first raised-bed garden at home this year – but says he’s still got plenty to learn!
Following a series of campaigning and project management roles in the charity sector (in disability and health organisations), Hannah now works in Public Health at Oxfordshire County Council. She is excited to be involved with FarmAbility, as she has a brother living with Down's Syndrome and autism, and has seen first hand the benefits of a varied and active lifestyle for him. Hannah has a degree in International Development and enjoys travel. She lives in West Oxfordshire, and loves enjoying the beauty of the local area by walking and cycling in her spare time.

Hannah Kempsell

Following a series of campaigning and project management roles in the charity sector (in disability and health organisations), Hannah now works in Public Health at Oxfordshire County Council. She is excited to be involved with FarmAbility, as she has a brother living with Down’s Syndrome and autism, and has seen first hand the benefits of a varied and active lifestyle for him. Hannah has a degree in International Development and enjoys travel. She lives in West Oxfordshire, and loves enjoying the beauty of the local area by walking and cycling in her spare time.
Neil Sleight

Neil Sleight

Mark has worked with a range of charities through his career with a focus on volunteering, community involvement and participation. He is currently head of volunteering with RABI – a charity providing practical, financial and mental health support for farming people across England and Wales. Mark has previously worked with the National Trust, Ramblers and VSO – in roles that support his passion for the outdoors and creating opportunities to benefit people of all abilities. Mark lives in Witney – not far from Cogges Farm where he was a previous Trustee. He can often be found either walking or running around Witney or pottering down the local allotment. Mark joined the board in March 2024 and is looking forward to working with the team to help FarmAbility continue to grow and enable more people to benefit from our work.

Mark Crosby

Mark has worked with a range of charities through his career with a focus on volunteering, community involvement and participation. He is currently head of volunteering with RABI – a charity providing practical, financial and mental health support for farming people across England and Wales. Mark has previously worked with the National Trust, Ramblers and VSO – in roles that support his passion for the outdoors and creating opportunities to benefit people of all abilities. Mark lives in Witney – not far from Cogges Farm where he was a previous Trustee. He can often be found either walking or running around Witney or pottering down the local allotment. Mark joined the board in March 2024 and is looking forward to working with the team to help FarmAbility continue to grow and enable more people to benefit from our work.
Helen had a 15-year career working for several charities in various fundraising and supporter relations roles, seeing first-hand the difference charities can make and the challenges they face. Always interested in the numbers, budgeting and finance side of things, Helen retrained as an accountant and has worked for a range of different organisations in accountancy since 2013. Helen has lived in north Oxfordshire for over twenty years. She first came across FarmAbility when working for Oxfordshire Community Foundation and was delighted to be invited to join the board of trustees as Treasurer in 2024. Helen is looking forward to supporting FarmAbility to grow and expand its outreach on a firm financial footing.

Helen Saunders

Helen had a 15-year career working for several charities in various fundraising and supporter relations roles, seeing first-hand the difference charities can make and the challenges they face. Always interested in the numbers, budgeting and finance side of things, Helen retrained as an accountant and has worked for a range of different organisations in accountancy since 2013. Helen has lived in north Oxfordshire for over twenty years. She first came across FarmAbility when working for Oxfordshire Community Foundation and was delighted to be invited to join the board of trustees as Treasurer in 2024. Helen is looking forward to supporting FarmAbility to grow and expand its outreach on a firm financial footing.

Trustee to the Board

and Chair of the Board (voluntary roles)

Could you help shape the future of an established, values-led charity? We are recruiting for a Chair of Trustees (to replace our current Chair who is nearing end of term) and an additional trustee to support and strengthen the Board.

As we look to the next phase of our development, we are recruiting for two voluntary roles:

Chair of Trustees

An experienced leader to:

  • Lead our Board and ensure strong governance
  • Provide oversight, challenge and support to our CEO
  • Help shape and steward our long-term strategy
  • Act as an ambassador for FarmAbility and our mission

Time commitment: approx. 3–4 days per month

Trustee

Strategic, values-driven individual to:

  • Contribute to strategy and oversight
  • Ensure the charity remains financially sustainable and well governed
  • Bring skills, insight and constructive challenge to Board discussions
  • Take a lead oversight role in an agreed area (with support)

Time commitment: approx. 2 days per month

We would prefer someone with previous trustee experience, but direct experience of learning disabilities or autism is not essential. What matters most is strategic thinking, good judgement, ability to facilitate and take reasoned decisions and a genuine commitment to inclusion, dignity and opportunity.

Both roles are unpaid, with reasonable expenses reimbursed.

📩 How to apply: Please contact our Chair, roz@farmability.org.uk, for a recruitment pack. This will give you more details about the roles and about FarmAbility.

📅 Closing date: Midnight, 9 February 2026. Interviews are scheduled to take place the following week. We would like to arrange a short visit to one of our sites to meet our co-farmers and staff, plus the opportunity to talk to another board member, before an interview takes place.

If you’re interested—or know someone who might be—please get in touch or share this post within your network.