Help for Heroes Offices - Downton

Jonathan Ballin BA FCA, Chief Financial Officer. A Chartered Accountant who trained with PWC and then spent 22 years in a variety of senior finance positions with Aviva before joining H4H . He is responsible for Finance (including Charity governance & reporting and managing the risk management programme), IT and HR.

Nellie Chamberlin - PA to CFO. Having joined H4H to help out in the busy executive office for a couple of weeks I was hooked and apparently having a stunt woman in the teams' midst wasn't too off-putting! So when I am not jumping off buildings and being set on fire, I get stuck in to do what I can to make the office run more smoothly at H4H. The team are truly inspiring and dedicated in their work to support our Heroes - nothing is left undone, nothing is done without total commitment and to the best of their ability. They set the bar high.

Linda Walton, Project Accountant. I joined the fantastic team at Help for Heroes in June 2010 and have never regretted a day since. As Project Accountant, I wear many hats which means my days are full with really exciting and varied tasks. Areas of responsibility include Grants, our Quick Reaction Fund where we get funds out in 72 hours to those in need, legacies, fraud and IP and commercial revenue. Previously, I worked as an accountant at QinetiQ on MoD projects. I have many friends connected to the Armed Forces and I am extremely fortunate to be able to ‘do my bit’ for H4H.

Heather Oakland, Grants and Legacy Assistant. I have worked at H4H for 7 months now, having moved 400 miles from Glasgow to be with my wonderful husband, an officer in the Royal Military Police. I am qualified as an Exercise Physiologist and worked in clinical healthcare for many years before finding my passion here at H4H, a complete change of career, but the best decision I could have made! I am more than aware of the challenges faced by military families and have personal experience of the ultimate sacrifice that our heroes’ make, which is why being part of the team here at H4H, is so meaningful and special to me.

Jess Baker, PR & Communications Manager. I joined the team at Help for Heroes, returning to the countryside after four years working at a PR Agency in the Big Smoke. Having grown up in a forces background (with many friends, family and my partner still serving – I was even in the Army Cadets for 2 years!) and having been a passionate supporter of H4H since it started, I feel extremely lucky to have been given the opportunity to work full time for this wonderful charity and love every second of it!

Rosie Trousdell, Digital Communications: I started at Help for Heroes in September 2009 as the PR/Media assistant and now look after the digital side of things. If someone had said to me before I began that within 1 ½ years, I would have done 2 Big Battlefield Bike Rides and run the 2011 London Marathon I would have thought they were mad but that’s what H4H does to you! I come from a very military background and feel hugely proud to be working for this amazing charity and meeting some of the incredibly inspirational people that we help.

Annabel Bowman - PR & Communications Assistant: I joined Help for Heroes after working as an Account Executive and it has been so fantastic to be able to put my skills into something so worthwhile. Working at H4H is an absolute privilege, from the weird and wonderful events our supporters take part in, to watching the recovery of our wounded Servicemen and women, I have met so many inspiring individuals. Coming from a completely un-military background I think I am the perfect example of how H4H has engaged the great British public to get passionate about supporting our wounded.

Lizzie James, Head of Corporate Relationships. In 2010 I packed my bags and left London where I had spent many years working in marketing both in brand and account management, to start a new life living with my boyfriend who is a Pilot in the Navy and working at Help for Heroes heading up the Corporate department. I am so proud to be part of the team at Help for Heroes, they are a fantastic group of people who all want to do their bit to support our blokes. Within Corporate Relations we have the pleasure of meeting and working with such a diverse range of businesses, all of whom never cease to amaze me with their generosity and innovative ways of getting involved; they certainly ensure that no two days are the same.

Fiona Richards, Corporate Campaign Manager. Having trained as an archaeologist and spent many years messing around in the dirt in the Middle East and obtaining a PhD on Egyptian scarabs, I have spent the last eight years in publishing and conferences. However, having been an army wife since 1992 (married to a Worcester & Sherwood Forester), I have experienced first hand the highs and lows of army life and the sacrifices that are made. It is therefore a great privilege to be part of such an amazing organisation. I have been brought on board to manage corporate campaigns which in 2011 will focus on Tesco activity and despite me being Australian, the lovely corporate team have been most welcoming!

Sophie Parry, Corporate Relations. I have been closely involved with Help for Heroes since its origins in October 2007 and have some very strong family connections to this amazing cause! Having a brother in the army and seeing and hearing first hand a number of incredibly moving and inspiring stories has meant an overwhelming urge to join the charity and do 'my bit'. I have now left the bright lights of city living, got married and moved to Wiltshire in order to be here at Help for Heroes and have not looked back since. Having joined the team full time in July I could not be happier or prouder to be part of the team at H4H, despite the forthcoming Barcelona Marathon!!

Alana Warwick, Corporate Licensing Coordinator. For 6 years I worked in London within the corporate communications industry. After marrying my husband in 2009, who is an officer serving with the King’s Royal Hussars, I left my city life and career to move to Germany where my husband was posted. When we returned to the UK in May 2010, I jumped at the opportunity to work for Help for Heroes. I am honoured to be part of the H4H team and being able to help such a worthwhile cause.

Laura Hicks – Corporate Relations. After graduating from Bournemouth Uni in November and running a few fundraising events for H4H I managed to land a position as part of the wonderful Corporate team in Downton. No forces background for me, but a likely future involvement with my best friend currently training at Sandhurst and my other half beginning the steps towards the RAF. It’s extremely comforting to be in an office full of people as nutty as myself, and so enthusiastic about helping such an amazing cause. Being a part of the H4H team is a very humbling experience and I love that no day is ever the same!

Helen Loynes; Corporate Relations - North.I found out the fantastic news that I would be joining the wonderful world of Help for Heroes only a few days before I married my husband a soldier in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers in June 2011. After graduating from University I spent 6 years working in Theatre, Events and Television as a Project Manager before a career change working with businesses in recruitment. Help for Heroes is an amazing charity and after months of looking on the website I was lucky enough to find an opportunity within the corporate team. I feel extremely proud to be part of Help for Heroes and it is a great honour to be representing the charity with businesses in the North.

Jennifer Potter, Corporate Assistant. I joined the Corporate Team in July 2011. I graduated from Aberystwyth university & made the big move from Essex to Salisbury to start my new job at H4H. I have a little forces background; my Father served in the REME for a few years when I was younger but no direct forces involvement after that. I've always been astounded by the work that H4H does & love hearing about the amazing events & challenges that our supporters arrange out of pure passion for such a fantastic cause. I feel very lucky indeed to be a part of such a great team & love every minute!

Shaun Pickford - Head of Events & Challenges I spent 24 years in the Household Cavalry Regiment (RHG/D) followed by 2 years in the Defence Aviation industry before joining Help for Heroes in March 2010. I am married to Justine with three children and a bad tempered cat, I either play very bad golf at weekends or go fishing in a bid to cheer the cat up. I passionately believe in what Help for Heroes are working towards and have seen first hand the amazing difference to service personnels' lives that harnessing all of your support is achieving. I feel very privileged to be given the opportunity to join such a dedicated team, both here in Tidworth and Downton and throughout the country.

Joanna Smith - Challenges Manager I joined the H4H Challenges team in March 2011 when I made the move from London into the charity sector and married life in the county! Before joining the world of H4H, I spent six years planning and managing overseas trekking expeditions for school groups. Always up for a bit of adventure, it's been brilliant to be a part of the H4H Challenges team, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to join a unique H4H challenge; whether that be a walk in the UK, a trek up Kilimanjaro, an adventurous bike ride or something a little bit different (in a distinctly H4H way!). It's a real privilege to work here and to be a part of such a passionate, committed team who are doing so much to help our 'blokes' - none of which would have been possible without our fundraisers incredible support and generosity!

Katy Voce - Challenges Co-Ordinator I have lived in Salisbury for almost my whole life so to be given the opportunity to work for such a great cause so close to home was one not to be missed. As a civvy through and through Help for Heroes has been a real eye opener to life in the services not only for the men and women who sign up but for their families too. Being part of the Challenges Team is fantastic and I am always touched at how determined people are to raise the funds that the charity needs, knowing that your job helps to make a difference is a great feeling too.

Candice Bryant - Challenges Coordinator I've lived and worked in Andover for most of my life, and having tried my hand at a variety of different jobs, ranging from insurance to pizza delivery, I joined the Challenges team in March 2010 and have never looked back! After joining the team in Tidworth and then moving to Downton, it's been incredible to see the Charity grow and I'm so proud to work for such a fantastic organisation! The huge range of challenges we look after means every day is different, and I'm constantly amazed to see and hear about our fundraisers' amazing efforts and their dedication to supporting Help for Heroes.

Annabel Venn - Challenges Co-ordinator I was born locally, but being an Army brat have moved house a total of 16 times. I have finally come ‘home’ to Salisbury after a variety of jobs including being a cowgirl on a farm in the Australian outback! Having spent 3 years in the Wales University Royal Naval Unit, and studying military family welfare as part of my university degree, I can really the appreciate the hard work and commitment of all our service personnel. I feel so honoured to be a part of the charity!

Jacks Howe - Marathons Coordinator Being a mad triathlete and endurance runner when the opportunity came up to work at H4H on the Running Team, I just jumped at the chance. Since I started here in August I have had the opportunity to meet some inspirational people and hear wonderful stories from both our heroes and our fundraisers. What has been achieved by Help for Heroes is phenomenal and I am so very proud to be a part of it. There is never a dull moment here at H4H and my lovely team are just amazing!!

Stewart Perry - Running Administrator After graduating from university, I made my way back down south to be a part of the team at Help for Heroes in October 2011. I love my sport, fitness and protein shakes - so it's only right that I am part of the Running Team (practicing what I preach I like to think!). I am immensely proud to be a part of something that I so passionately believe in and I feel very lucky to working such an amazing team. It's been a real eye opener to see first-hand the incredible work Help for Heroes does to make sure that our injured, wounded and sick Servicemen and Women get the very best. Being able to attend some of the big running events and support our runners across the finish line is just one of the little perks of the job!

Claire McHenry - Events Team Manager I'm originally from Derbyshire and after leaving college I moved 'down south' to work in the hotel industry. I eventually moved to Hampshire where I live with my husband Ian and my son Kieron. I have worked at Help for Heroes on the Events Team now since early 2010 and have loved every minute of it. The people that fundraise for H4H never cease to amaze me with the dedication and hard work they put in, they really are incredible. It has also been great to see the work that the charity does first hand and to see all the positive feedback.

Emma Tory - Events Coordinator After gaining an education and spending a few years travelling the world, riding race horses and working in the soulless world of recruitment fate definitely intervened and I found myself on the events team here at H4H! I feel so lucky to have been given the opportunity to work within such a positive team and although it was meant to initially be temporary I was hooked from day one..... No day is ever the same and I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with some truly inspirational people and their families- it really can put everything into perspective. Here on the events side I am continuously amazed by the range of events and support that H4H receives from so many; it all makes a difference and the support can be quite overwhelming..

Stephanie Shearing - Events Coordinator I'm a Salisbury girl to the very core after living here for all my life (except for the brief university stint) so seeing the Servicemen and women has been a part of my life, making H4H a charity close to my heart. This is my first full time job out in the real world after just leaving the University of Brighton, where I studied International Event Management. I'm very thankful to be one of the very lucky few graduates to go straight into a great job that is within the sector that they love.

Richard Bowden - Events Administrator Having come from an Armed Forces family I have moved from Cardiff to Cornwall, finally settling down in Wiltshire. After years of working your standard 9-5 jobs I jumped at the opportunity to work at Help for Heroes, to see first-hand the difference the charity has made to those who need it, from the visit to Headley Court to the opening of Tedworth house it is a testament to the general public who give so generously to make it all happen & to be just a small part of that is amazing. The positive attitude here something special & the office banter isn't too bad either!

Michael Pembroke - Events Administrator I moved down to Salisbury from Reading about 2 years ago after completing a ski season in St Anton, Austria. I have worked various roles and most recently joined Southampton FC's coaching team, that I continue to be involved in. I joined H4H as a temp in December and worked extremely hard to fix myself a permanent role because of the fantastic work they do for the wounded! It is fantastic to work with the general public, and really appreciate the efforts they all put in. I am extremely excited for my future at Help for Heroes!

Alice Couzens - Events Administrator After finishing at Exeter University I spent a year trying to scrape some money together before realising that Events was something that I wanted to get involved with. Following a climb of Kilimanjaro in August 2011 in aid of Help for Heroes, I jumped at the chance to work as part of the team and made the move from Buckinghamshire to Salisbury. I have a little forces background as my fiancé is currently serving with 42 Commando Royal Marines and I feel very lucky to work here and be able to give something back.

Annabel Pettitt - Communications Officer Events and Challenges I come from a military background and as an army daughter, and subsequently an army wife, Help for Heroes has a special resonance with me. I moved from North Yorkshire to London, after university, where I have worked in marketing communications for Sotheby's, the private sector and more recently for the public sector doing campaigns for the Dept. for Work and Pensions. I moved to Wiltshire with my husband about 5 years ago and have two young children Harry and Alice. I am delighted to be working as part of the Challenges and Events Team for an organisation that has achieved so much in such a short space of time and is such an inspiration to so many.

Alison Richmond, Band of Sisters Manager. I have been an ‘Army wife’ since 1992 and have followed the flag for almost 19 years and 13 houses. I have 2 teenage girls (help!), 1 dog, 1 cat and 3 chickens. My husband was seriously wounded in Afghanistan in June 2008. I have seen first-hand what a fantastic charity Help for Heroes is and the physical and emotional ups and downs the whole family experiences during a long recovery and rehabilitation. When we moved west from Canterbury I started volunteering for H4H and loved it. I am now incredibly lucky to be heading the Band of Sisters and coming into contact with and helping the amazing families that support our wounded.

Olivia Metcalfe, Band of Brothers. Having trained as an actress in Cardiff, I then lived and worked in London for 2 ½ years doing a huge variety of different jobs including a lot of Acting, PA, Office and Events management, and even sold my soul to a juice bar for a while (to name a few!). I have been sucked in to the weird and wonderful world of Help for Heroes and I love every minute of it! Being from an army background and moving to and fro for many years, I have a good understanding of the incredible dedication and hard work of all the forces men and women, I feel very lucky to be part of the team!

Andy Strudwick, IT Support Technician. I studied Software Engineering Management at Bournemouth University and then went travelling where I discovered my passion for surfing! After getting back to the real world I worked on number of MOD contracts supporting a broad range of Land/Air personal and heard a lot of stories of what it’s like on the field and gained great admiration for the work they do. So when an opportunity arose to work at Help for Heroes I jumped at the chance to work for a great charity and give something back.

Clare Johnston, Executive Officer to External Operations. I often wonder what possessed me to join this mad house that they call H4H! I have had a very colourful past with a variety of jobs from Air-hostessing for BA, PA with a Life & Pensions company, volunteering as a Special Constable for Wiltshire Constabulary, and working as an Office Manager for an Events & Promotions Company in Dublin (to name but a few). I have seen a little bit of the world and decided my calling was to work for a charity.

Claire Salisbury, Purchasing Coordinator: I have been working for Bryn and Emma for 12 years in Bryn Parry Studios, so was here at the very start of Help for Heroes. Life has changed so much since Help for Heroes has been around, it's a great privilege and honour to work for such a fantastic cause, and feel that every day at work is so worthwhile. I now work for Help for Heroes Trading, my team is here to help everyone who orders through the online shop, or is doing events and wants promotional items to help with events happening all around the world. We are a very friendly team and do our best to help you with any queries you may have.

Gemma Knight, Coordinator Customer Advisor: I started working for Help for Heroes in September 2009 and I love every minute of it. I have lived in Salisbury all my life and my partner served in the Army for 22 years so this charity is very close to my heart. My satisfaction comes from knowing that I have contributed to improving the quality of life of a serviceman or woman who has been injured. I am very proud of the charity and what we are achieving as a team.

Clare Hawker, Customer Service Clerk. I joined the Customer Service team in August 2010 after graduating from Cardiff University and moving back home to Salisbury. I’d been involved in several charitable roles previously, including event fundraising for Barnardos and as a project co-ordinator for Student Volunteering Cardiff, so I knew I wanted to work for a charity. I wasn’t expecting to find my ideal first job right on my doorstep though! I’ve made some great friends here and feel really lucky to work for such an amazing charity. Now I’ve just got to choose which challenge to sign up to…

Mikayla Howard, Customer Service Clerk. I started at H4H back in April 2008, I was working in the warehouse (when there was just 3 of us!) on a temporary basis until I went back to uni. I fell pregnant and after the birth of my beautiful son on Valentine’s day 2009 I emigrated to the customer services team! I now work part time and juggle uni and motherhood. I enjoy every minute of it and love the challenge. Seeing how far H4H has grown is testament to the hard work and dedication shown by all the staff and supporters over the years. In October last year, I trekked across the Sahara desert to do ‘my bit’. It really is a fantastic charity and i am very proud to be a part of it – even if it involves walking across deserts! Go team H4H!

Fran West, Customer Service Clerk. I started working for Help for Heroes in May 2008. Firstly I worked in the warehouse, when there were just 3 of us packing, and then moved to customer services where I was on my own for a short while. In the 3 years I have worked here, I have witnessed many changes and more importantly, watched this remarkable charity expand to what it is today. This year, I shall be doing “my bit” for Help for Heroes by doing a sky dive with the Red Devils. I work with an amazing team of people; each day is a pleasure knowing my job helps make a difference to those incredible service men & women.