Our Story
Our Team
Platform for Life are consistent and deliver what they say they will, they do not give up. The staff are very kind and keep confidentiality. This is very important to our young people.
We’re a small but effective team of people, 80% of whom are involved in client service delivery. They include a mix of counsellors, and art and play therapists, all qualified to degree level or a minimum of a Level 4 Diploma in therapeutic counselling, with experience of working successfully with clients with multiple challenges.
Most of our therapy team is employed by Platform for Life, with a small number working on a sessional (freelance) basis. Some therapists specialise in working with specific age groups and some work across all age groups. With many of our clients having suffered significant traumas, various forms of abuse and other adversities, we believe it’s crucial our therapy team has the appropriate level of qualifications, continuing professional development and experience to work with this level of complexity.
We also have a Client Coordinator/Volunteer Manager who manages client referrals and volunteer activity. They are the main point of contact for clients when they first access our services, and for our amazing volunteer team who support the charity in many ways. We also have a Family Support Worker, who works with clients on a one-to-one basis, helping them access support to address practical needs and, where necessary, acting as an advocate on their behalf. They also facilitate warm introductions for clients who sometimes lack the confidence to contact local agencies independently.
We also have an Office manager and Operations manager who work with our CEO to ensure the smooth running of the charity.
Our CEO
Philippa Davies
Philippa Davies joined us as CEO in May 2024, and has brought a wealth of experience to the role. Philippa has almost 30 years' experience supporting young people and adults in academic education across further and higher education, as a postgraduate biologist, and in the third sector, developing and delivering personal development and employability programmes to individuals facing considerable personal challenges, in the UK and Ireland. She has worked for organisations including Prince’s Trust, Business in the Community, National Learning Network (Ireland) and First Employment Services (Ireland). In addition, following her own personal experiences, she founded and led a pregnancy and baby loss charity, Our Sam, to support bereaved parents, families and professionals in this difficult area. Alongside Our Sam, Philippa worked as Funding Manager for The Neumark Charitable Foundation, developing and managing the grant giving for the foundation, based in North Wales.
I'm really passionate about the work carried out here at Platform for Life. As a result of both professional and personal experiences, I’ve gained a significant understanding of the many mental health challenges that can be faced throughout both childhood and adulthood. I am keen to build on the achievements of the charity so far, grow the support provision to enable more people across the Chester area to access our vital services, and to reduce the impact of poor mental health on the lives of families in our region.
Philippa Davies
Our Patron and Trustees
David Briggs
David Briggs was Managing Director of Dawsons Music from 1979 until when he sold the business in 2018. He was Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire from 2010 to 2021, acting as Queen Elizabeth II’s representative in the County. In addition to that ceremonial role, David set up the Cheshire Community Foundation, an organisation which has become a significant donor to many Cheshire charities, and Cheshire Connect which facilitates local businesses and professional people offering their time and skills to help local charities. Following his role as Chair of The Poverty Truth Commission in West Cheshire, David started an initiative called Community Connectors, helping people in need find the support they required by joining up and signposting services which exist, but which can be difficult to find without guidance.
I have been very impressed with the work which Platform for Life does to help those with mental challenges in their life. It would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of their work which for many of their clients is life changing.
David Briggs
Sue Taylor (BEM) (Chair)
Sue was born in Glasgow, but has lived in Cheshire all her life, attending school in Stoke and currently living in Nantwich. Sue worked at the DWP for 20 years, and then joined Vale Royal Borough Council, transferring in 2009 to Cheshire West and Chester Council. She worked closely with the Poverty Truth Commission to improve services and make them easier to access. During the pandemic Sue was asked to be Food Lead in addition to her day job as Transactional Services Manager. She was involved in supporting families without food, medication or housing, and those in need of welfare support. She was also involved in emergency Covid support and distribution of many of the additional funds. In 2020, she was awarded the BEM for services to local government, presented by Platform for Life Patron David Briggs in 2021. Sue retired in June 2021 and has since taken on the role of chair of Platform for Life. She is also director of a property company, as well as a wife, mother and grandmother.
I have always been passionate about supporting people in hardship, both throughout my career and now in my role as chair at Platform for Life. It is an absolute privilege to witness the difference the charity has already made in the lives of people who have faced struggles with their mental health. And we continue to do all we can to reach even more individuals in need of our service.
Sue Taylor
Ann Gill
Ann has had a long career as a teacher, headteacher and adviser in a number of primary schools. Throughout her time in the education sector, she frequently witnessed the importance of struggling families being able to access the support of counsellors. As such, she was keen to use her skills and experience to benefit the communities and individuals that Platform for Life works hard to help.
As a Trustee of Platform for Life, I relish being part of an organisation dedicated to improving the life chances for children and their families.
Ann Gill
George Hartley
Born in Preston, Lancashire, George grew up in the Weald of Kent where he attended Cranbrook School. He studied Geography at Cambridge University and then went on to complete a Masters degree in Environmental Technology at Imperial College London. George subsequently embarked on a career in teaching and taught at various schools in southern England before becoming Headmaster of Elizabeth College in Guernsey for eight years in 2009. Since 2017 he has been Headmaster of The King’s School, Chester and recently also qualified as an Executive Coach. George’s key drivers in life are helping others to improve their lives, being authentic and leaving places in far better shape than he found them. He currently lives in Handbridge, Chester and can often be seen roaming the surrounding area with his cocker spaniel Jake. His wider interests include rugby, cricket, cooking, wine and mountaineering.
As you would expect, I am passionate about the wellbeing and mental health of young people and this, combined with my desire to help others, is why I originally became a trustee of Platform for Life. The charity plays a crucial role in supporting families-in-need in Chester and does this in a brilliantly holistic and effective way. I am very proud to be the longest serving trustee for this brilliant local charity.
George Hartley
Dr Jo Hinnigan
Jo was first introduced to Platform for Life when she was a trustee of Cheshire Home Start, a charity that offered volunteer peer support to parents with young children who were struggling for one reason or another. The two charities were originally going to do a joint project. That did not happen as Cheshire Home Start lost its funding but Jo was impressed with Platform for Life and subsequently joined them as a trustee. During her working life Jo was a Money Adviser for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, seconded for her final few years to Warrington Housing Association before retirement. Prior to that she worked in the business world and also spent 3 years in Brazil and 2 years in Italy. Jo has two sons and five grandchildren who keep her extremely busy and in her spare time is a cox for a rowing club in Chester.
The Platform for Life concept is such an important one. The charity has reached and helped many people in need of mental health support and as a trustee I am very proud to be part of a team making a difference.
Jo Hinnigan
Carol Jones
After a long and varied career in the finance industry Carol decided to undertake a counselling course. Inspired by her volunteer experience at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd as a student counsellor, Carol took voluntary redundancy from Lloyds Banking, and in 2011 she joined the Hospice full time to help develop a community wide bereavement service. Alongside her role as Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor Carol went on to lead the service. She decided to retire during the pandemic and joined the Platform for Life Board in October 2021.
As a proud Cestrian I have happy childhood memories of time spent with family in Blacon. I’m delighted to be a trustee as it gives me the opportunity to share the knowledge and experience I've gained in my working life. In my spare time, if I’m not socialising with friends, I can either be found with my head in a book or at my laptop writing funny stories.
Carol Jones
Andrew Kerr (Treasurer)
Andy has had a long business career, mainly in the insurance sector where he qualified as an actuary. During that time, he undertook a wide range of roles including risk management, finance and the delivery of a number of large multi-year projects. In addition, he has also performed a number of voluntary and non-executive roles, including sitting as a magistrate in Cheshire. Andy enjoys most sports (including rowing and cycling) as well as being a keen supporter of the arts.
I am very proud to be a trustee at Platform for Life, supporting the excellent work it does in a city that I have lived in for over 25 years and where both of my children have grown up.
Andrew Kerr
Dr Emma Price
Emma is a born and bred Cestrian, completing all her education in Chester from infant school through to her doctorate studies. She now works at the University of Chester as a Criminology lecturer with her research and teaching expertise revolving around the mental health of offenders, the impact of government policy and legislation on rehabilitative practices and the role of the voluntary sector in criminal justice. Social equality is a large part of Emma’s personal philosophical stance and she was keen to become a trustee at Platform for Life to help reach a section of the community she believes isn’t always given the same opportunities and support as other areas of society. She aims for her experience in mental health research to benefit the charity by enabling the measurement and communication of the extensive social impact the services have.
I have been a trustee at Platform for Life since 2020 and it is my honour to be part of such an inspiring charity. Many of my family members grew up in, and continue to live in, Blacon and therefore giving back to this community is very special to me.
Dr Emma Price
Alan Sieber
Having retired several years ago, Alan makes time for his interests which include sport, reading, the cinema, and travel. He is a keen long-distance walker and has walked the length of the UK, and also covered nearly a thousand miles through France and Spain on one of the old pilgrims’ routes. His current project is the Wales Coast Path. As a grandfather to nine young grandchildren, he enjoys spending time with them and nurturing their development. Alan spent his working life in secondary education where the welfare of young people was a constant priority. In the course of his long career, he was acutely aware that the pressures young people faced grew significantly and for some became too much to bear.
Throughout my career I have felt growing levels of frustration as I have witnessed how access to professional support from qualified practitioners has been compromised by ever-increasing, and unacceptable, waiting times. I learnt about Platform for Life from George Hartley, friend, neighbour and fellow trustee. I was impressed with what I heard and decided to offer to get involved. I hope my experience in education, including at senior leadership levels, enables me to make a positive contribution.
Alan Sieber
Paul Rossiter
Paul is originally from Widnes and now lives in Chester. He is a solicitor and owns a law firm which operates in North Wales and Cheshire. The firm often undertakes pro bono work for people in the local community; as such Paul was keen to take on the role of Trustee at Platform for Life with the intention of being able to help even more people in need in his local area.
I frequently visited Chester as a child and always found it a lovely place to be. So I am now really pleased that through my role as trustee, I am actively engaged in making the lives of people in this area better.
Paul Rossiter
Dr Katherine Ferdenzi
Katherine first became familiar with Chester when her parents moved to the city 30 years ago. In 2013, she settled in Chester with her husband and two sons. She is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist specialising in perinatal and infant mental health, and currently works for the NHS in North Wales. Her career has focused on community-based early intervention to enhance mental health and outcomes for families, parents, and their children. While her nearly grown-up children and family take up much of her free time, she also has a passion for cooking and baking and enjoys reading, walking, swimming and socialising with friends.
Becoming a trustee for Platform for Life feels like a true privilege. The charity aligns perfectly with my values of improving opportunities for young people and their families, breaking intergenerational cycles of poor mental health, and addressing local priorities in Chester.
Dr Katherine Ferdenzi
Dr Ian Minshall
Having qualified at medical school in 1987, Ian became a GP based in Chester in 1992. Alongside hospital work in Dermatology and Cardiology, he then moved into the role of GP Tutor for both postgraduate and undergraduate education. Ian subsequently specialised in epilepsy, taking referrals from other GPs and going on to publish 14 papers on the subject. For the last 3 years of his career prior to his retirement in 2024 Ian was part of the care home team. Outside work, Ian is a sports fan and a keen golfer. He enjoys walking his dog and delighting audiences with his Elvis impersonations.
My extensive medical career has given me a significant feel for Chester and its people. I know the areas that Platform for Life serves very well and I am keen to play a role in supporting the excellent work the charity does.
Dr Ian Minshall