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.
The charity is led by its Clinical Director and Operations Director, supported by the Operational Lead and Office and Communications Administrator.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dr Emma Campbell
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.
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.
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 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.
Susan Vonledebur
Susan was introduced to Platform for Life by the charity’s patron, David Briggs, after connecting through her professional network. Susan is the founder of Insights Development and The Insights Room, where she works as a Business Advisor Coach, Community Builder, and Strategic Advisor. Her career spans over two decades at the tech giant Oracle leading global teams, two years consulting with start ups, and several years consulting and delivering leadership and development training programmes before establishing her own business. She now focuses on elevating businesses and charities and has spent the past year running her own networking group to support business owners while connecting community and commerce. Susan's commitment to social equality and inclusive support led her to become a trustee at Platform for Life. She also serves as a trustee at Chester Women’s Aid. With her background in coaching, operations, financial ownership of P&Ls, and strategic messaging, she helps charities communicate their impact clearly. She also advises internally on cleaning up costs to demonstrate sound governance, encouraging corporate partners to invest in community projects and bring additional funding.
Ceri George
Ceri is an award-winning chartered marketer and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Having worked in Industry for 30 years in a series of sales and marketing roles that included rebuilding a failing brand, launching multiple new products and services, leading major digital projects and managing sales to multi-national automative customers, she decided to apply her skills in a more community focused role. In 2019 Ceri joined Platform for Life as its first CEO, and over the following 5 and a half years oversaw a period of significant growth in terms of the charity's reach and impact, funding sources and development of its capabilities and infrastructure. Family commitments led to Ceri stepping down as CEO in 2024 and she continues to support Platform for Life as a Trustee. She now works part time as a marketing consultant, helping businesses to develop their brands and generate more sales.
Jeannie France Hayhurst
Jeannie is a Barrister who specialised in Family Law, practising for four decades in, initially London and later on the Northern Circuit and Wales, retiring a few years ago to focus on health, education and community organisations. She is known for her willingness to ask searching questions, assemble a persuasive argument and promotes effective presentation. She is a strong advocate for addressing social problems, especially by focusing on on the early years of a child’s life and in supporting vulnerable families. She is a Consultant and continues to train and coach in personal presentation, public-speaking and communication, having lectured at graduate and post-graduate levels. Jeannie is an active Director of the family property development & building companies and has, additionally, been involved in both national and local politics. She has chaired the Governing Council of Moreton Hall School and been a council member of the University of Chester. She served as a Non-Executive Director at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and later as a Trustee of the Hospital’s Charity. She is a former Trustee of Relate and is involved in promoting art, literature and music in South Cheshire. She’s is a Trustee of Cheshire Community Foundation and supports many smaller Cheshire Charities. Jeannie served as High Sheriff of Cheshire 2022/23 and continues to serve on the HSA national committee. Off-duty Jeannie is a keen gardener, sings with Decibellas community choir and has a vibrant social life and is always happy to network. She lives in Bunbury with her husband James : they have four children, eleven grandchildren and a couple of spaniels. Jeannie believes that, with support, everyone should have the chance to make the most of their circumstances and opportunities in order to lead rewarding and fulfilling lives.Platform for Life offers tailored assistance and intervention to overcome obstacles and unlock individual potential. Contributing as a Trustee helps the team to achieve these worthwhile goals.