The Team

Trustees

Chair of Trustees- Christopher Wakefield

Chris is a management professional and worked as a hospital manager for a number of years. He has been involved in charitable work for the last 25 years and has set up three charities, two as Chair. Chris was a Bournemouth Councillor for 12 years, working in the ward of Boscombe West. Chris has been involved with the HealthBus since 2017 and is passionate about supporting the homeless.

Vice-Chair / Treasurer – Gareth Sherwood

Gareth is the Chief Executive of Bournemouth YMCA.  He is passionate about transforming people, families and communities through compassion, hope and vision.  He has 15 years of experience in bringing together businesses, volunteer groups, local government, faith groups and charities for community-wide collaborative work in a whole range of areas.  These include youth work, children’s work, housing, family support work, education and training, domiciliary care, refugee support and international aid to name a few.  He is a family man with 2 children, a qualified medical doctor with 8 years of clinical experience, has further studies in medical ethics and law and is an ordained minister.

Treasurer – Darren Slade

Darren Slade is a copywriter and former journalist. He spent more than 30 years in regional news, latterly as business editor for the Daily Echo in Bournemouth and its sister titles in Southampton and Weymouth. He is a former president of Dorset Speakers Club and has appeared at a Downing Street press conference, Sky News and a number of podcasts. He is now a content manager with the accounting software business IPLICIT. As a Poole father of two who has worked in Bournemouth for many years, he is keen for the conurbation to be a place where everyone is safe and secure.

Secretary- Myka Wilshire

Myka brings with her extensive expertise in the homelessness sector, having led a rough sleeper outreach team through the challenges of the pandemic. Myka also spearheaded the implementation of a highly effective outreach service for homeless individuals struggling with substance misuse, ensuring that treatment reaches them wherever they may be. Her passion for addressing homelessness is deeply personal, as she shares experiences common to many we serve. These experiences led to severe physical health challenges, as Myka, like many of our patients, faced difficulties in accessing primary healthcare services. Nonetheless, Myka has triumphed over these obstacles and is now wholeheartedly committed to empowering others to access the support they need, enabling the choice to positively impact their lives.

Sam Acton

Sam is a serial entrepreneur specialising in disruptive growth and expansion models. Sam is keen to share her wealth of business experience for the greater good and joins HealthBus at its juncture to growth. As an Independent member of the BCP Council Audit & Governance Committee and lead for the MPHERoes/Savvitas expansion project on behalf of the House of Lords, Sam brings much experience in local and national government, understanding of compliance and the complexities of engaging with multiple agencies for success.

Sara Turner

Sara has 15 years’ experience working in housing and homelessness and has delivered a variety of services including a women’s refuge, a young mother and baby unit and mental health-supported accommodation. Sara has previously been a CQC registered manager responsible for delivering high-quality care in a residential setting. Sara is passionate about involving and including people with lived experience. Sara believes they provide a powerful and authentic voice. People with lived experience have genuine insights that can challenge assumptions, motivate services to do things differently and influence change. Sara strongly believes that services should be co-produced by those who access them.

Sandi Marshall

Sandi has navigated a life of ups and downs, overcoming health challenges, personal tragedy, and family issues, which shaped her empathetic approach to others. With 35 years in the public transport industry as a London Bus Driver, Inspector, and Manager, she developed a deep appreciation for people from diverse backgrounds and recognised the universal need for support during challenging times. In 2020, Sandi transitioned into mental health advocacy, earning a diploma in Stress Management to work one-on-one with clients. She now manages a charity supporting adults with mental health challenges and volunteers as a Samaritan, providing active listening and outreach for the homeless.

Operations & Clinical Team

Executive Director – Deano Pickering

Deano joined the HealthBus team in October 2019, with over 22 years of professional practice across the charity, creative and educational sectors as a development and strategic manager. Deano is passionate about educating others about the unmet needs of those that are most vulnerable, whilst supporting marginalised groups with a ‘voice’. He implements and oversees the HealthBus fundraising and marketing campaigns in accordance to the Trust’s Strategic Plan. He also has responsibility for charity compliance, finance, branding and IT. Deano is also committed to creative design and works with the team to ensure a unified branding approach is applied to all of HealthBus’s public content.

Operations Director & CQC Manager – Kate Hibbitt

Kate Hibbitt joined the HealthBus Team in 2018 and is the Operations Director & CQC Registered Manager for the Trust. She brings a wealth of experience and skills to her role at the HealthBus, having previously worked in both charitable and commercial sectors. Kate is passionate about providing accessible, high-quality, patient-centred healthcare for people experiencing homelessness. Using an innovative approach, she has focused on clinical delivery and strategic management through strong partnerships with multidisciplinary teams and non-statutory organisations. Over the past five years, she has grown the organisation from small beginnings to a strong and respected charity within the local community. The HealthBus is now gaining national interest and recognition with its unique service delivery alongside securing CQC registration. For Kate, reducing health inequalities, removing barriers and advocating for those with little voice drives her ambitions for the HealthBus Trust and the patients it seeks to serve.

Business Relations Manager – Tim Partridge

Throughout his career, Tim has consistently shown an exceptional ability to build and sustain networks, engage diverse stakeholders, and lead large-scale projects. With over 30 years of experience in both national and local charities, including YMCA Bournemouth, Tim has made a significant impact. Before joining HealthBus, he served as the South West Regional Coordinator for the disability charity Remap, where he provided guidance, support, and motivation to local groups. Tim spent seven years as Network Manager at the Trussell Trust, where he played a key role in developing systems and processes that enabled the charity’s expansion from 95 to 425 foodbanks. He also forged partnerships with businesses to secure donations of food, funds, and pro bono expertise. Passionate about advocating for people in need, Tim is dedicated to sharing their stories and engaging supporters who can join the mission.

Nurse-led Clinical Consultant – Hazel Allen

Hazel joined HealthBus in September 2025, after a distinguished 36-year NHS career, most recently as Consultant Nurse and Strategic Lead for Hepatology in Dorset and with the University Hospitals Dorset Homeless Care Service. With a Master’s in Health Education and Promotion and nationally recognised expertise in hepatology, clinical governance, and non-medical prescribing, she has championed compassionate, accessible care for people experiencing homelessness. Her appointment supports HealthBus’ transition to a nurse-led model, strengthening CQC compliance and embedding best practice to deliver safe, responsive, and sustainable specialist healthcare across BCP.

Advanced Clinical Practitioner & Clinical Lead – Carole Lucas

Carole has worked for the NHS for over 35 years, starting out in a local private hospital and then moving on to a learning disabilities secure unit with severely challenging behaviour as a healthcare assistant. Carole has 20 years of experience in hospital emergency departments, where she qualified as a nurse and then as a Sister. Whilst working in the hospital her passion for the most vulnerable in society grew, which enabled her to become the homeless lead in the emergency department. Carole is committed to seeing those who are experiencing homelessness overcome barriers to healthcare and addiction.

Outreach & Engagement Nurse – Chrissie Croucher

Chrissie has over 30 years of experience in nursing working in hospitals and community-based settings with those battling addictions and homelessness. Chrissie’s experience has allowed her to work with multiple services across BCP allowing her to bring healthcare to those in need professionally. Chrissie joined the HealthBus in 2021 as the Engagement and Enhancement Outreach Nurse and is passionate about caring for marginalised individuals, breaking down some barriers that stop people from accessing healthcare. Alongside her clinical responsibilities, Chrissie also leads the outreach work to bring support to those who need it most.

Specialist Diabetes Nurse – Sam Whittle

Sam Whittle is an experienced Registered General Nurse with over 30 years experience and has worked extensively across neurology, pulmonary medicine, and cardiology in Bournemouth and Poole. For over a decade, she served as a Diabetes Specialist Nurse at Bournemouth Hospital, leading community diabetes care across 23 GP surgeries and providing education and clinical guidance. She now combines her expertise as a Diabetes Nurse Specialist with the HealthBus and Bournemouth Heart Club, supporting people living with diabetes and those experiencing homelessness.

Clinical Admin Manager – Debbie Coombes

Debbie joined the HealthBus in April 2024. She brings over a decade of experience in secondary care as a ward clerk at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, where she has excelled in delivering patient-centred care through trusted relationships. As Project Director at Foodbank, she has demonstrated her ability to galvanise teams, forge strong partnerships, and manage complex projects. Debbie is deeply passionate about supporting those in need and ensuring equity for all.

Social Prescriber – Ian Stoney

Ian joined the HealthBus in September 2025, with a wealth of experience from the commercial and educational sectors and has a strong track record in project management and charity partnerships. He works closely with our clinical team and local partners to deliver and strengthen non-clinical support, ensuring we continue to provide a holistic and relational service for our patients. Ian is committed to seeing people overcome personal barriers to meet their full potential.

Specialist Mental Health Practitioner – Rachel Meaden

Rachel joined the HealthBus in March 2023. She has worked as a Mental Health Lead for the past 9 years, specialising in addiction and homelessness. Rachel is passionate and committed to raising awareness and working with some of the specific mental health needs of people experiencing homelessness. She believes that these needs are often unable to be met through mainstream mental health services and can often be a complex contributor to the homelessness cycle.

Clinical Administrator – Sabine Stoney

Sabine joined the HealthBus in September 2025. She is a highly organised connector who has built charity partnerships across BCP and East Dorset whilst leading network meetings, training, data mapping, and community events for people facing isolation. Her background spans office management for SMEs, medical reception in primary care, learning support in schools, and community-facing ministry as a Connections Pastor, giving her strong operational, customer service, and engagement skills. Sabine is passionate about using her skills to help anyone she can.

Finance Manager – Sue Watkins

Sue has worked in finance since leaving school, managing accounts for the family video production business and later serving as church treasurer for 12 years while raising three children and leading worship and small groups with her husband, Andy. In 2012, they moved to Vancouver to support a UK church plant and build community, during which Sue earned a Master’s in Theological Studies from Regent College, reigniting her passion for justice and advocacy. She then became financial coordinator for a non-profit placing English teachers globally, before joining Message Canada (part of the Message Trust) to manage finances and support its mission to extend God’s Kingdom. Since returning to the UK in 2024, Sue is delighted to be supporting HealthBus in a finance role and is thrilled to be part of such a dedicated team.

Homeless Health Research Lead – Bels Wathen

Bels joined the HealthBus team as a volunteer in March 2022.  She brings deep expertise in people development, company culture, and values, informed by an early finance career across large, diverse corporates. Passionate about amplifying the voices of people who are too often unheard, Bels now leads several research intervention projects. She believes in equality, security, and opportunity for all and in leaving the world a little better than she found it.

Social Media Lead – Jordan Sky Finding

Jordan joined the HealthBus team as a volunteer in May 2024.  She brings a dynamic, professional energy to our social media, strengthening the charity’s communications and showcasing the excellent work our team delivers together. A dedicated creative, she uses web tools, imagery, stories, hashtags, and soundbites with real skill, bringing a fresh, engaging voice to our channels. Above all, she’s committed to ensuring people experiencing homelessness can access compassionate, healing support to rebuild their lives.