Trustees

No charity would be able to do the work that they do without the excellent support of their trustees.

Bridging the Gap is no exception to this concept.

The trustees for BTG are:-

Fred Day (BTG Chairman)

Barbara Holgate, (BTG Treasurer)

Barbara Holgate is a carer, volunteer and community group leader. She is the treasurer of South Mitcham Community Association (SMCA) and organises and cooks at their ‘Young at Heart’ Friday lunch club for housebound elderly people in the local area.

She has been volunteering at SMCA for 14 years. She started off driving the minibus for the Young at Heart club whilst she was still working taking on further responsibilities in retirement. Mrs Holgate is also one of four editors of Merton Talking News for the blind as well as looking after a 99-year-old family friend. She also offers support to vulnerable people in the community such as a lift to hospital appointments.

Mrs Holgate worked in Social Services for many years. She was the manager of Queens Road Day Centre and subsequently opened a residential care home on Friday Road, Mitcham. A seven-bed unit, Mrs Holgate was able to take in dementia patients as well as the elderly and frail because of her mental health background.

Natalie Saad

Natalie Saad has worked in the Housing and Social Services department of Croydon Council for 4 years. She supports people over 18 years of age in accessing treatment for drug and alcohol misuse and works with the probation service to help reduce repeat offending through community treatment orders. Natalie has become a Trustee of BTG as she recognises that many useful services are provided by charities rather than government and prisoners do not always get all the information they need on release. She supports the BTG penpal scheme as she thinks everyone should have someone to talk to.

Arif Sadd 

Arif Saad has worked in financial services for over 4 years, firstly as a graduate investment consultant for Mercer and more recently as a structured solutions relationship executive for Legal u0026amp; General Investment Management. Arif has become a Trustee of BTG in order to help previous offenders find employment. He recognises the important role BTG plays in helping to give previous offenders a second chance in society.  

Brenda Josiah

Bridging the Gap is fortunate to have Brenda Josiah as a Trustee. Brenda has a wealth of experience and skills to usefully contribute as a Trustee.

Brenda works as Manager u0026amp; Secretary for South Mitcham Community Association on the Phipps Bridge estate in Mitcham, Surrey, where she ensures that the Community Centre uses best practice to provide services to her local community.

Brenda has 25 year’s experience of volunteering in the community and 13 years as Membership Secretary for The Tourism Society.

Having achieved two Licentiates in Clarinet and Flute teaching at Trinity College, London, Brenda also tutors in woodwind and saxophone playing at Cherry Pie Music in South Wimbledon.

Brenda has a daughter who gained a politics degree from St Mary’s College, University of London.

Father Donald Minchew – resigned July 2012

Father Colin Dickson – resigned July 2012