Our Trustees and Patrons
The trustees are representatives elected to the Board by membership and determine TDF’s aims, objectives and priorities.
Honorary Patrons
Richard Desmond
Patrons
The Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust
Niki & Terence Cole
Steven and Jane Collins
Lord Fink
Keith Freedman
The Pears Foundation
The Gerald Ronson Family Foundation
Mark Steinberg
WPP
Trustees
Robin Gibbons Ph. D.
Dr Robin Gibbons is currently the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Robin received his doctoral degree at Brunel University London in December 2015, and his research field is cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health in people with Spinal Cord Injury. Robin previously worked as a Royal Navy diver and a commercial pilot with Virgin Atlantic Airways prior to sustaining a spinal cord injury himself following a road traffic accident in January 2001. Apart from his scientific studies, Robin believes in the power of complementary therapies to improve the wellbeing of mind and body.
Michele Freedman
Michele has worked tirelessly in the charity world for over 35 years. She has been involved with Association of Jewish Refugees Edgware Day Centre for the elderly, Rela Goldhill Home for people with disabilities. These were all very hands-on roles where she visited daily assisting and taking out the residents. Michele is on the Executive Committee Fundraising at Jewish Care and sits on a variety of other different committees including the Gala Committee at RNIB since its inception. Michele founded TDF in 1998 and has watched the charity go from strength to strength.
Rebecca Lowrie BA(hons), ITEC
Rebecca worked at TDF as a therapist for over 9 years and was delighted to return as a trustee. Having completed a BA (HONS) Degree in Human Services at the University of Tennessee 1983-1986 where she studied human growth and development, Adult and Child Pyschology, Sociology and Philosophy, Rebecca had a huge range of experience of working as a care worker, probation officer and looking after adults with learning difficulties. Over the last 20 years Rebecca has run her own healing businesses and brings her extensive experience and knowledge to TDF.
Ruth Vickers
Before Ruth became involved with the not for profit sector, she worked in the Far East Department of a City Merchant Bank before “The Big Bang”, was recruited in London to work as an “English Super Secretary” in Toronto and worked in the video post production industry, running one of the first and largest video film mastering suites in London before helping to set up a small video recording studio/production office. Ruth then worked as a Fundraiser/Campaign Executive for a major national charity for almost a decade. Ruth joined The Disability Foundation in 2002, retiring in 2013 as Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Administration and Finance. Ruth, as an employee of TDF, now a Trustee and also as someone who has suffered for many years from Chronic Viral Fatigue (ME), is very proud of the support and help that TDF offers to those with chronic illness/medical conditions and their carers. She is particularly keen to see the charity flourish and expand and being able to help ever more people
Latest Accounts available from: The Charities Commission and Companies House