Phil Watts OBE MRICS Chair of Trustees

Phil has been a member of the Board of Trustees since November 2016, initially as Acting Chair, and as Chair of Trustees since May 2017. Phil is a retired Civil Servant, and a chartered Land Surveyor by training. In a long and diverse career, he gained experience of Corporate Planning, Project Management, Product Development & Publishing, and Sales & Marketing. Prior to retiring in 2014, Phil was Ordnance Survey’s Head of Corporate Affairs, involved in the Department’s engagement with Government Ministers, Stakeholders and Customers, and serving as Secretary to the Board of Directors.

Phil has been Church Warden and Treasurer of his local Parish Church. An active Church Bell Ringer, Phil serves on the Winchester Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches as Diocesan Bells Advisor. Phil is married to Liz, and they have two adult sons.

Margaret Doores Trustee

Margaret joined the trustees in July 2017. She has a background in social work having worked in various roles within local authorities, working with young people and their families both in the residential setting of children’s homes and schools, as well as being superintendent of a girls hostel in London. She has also worked with young families advising on homemaking and debt issues.

Margaret has also been a youth worker in her local church. She has been a church warden, a pastoral visitor and a foundation governor at a local church school.

Currently she supports work with children’s activities in her local church and is a volunteer at Winchester Cathedral working with schools.

Margaret is married to Peter, a retired vicar. They have 4 daughters and 6 grandchildren. Margaret’s hobbies include local and family history, going to the theatre and photography.

Dr Ian Clarke Trustee

Ian is a trainee Lay minister in the Church of England, a husband, a father to two sons (and two dogs). Ian’s interests are music, film, theatre and travel, as well as a love for God and longing for peace and justice Ian started work as a research technician for Imperial College, London, working on climate change research, earning his PhD along the way. He moved into university lecturing, in applied ecology at Staffordshire University. After his wife was headhunted for a Job in London they relocated to Chandlers Ford and Ian took up a post as applied researcher in horticulture. After a decision by an office in Whitehall the horticultural site closed down, and Ian retrained to be a secondary school science teacher. He now works in a large secondary school as assistant Headteacher in a deprived area in Hampshire.

Liz Frisby Trustee

Liz joined the Board of Trustees in February 2023.

Stacey Brook Trustee

Stacey joined the Board of Trustees in January 2024.

Mark Cheshire Founder and Company Secretary

Mark, together with his wife Lauren, started with the initial vision for Fledge in 2009. Since that time, Mark has played a central role in shaping what Fledge looks like as an organisation and building the foundation that secured charity status.

After several years as a Trustee, Mark now serves as our Company Secretary.

Liz Watts FMAAT Treasurer

Formerly a long-serving founder member of Fledge’s Board of Trustees, Liz now serves as Fledge’s Treasurer. Now retired, she has almost 30 years’ experience in the Charitable Sector and with charity management and finance, having worked in pre-school education, and then with Winchester Area Community Action from 1989 until 2012. Latterly she served as Deputy Chief Officer, responsible for all of WACA’s finance and personnel functions. Subsequently, Liz was finance manager of Blue Apple Theatre, a Winchester-based performing arts company providing a range of opportunities for people with learning difficulties.

Liz has served her local Church on the outskirts of Chandler’s Ford in many different roles since it was founded in 1987, including variously as a Churchwarden and Treasurer. She is married with two adult sons.”

Nerissa Dean Chief Executive Officer

Nerissa came on board as the Project Manager for Fledge in June 2015 and has been instrumental in making the Fledge vision a reality including the set up and development of the Fledge House. She has overall responsibility for the operational running of the charity, turning her hand to everything from funding to liaising with Eastleigh Borough Council to removing rogue insects from behind the kitchen appliances! Nerissa was appointed CEO of Fledge in November 2021.

Natasha Baker Development, Health and Wellbeing Officer

Natasha joined Fledge in May 2016, shortly before the first residents moved into the first Fledge House. Natasha is responsible for developing the support provision and working with the residents to meet their support needs. She organises group sessions for the residents as well as supporting them 1 to 1 including occasional trips to the ice cream parlour!

Ali Williams Lead Support Worker

Ali joined the Fledge team in Jan 2017. She works alongside Natasha to provide support and mentoring for the residents. Ali works part time for Fledge and part time as the assistant youth leader at KCC, in Hedge End. Away from work Ali loves spending time with her family & friends, socialising and cooking.

Philip Morgan Support Worker

Phil joined Fledge in 2018 and has a wealth of experience in supporting people from previous job roles, including working with ex-offenders. Phil works full time for Fledge as a support worker which involves supporting residents 1:1, running one of the weekly drop-ins and managing our largest house. Outside of work Phil loves cycling and all things Cargo Bike, and has also recently taken up running.

Emma Chafe Support Worker

Emma joined Fledge in August 2019 as we expanded from two to four houses. Emma works 1:1 with residents and manages one of the houses. Before working at Fledge Emma helped to support and run a youth group which involved putting on productions, residential trips and work within the community. Away from work Emma like to spend time with her family and friends, and also is a big rugby fan!

Julie Boardman Support Worker

Julie joined the Fledge team in October 2020.

Matt McGarry Support Worker

Matt joined the Fledge team in late Spring 2021.

Daphne Dorricott Support Worker

Daphne joined the Fledge team in late Spring 2021.

Serena Kneller Trainee Support Worker

Serena joined the Fledge team in late Spring 2021.