FUN In Action is run by:

Anne McLaren: Project Manager

As Chief Executive Anne is the driving force behind Fun in Action. She was a founder member of the charity when it was established in Brighton in 1999 and she has overseen a tremendous expansion of its work over that time. At the heart of Fun in Action's work are its careful matching procedures which Anne has pioneered and which reflect her child-centred approach rooted in a professional background in social work and psychotherapy. Fun in Action is now nationally recognised as a role model of good practice in this area. Anne's contemporary role includes overseeing all aspects of our volunteer recruitment and matching programme as well as fundraising and keeping our major funders informed of our work. Anne is a qualified senior social worker with over 25 years previous relevant experience in social work, youth and community work and children's education.

Samantha King-Grant: Volunteer Recruitment & Screening Worker

Sam is a psychologist with extensive experience in the voluntary sector. She has worked with families who have experienced domestic violence and also with young mothers in a training and advocacy role.

Ghislaine Picchio: Friendship Support Worker

Ghislaine is a trained social worker with extensive experience with children as well as in alternative health and counselling.

Anne, Ghislaine and Samantha work part-time, but the office is covered every weekday. Our work is supervised by an external consultant psychotherapist and overseen by the Management Committee who act as Trustees and have responsibility for the proper running of the organisation and its finances. The Committee meets 6 times per year.

Management Committee Members

Jonathan Carr – Chair, Staff Employment & Charity law

A qualified solicitor with experience in Employment and Charity law. Currently a Politics and History teacher in a Sixth Form College. Jon is also a committed befriender with Fun in Action.

Ralph Crane - Staff Employment sub-committee

Ralph is a Crawley based solicitor. He has been befriending with Fun in Action for 10 years and is on his second Fun friendship.

Raymond Punwar

Raymond works as a Recruitment Consultant in Brighton and supports the organisation with fundraising events.

Becky Donoher

Parent Representative. Parent of a troubled teenager with a long-term befriender. Brings the views of parents and represents their interests.

Gerrard Graf – Treasurer

Gerrard is a chartered accountant, who joined FunInAction in 2009. He specialises in corporate consulting and accounting, but also has experience of charity finance, accounting and funding.

Victoria Simpson

Victoria has been a solicitor for over 15 years, initially as a criminal defence lawyer but most recently in the public sector, and has relevant voluntary sector experience.

John Karakashian - Bookkeeper

John has worked as a financial controller for a blue chip service company and now is a Director of Facilities Support Partners Ltd.