Our Teams
Our organisation delivers and supports many vibrant community activities and services within the BS3 area of Bristol led by our senior management team.
Emma Brech
Chief Executive Officer
Emma Brech joined BS3 Community Development as Chief Executive Officer in April 2026, bringing over 25 years’ experience in the voluntary sector. She has worked extensively in community settings, with a focus on creative approaches to mental health, wellbeing and participation.
Before joining BS3 Community, Emma was CEO of Bristol Mind and previously led The Maya Centre in London. In both roles, she successfully strengthened and expanded services through collaboration, co-production and a strong commitment to inclusion and equity.
A Clore Social Fellow, Emma has a proven track record in leading community-based services and driving systems change rooted in social justice and resilience. She is particularly passionate about amplifying community voices and creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds to connect and thrive.
Emma lives in Bristol and is excited to build on BS3 Community’s role as a vibrant and inclusive hub for local people.
Kelly Murphy
Executive Head of Early Education and Childcare
Kelly joined the organisation and the senior management team in 2020 as The Head of Early Education and Childcare and has since expanded her duties to support the building and facilities team within the charity. She is responsible for managing all aspects of the department including safeguarding children, EYFS lead and leads on the Training Hub as is keen to upskill others through our internal employee training and engagement package.
She oversees all processes and policies, ensuring that they are appropriate, up-to-date with current practice. Kelly offers a wealth of experience in leading from a wide variety of Early Years settings and school experience and has a passion for creating inclusive, child-centred focus cultures.
Becca McDougall
Head of Finance & Operations
Becca is a highly experienced charity sector leader with over 25 years’ expertise in internal operations, strategic development, and ethical policy. Since joining BS3 Community Development in 2017 as Finance Manager, she has become a key member of the senior management team, overseeing finance, HR, IT infrastructure, and organisational policy to ensure systems are well managed, legally compliant, and aligned with the charity’s mission.
Her leadership is practical and values led. Becca manages budgeting, forecasting, audits, pay and benefits, while also overseeing HR processes, employee engagement, and IT, bringing clarity, structure, and innovation to internal operations.
Passionate about employee engagement, Becca works to ensure staff feel supported, heard, and valued, believing strong workplaces enable people and communities to thrive.
Joe Davies
Head of Community Development
Joe is driven by the belief that connection, compassion, and collaboration are the foundations of positive change and is passionate about creating spaces where people feel safe, valued, and empowered to contribute to the wellbeing of their neighbourhoods
Over the years, he has led and overseen numerous community projects across Bristol that have strengthened local networks and fostered meaningful relationships. His experience includes working closely with Bristol City Council and a range of local partners to design and deliver initiatives that respond to real community needs.
A significant part of his work has focused on supporting refugees and asylum seekers to build new lives and connections in the city. Through this, he has witnessed the incredible resilience of individuals and the transformative power of belonging. He is excited to continue to champion amplifying community voices and ensuring that everyone in the community has the opportunity to thrive.
Alessia Silvestrin
Head of Centres and Events
Alessia joined as Head of Centres and Events in November 2025, keen to shape this new role with her creativity and people-focussed leadership. She is responsible for the Charity’s centres and oversees the organisation of events, ensuring health and safety measures are in place and all of the details have been considered. She will implement systems that improve the working experience for staff and the events experience for our community.
Alessia offers a wide range of skills and experiences, which include teaching languages and literatures, research in the humanities, and managing children’s summer camps. She champions staff wellbeing and enjoys motivating and empowering people.
Alessia has a PhD in Literature and Medicine, with a specialisation in cancer in children’s literature, narratives of illness, and the narrativisation of 3D printed heart models. She has a life-long passion for traditional and digital painting, storytelling, and creative writing.
The Communities Team
With over 20 dedicated team members the Communities Team aim to improve the lives residents of BS3. We support individuals with our Social Prescribing service, put on events to engage our community such as clothes swaps and local history events and set up regular weekly groups to help support wellbeing including Stroll & Chat and the Monday Club.
Early Education and Childcare Team
With over sixty team members, the Early Education and Childcare Team is packed full of individuals who are passionate about providing excellent care and education to children under five. Across two sites, based in six rooms and two offices, the team collaborate closely to ensure that your children are at the heart of all our decision-making.
We steward families through our waiting list process before welcoming their children into our settings, forming secure attachments to ensure that each individual child in our care thrives. We provide holistic care and education, tailored to each child’s age and stage, supporting children in the day-to-day. We also create beautiful experiences including extracurricular activities, family events and trips into our community.
It is our ambition that each child in our care feels connected and that, when they think back on their days in nursery and preschool, they remember them as safe, happy and fun.
Principals and Governance
BS3 Community Development is governed by a Board of Trustees that employs the Leadership Team to plan and deliver the strategic direction of the charity.
The trustees are all volunteers and are elected for a period of three years. At the end of that period they can stand for re-election. A Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer are elected annually at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). This is also when we present our Audited Accounts Trustee Report.
Pete Phillips
Co-Chairperson
Pete is married with two young children and has lived in Southville for over 10 years. His family have enjoyed numerous classes and activities hosted and run by BS3 Community. Pete is keen to ensure these opportunities continue to be available to people in the future along with the other valuable work the charity does in the community.
Pete works in financial services and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries. He wants to use his experience to help further develop the charity’s risk management and financial planning to allow it to continue to grow and support the local community.
Isabel Kearney
Co-Chairperson
Isabel has been working for charities and social enterprises for the last 17 years in programme management, fundraising and marketing. Locally, she set up a community interest company which supported parents with flexible childcare and coworking, and has set up a pocket park on her street. She is a Fellow of the School of Social Entrepreneurs, has a Masters in Social Development and Sustainable Livelihoods and is a Bristol Advocate with Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership.
Isabel currently works as the Fundraising Manager and Climate Action Lead at Windmill Hill City Farm. Within BS3 Community, she Co-Chairs the Board, working closely with our CEO and other Trustees to support the charity. Isabel lives locally with her family and dog.
Mark Duppa-Ridgway
Trustee
Mark moved to Bristol in 2012, and has lived in BS3 since 2018. He is married with two young children, and first got to know the charity through toddler activities and trips to the café during paternity leave.
Mark is a Chartered Accountant and leads internal audit and assurance programmes at public sector organisations. He is keen to use his skills to support the charity’s work in the community. In his spare time, Mark enjoys running, football and climbing,
Sarah Hughes
Trustee
Sarah is originally from Essex and moved to Bristol in 2001. She has worked in HR for over 20 years and currently works as an HR Business Partner for a Government Agency. She has volunteered in a number of disaster affected communities around the world and co-founded a disaster relief and recovery charity which has worked with communities in Haiti, the Philippines and Nepal.
Now settled in BS3 she wanted to use her HR experience to help a local charity and was really impressed on hearing about the work of BS3 Community so decided to get involved.
Ediane de Lima
Trustee
Ediane has experience working in research, policy, community development and social impact in Latin America and Europe. She is particularly interested in exploring ways in which people at the sharp end of inequality can be meaningfully involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of services that aim to benefit them.
Ediane currently works as a Senior Researcher and Systems Specialist for the Dartington Service Design Lab, a research and design charity focussed on using evidence and design in innovative ways to help those working with children and young people have a greater impact. Ediane has an MSc in Public Policy with a specialisation in Social Policy and Social Innovation from The Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences-Po), a BSc in Public Policy & Management from The University of São Paulo, and a Certification in Social Entrepreneurship from the Youth Initiative Program.
Helen Donaldson
Trustee
Helen is from Bristol and has lived in BS3 for over 15 years, she is married with two young children and is currently a supply teacher and private tutor. Before having children, she was a primary school teacher for 11 years, working in Bristol schools. She has a PGCE with a specialism in Early Years and is a qualified Reading Recovery teacher.
Helen’s wedding took place in the Milford Hall in the Southville Centre over 10 years ago and both her children have attended the term-time only nursery, plus many classes and groups held in the Southville Centre, so she has a long and continued affiliation with BS3 Community. She hopes to use her experience, both as a local parent and teacher, to help support the charity in the valuable work it does in the community.
Elizabeth Normand
Trustee
Elizabeth has lived in Southville for seven years. Previous to her move here, she was a solicitor, training manager, then primary school teacher in London. This was followed by five years teaching in Barcelona and then volunteer work in Guatemala, before settling in BS3.
She has worked in three different schools in Bristol and has now become a SENCo. Elizabeth is keen to be involved in a local charity which makes a clear contribution to the community, and is particularly interested in the Early Years work, and connecting with the older generation
Matt Innes
Trustee
Matt has lived in BS3 for over 20 years, raising a family with his wife Diana. On account of his calling as an IT consultant spanning the smallest start-up’s to the largest government departments, he has only worked in BS3 for a tiny fraction of that time. Covid brought redress.
As he is now based predominantly at home, Matt has resolved to give something back to the community where his kids grew up. Answering a call on Facebook, he is now a trustee of BS3 Community and relishing the challenge. When he can priimself away from South Bristol he is likely to be outdoors, wild camping, canoeing or both. His unfulfilled dream is to make a living teaching people how to cook over open fires.
Ellen Roberts
Trustee
Ellen has lived in Southville for the last ten years having moved to Bristol a few years prior. She lives with her husband and two young boys. She was first introduced to BS3 Community Development when her youngest son started nursery and from there took an interest in the work the charity was doing within the community.
Ellen has worked for many years in procurement for large property and engineering companies and hopes to use her skills to help support various projects within the charity. In her spare time she enjoys getting crafty and getting out on the water either for a swim or on her paddle board.
Jo Redman
Trustee
Jo is a proud Bristolian, born and raised in the city and based in the BS3 area for the past 15 years. A business leader with a passion for helping organisations grow and thrive, she is known for bringing people along on the journey — inspiring teams to embrace change, tackle challenges, and reach their full potential. Her experience spans Hospitality and Property, as well as Travel, Telecoms, start‑ups, and FTSE 100 companies.
Jo now works as a freelance consultant, supporting organisations with marketing, communications, brand strategy, and leadership development. She aims to be a trusted ally and mentor, offering thoughtful guidance, encouragement, and a supportive sounding board.
Jo joined BS3 Community Development after responding to a call for new trustees and has been continually impressed by the breadth of the charity’s work and its value as a vital community resource.
Nick Carter
Trustee
Nick is a Business Director for a national facilities management company and has lived in the BS1 area for the past 25 years. He joined the board of trustees to give back to the local community, offering his time, experience, and business knowledge to support BS3 Community’s work.
With a background in general business management, Nick is particularly interested in helping the organisation run efficiently and sustainably so it can continue delivering vital services across the area. He’s proud to be part of a team that’s making a real difference in the lives of local people.
Lara Vallence
Trustee
Lara has called Bristol home for the past 12 years, raising her family here and enjoying the strong sense of community in the city. Both of her children attended BS3 community nurseries, and her family life in the area has given her a real appreciation for the local networks and support that make a difference to people’s lives.
With a degree in Psychology, an MSc in Human Resource Management, and a Chartered Member of the CIPD, Lara is a senior leader with a passion for creating workplaces where people feel valued, included, and able to perform at their best. She has extensive experience leading HR strategic initiatives, project management, and governance, helping organisations operate effectively while driving high performance and meaningful change.
Lara was drawn to becoming a trustee at BS3 Community as a way to give back to the area that has supported her family. Since joining, she’s been inspired by the incredible variety of activities and the strong sense of community the organisation stands for.
Martin Rolph
Trustee
Martin has lived in Bristol since 2017 and now lives in Bedminster with his wife and young daughter. His first contact with the charity was when his daughter started at one of the charity’s nurseries, and got involved as a Trustee to build a deeper connection to the local community and contribute to the essential work of BS3 Community.
He has a background as a software engineer and product manager in tech-focused early-stage startups, in industries from double-glazing to medical device certification. He is using this experience to support the social enterprise aspects of the charity, focusing especially on BS3 Community Care, supporting technical development, operational process efficiency and growth strategy. In his spare time he loves board games, photography and cooking.
Katherine Morgan
Trustee
Katherine has lived in Southville for 20 years, raising her family in the area and seeing both of her children thrive at BS3 nursery. With her youngest now in school, she felt it was the right time to give something back to the community that played such an important role in their early years.
Her career began in education as a secondary school teacher and in the charity sector, before moving into her current role as a Business Manager at the Environment Agency. There she leads on resourcing and skills development, helping to build a healthy, diverse, and inclusive workforce. Katherine is passionate about equality, diversity, and inclusion, and is committed to ensuring accessible support is available for everyone.
As a trustee, Katherine is excited to bring her experience and energy to help BS3 Community grow and make BS3 a place where everyone can thrive.
Pete Phillips
Co-Chairperson
Pete is married with two young children and has lived in Southville for over 10 years. His family have enjoyed numerous classes and activities hosted and run by BS3 Community. Pete is keen to ensure these opportunities continue to be available to people in the future along with the other valuable work the charity does in the community.
Pete works in financial services and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries. He wants to use his experience to help further develop the charity’s risk management and financial planning to allow it to continue to grow and support the local community.
Isabel Kearney
Co-Chairperson
Isabel has been working for charities and social enterprises for the last 17 years in programme management, fundraising and marketing. Locally, she set up a community interest company which supported parents with flexible childcare and coworking, and has set up a pocket park on her street. She is a Fellow of the School of Social Entrepreneurs, has a Masters in Social Development and Sustainable Livelihoods and is a Bristol Advocate with Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership.
Isabel currently works as the Fundraising Manager and Climate Action Lead at Windmill Hill City Farm. Within BS3 Community, she Co-Chairs the Board, working closely with our CEO and other Trustees to support the charity. Isabel lives locally with her family and dog.
Mark Duppa-Ridgway
Trustee
Mark moved to Bristol in 2012, and has lived in BS3 since 2018. He is married with two young children, and first got to know the charity through toddler activities and trips to the café during paternity leave.
Mark is a Chartered Accountant and leads internal audit and assurance programmes at public sector organisations. He is keen to use his skills to support the charity’s work in the community. In his spare time, Mark enjoys running, football and climbing,
Sarah Hughes
Trustee
Sarah is originally from Essex and moved to Bristol in 2001. She has worked in HR for over 20 years and currently works as an HR Business Partner for a Government Agency. She has volunteered in a number of disaster affected communities around the world and co-founded a disaster relief and recovery charity which has worked with communities in Haiti, the Philippines and Nepal.
Now settled in BS3 she wanted to use her HR experience to help a local charity and was really impressed on hearing about the work of BS3 Community so decided to get involved.
Ediane de Lima
Trustee
Ediane has experience working in research, policy, community development and social impact in Latin America and Europe. She is particularly interested in exploring ways in which people at the sharp end of inequality can be meaningfully involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of services that aim to benefit them.
Ediane currently works as a Senior Researcher and Systems Specialist for the Dartington Service Design Lab, a research and design charity focussed on using evidence and design in innovative ways to help those working with children and young people have a greater impact. Ediane has an MSc in Public Policy with a specialisation in Social Policy and Social Innovation from The Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences-Po), a BSc in Public Policy & Management from The University of São Paulo, and a Certification in Social Entrepreneurship from the Youth Initiative Program.
Helen Donaldson
Trustee
Helen is from Bristol and has lived in BS3 for over 15 years, she is married with two young children and is currently a supply teacher and private tutor. Before having children, she was a primary school teacher for 11 years, working in Bristol schools. She has a PGCE with a specialism in Early Years and is a qualified Reading Recovery teacher.
Helen’s wedding took place in the Milford Hall in the Southville Centre over 10 years ago and both her children have attended the term-time only nursery, plus many classes and groups held in the Southville Centre, so she has a long and continued affiliation with BS3 Community. She hopes to use her experience, both as a local parent and teacher, to help support the charity in the valuable work it does in the community.
Elizabeth Normand
Trustee
Elizabeth has lived in Southville for seven years. Previous to her move here, she was a solicitor, training manager, then primary school teacher in London. This was followed by five years teaching in Barcelona and then volunteer work in Guatemala, before settling in BS3.
She has worked in three different schools in Bristol and has now become a SENCo. Elizabeth is keen to be involved in a local charity which makes a clear contribution to the community, and is particularly interested in the Early Years work, and connecting with the older generation
Matt Innes
Trustee
Matt has lived in BS3 for over 20 years, raising a family with his wife Diana. On account of his calling as an IT consultant spanning the smallest start-up’s to the largest government departments, he has only worked in BS3 for a tiny fraction of that time. Covid brought redress.
As he is now based predominantly at home, Matt has resolved to give something back to the community where his kids grew up. Answering a call on Facebook, he is now a trustee of BS3 Community and relishing the challenge. When he can priimself away from South Bristol he is likely to be outdoors, wild camping, canoeing or both. His unfulfilled dream is to make a living teaching people how to cook over open fires.
Ellen Roberts
Trustee
Ellen has lived in Southville for the last ten years having moved to Bristol a few years prior. She lives with her husband and two young boys. She was first introduced to BS3 Community Development when her youngest son started nursery and from there took an interest in the work the charity was doing within the community.
Ellen has worked for many years in procurement for large property and engineering companies and hopes to use her skills to help support various projects within the charity. In her spare time she enjoys getting crafty and getting out on the water either for a swim or on her paddle board.
Jo Redman
Trustee
Jo is a proud Bristolian, born and raised in the city and based in the BS3 area for the past 15 years. A business leader with a passion for helping organisations grow and thrive, she is known for bringing people along on the journey — inspiring teams to embrace change, tackle challenges, and reach their full potential. Her experience spans Hospitality and Property, as well as Travel, Telecoms, start‑ups, and FTSE 100 companies.
Jo now works as a freelance consultant, supporting organisations with marketing, communications, brand strategy, and leadership development. She aims to be a trusted ally and mentor, offering thoughtful guidance, encouragement, and a supportive sounding board.
Jo joined BS3 Community Development after responding to a call for new trustees and has been continually impressed by the breadth of the charity’s work and its value as a vital community resource.
Nick Carter
Trustee
Nick is a Business Director for a national facilities management company and has lived in the BS1 area for the past 25 years. He joined the board of trustees to give back to the local community, offering his time, experience, and business knowledge to support BS3 Community’s work.
With a background in general business management, Nick is particularly interested in helping the organisation run efficiently and sustainably so it can continue delivering vital services across the area. He’s proud to be part of a team that’s making a real difference in the lives of local people.
Lara Vallence
Trustee
Lara has called Bristol home for the past 12 years, raising her family here and enjoying the strong sense of community in the city. Both of her children attended BS3 community nurseries, and her family life in the area has given her a real appreciation for the local networks and support that make a difference to people’s lives.
With a degree in Psychology, an MSc in Human Resource Management, and a Chartered Member of the CIPD, Lara is a senior leader with a passion for creating workplaces where people feel valued, included, and able to perform at their best. She has extensive experience leading HR strategic initiatives, project management, and governance, helping organisations operate effectively while driving high performance and meaningful change.
Lara was drawn to becoming a trustee at BS3 Community as a way to give back to the area that has supported her family. Since joining, she’s been inspired by the incredible variety of activities and the strong sense of community the organisation stands for.
Martin Rolph
Trustee
Martin has lived in Bristol since 2017 and now lives in Bedminster with his wife and young daughter. His first contact with the charity was when his daughter started at one of the charity’s nurseries, and got involved as a Trustee to build a deeper connection to the local community and contribute to the essential work of BS3 Community.
He has a background as a software engineer and product manager in tech-focused early-stage startups, in industries from double-glazing to medical device certification. He is using this experience to support the social enterprise aspects of the charity, focusing especially on BS3 Community Care, supporting technical development, operational process efficiency and growth strategy. In his spare time he loves board games, photography and cooking.
Katherine Morgan
Trustee
Katherine has lived in Southville for 20 years, raising her family in the area and seeing both of her children thrive at BS3 nursery. With her youngest now in school, she felt it was the right time to give something back to the community that played such an important role in their early years.
Her career began in education as a secondary school teacher and in the charity sector, before moving into her current role as a Business Manager at the Environment Agency. There she leads on resourcing and skills development, helping to build a healthy, diverse, and inclusive workforce. Katherine is passionate about equality, diversity, and inclusion, and is committed to ensuring accessible support is available for everyone.
As a trustee, Katherine is excited to bring her experience and energy to help BS3 Community grow and make BS3 a place where everyone can thrive.