Meet the team

Our senior management team

Phil Henderson, Director of FFBS

Phil Henderson

Director of FFBS

Phil joined FFBS in 2022 as Director, taking responsibility for leading the team and the business and delivering unrestricted income to our parent charity.

Prior to joining FFBS Phil worked in retail for over two decades, initially at a supermarket and latterly on the Board of a UK bookseller.

Dorn Pryce, Head of Operations

Dorn Pryce

Head of Operations

Dorn has been with FFBS since 2014 and heads up the Operations Team, which includes our Helpdesk service and Fulfilment Portal. She is responsible for maintaining great relationships with our suppliers; ensuring they provide cost effective goods whilst maintaining high levels of excellence in their service.

Dorn has significant experience working within the Financial Services Sector as a senior manager specialising in third party administration and operational performance.

Ben Andrews, Head of Business Development

Ben Andrews

Head of Business Development

Ben joined the team in 2020 and works with our prospective clients to communicate the work of FFBS and develop new business opportunities.

Ben has worked for over two decades in the world of sales, specifically for non-profit organisations and charities. 

Mary Alcock, Head of Client Relationships

Mary Alcock

Head of Client Relationships

Mary joined the FFBS team in 2021. She is responsible for overseeing our partnerships with clients, to ensure the best possible customer experience.

Mary has decades of experience helping clients to deliver on their strategies and continuous improvement agendas. She is no stranger to some of the issues faced by our customers’ beneficiaries, having most recently worked in the debt industry, helping clients to deliver best practice for the end user.

Paul Oakley, Operations Manager

Paul Oakley

Operations Manager

Paul joined the Family Fund Group in 2013, initially supporting the finance and grants teams in our parent charity for two months before moving across to the FFBS operations team. In 2019, Paul took on the new post of Supplier Relationship Manager, before moving back into the operations team in 2022.

As Operations Manager, Paul oversees our Helpdesk function and day-to-day delivery of the North Yorkshire Local Assistance fund contract, as well as well as managing supplier performance and key business systems. He helps to ensure that we support customers with their grant fulfilment as best as possible, through an effective Portal and Helpdesk service and successful relationships with suppliers.

Helen Tillett

Client Services Manager

Helen joined FFBS in 2019 and manages our partnership with North Yorkshire County Council, administering the North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund on their behalf.

Helen has previously worked both in financial services and the public sector, with over 15 years’ experience in team management, customer services and data analysis.

Laura Cope, Account Manager

Laura Cope

Account Manager

Laura joined FFBS in 2018, becoming an Account Manager in 2019. She is part of the Client Relationships Team and responsible for managing our partnerships with numerous local authorities, housing associations and charities.

After working as a drama teacher, she spent several years as a project manager in both the charity and arts sectors, focusing on inclusivity and working with underrepresented groups.

Paul McAfee, Account Manager

Paul McAfee

Account Manager

Paul became a part of the FFBS team in 2017. As part of the Client Relationships Team, he is responsible for managing effective working relationships with our partner organisations and supporting them to meet their procurement needs as best as possible.

Paul has over 13 years of experience working with the public sector, in healthcare, education and law enforcement. Prior to this, he managed a Tex-Mex restaurant which he himself founded in Crete.

Amy Stone

Account Manager

Amy joined FFBS in 2022 as an Account Manager. Amy is part of the Client Relationships Team and is responsible for managing some of our existing partnerships with local authorities, charities and housing associations.Prior to joining FFBS, Amy had worked for 12 years in various roles gaining experience in customer service, sales and most recently account management for a healthcare distribution company.

Hayley Woodcock, Business Development Manager

Hayley Woodcock

Business Development Manager

Hayley joined the FFBS Business Development team in 2022, working with prospective clients to grow the business.

Hayley has over 10 years’ experience in sales and business development roles, across the pharmaceutical and recruitment sectors.

Our company board

Cheryl Ward, Group CEO

Cheryl Ward

Group CEO

Cheryl is Chief Executive of the Family Fund Group, of which FFBS is a part. She joined the charity as Commercial Director in 2008, before becoming Group CEO is 2012 and was instrumental in founding FFBS in 2013 as a trading subsidiary to generate additional income for the charity.

Prior to joining Family Fund, Cheryl worked within the private sector supporting charities in their grant-making fulfilment, and has held a range of senior roles within financial services and retail travel.  

Claire Locker, Director of Finance

Claire Locker

Director of Finance

Claire joined Family Fund as a finance assistant in 1999, and has since progressed to her current role as Director of Finance. Claire has overall responsibility for finance, procurement, risk and compliance for both FFBS and the charity.

Mark Robson, CMG

Chairman

Mark joined FFBS as Non-executive Chairman in December 2022 to lead the Board in ensuring FFBS is effectively run and that high standards of governance are maintained.

For the past 15 years, Mark has led the global commercial businesses of one of the UK’s largest charities – the British Council – and previously had 25 years leadership experience in multi-national consumer product companies in the UK and overseas.

In the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Mark was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for services to UK cultural relations.

Shona Elliott

Non-Executive Director

Shona joined Family Fund as a trustee and became part of the FFBS Board in 2021.

Shona has worked in communication roles throughout her career. Her greatest privilege was being mum to her first son, Harry, who lived a full and vibrant life while living with with complex needs. Harry passed away at the age of 6, but she continues to work in his name following the example he set to make a joyful difference.

Ian Thomas

Non-Executive Director

Ian was born in Penrhiwceiber in the South Wales valleys. He originally trained as a youth worker and teacher, and ran youth centres in Hackney, Surrey, and Cardiff. Ian was the first Welsh director at the Alzheimer’s Society and later the Welsh Director for Scope. In 2013 he became the Chief Executive for Age Cymru. In 2017 he became CEO for Trivallis, a large Welsh housing association.

Ian currently runs his own business. He lives in Swansea with his wife, daughter and three cats.