Meet the trustees!
#TeamDKC
Having joined Derby Kids’ Camp as a volunteer in 2025, Sarah brings her passion for helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds and her deep belief in the charity’s purpose to her new role as Chair. Inspired by first-hand experience of the joy and impact the camp creates for children and volunteers alike, Sarah is committed to supporting and guiding the next phase of the charity’s development.
Sarah is Derby born and bred, growing up in Allestree, and lives with her partner Graham. She has two daughters, aged 21 and 23, and a step-daughter of 32 – all keen to volunteer! A lifelong lover of nature and the great outdoors, she enjoys cycling and hiking, and values the transformative power of time spent outside together.
With over 25 years of experience in school governance, and a professional background in organisational development and strategic leadership, Sarah brings a wealth of expertise in building strong teams, fostering trust, and ensuring healthy, positive cultures. She looks forward to working alongside Derby Kids’ Camp’s dedicated volunteers, Patrons and supporters to ensure the charity continues to deliver magical, life-changing holidays for children who need them most.
Sarah Armitage
Chair
Chris Edwards
President
Previously Chair of Derby Kids’ Camp for 18 years, Chris has most recently taken on the role of Charity President. Having been a volunteer with DKC for over 30 years, Chris is also an active member during Summer Camp. He has a number of years experience as a summer camp leader, but is now happy to sit back with a cuppa as deputy and let some of the younger volunteers have a go!
With many years of management experience in the commercial sector as a marketing director, he delivers expertise in management, sales & marketing and brand awareness to the Charity. Chris is also an experienced foster carer for Derbyshire County Council and a very proud dad!
Cat Howourth joined DKC in 2010 as a summer camp volunteer and during that period has held various committee roles. She has now been deputy chair for 5 years and alongside her committee role, Cat is also one of our camp leaders on Summer Camp.
Having honed her fundraising skills at DKC, Cat now works in fundraising as an Events Manager in her day job. In her spare time, Cat is a keen performer and participates in a number of musical theatre productions locally, as well as running her farm in the Peak District with a menagerie of animals including Alpacas, sheep and chickens!
Cat Howourth
Vice Chair
Stuart Ellis
Treasurer
Stuart joined the board of trustees in November 2023. Having spent the last 35 years in the world of corporate accounting and administration in roles such as Finance Director and Chief Operating Officer, he is now semi-retired and operates as a non-executive director with the company he has helped to run for the last 30 years.
Away from work and fine tuning the DKC accounting systems, Stuart can be found on the golf course or supporting his local grass roots football club.
When he took on the Treasurer role, he vowed that he’d never be seen volunteering at Summer Camp. But we’re a persistent lot, and just 9 months later, not only did he spend an entire week there, but he also came back determined to do the same thing the next year! That’s Derby Kids’ Camp for you!
Rob has been volunteering with Derby Kids’ Camp for over 10 years, taking on several roles including summer camp volunteer and more recently a deputy camp leader and Medical Officer.
Rob brings extensive medical experience to the role and currently works as a Paediatric Charge Nurse.
Rob Bradley
Secretary
Leane has been on committee as a Volunteer Organiser since September 2015, before moving to take on the role of Camp Organiser in 2020. Leane brings her fantastic organisational skills to the role, which involves booking everything that’s needed for camp to run smoothly – from coaches to day trips, food deliveries and on-site activities!
Leane’s day job is working as a primary school teacher in Derby
Leane Bailey
Camp Organiser
Lee Jepson
Equipment Officer
Lee Jepson became involved with Derby Kids’ Camp after seeing first-hand the difference it makes to children who might not otherwise get the chance to enjoy a holiday experience. He was inspired by the charity’s commitment to creating lasting memories, building confidence, and giving every child the opportunity to simply be themselves in a safe and supportive environment.
Driven by a belief in equal opportunities and community impact, Lee is dedicated to helping Derby Kids’ Camp continue to grow and reach more children across Derby and beyond. As a trustee, he contributes his experience in leadership, safeguarding, and strategic planning to strengthen the charity’s future.
Lee is also the Director of L.E.A.D. IT Services, where he leads digital transformation and technology strategy across schools and trusts. His work in education technology reflects his wider passion for improving outcomes for young people through innovation, collaboration, and inclusion.
Kerry joined Derby Kids’ Camp in 2022 – supporting with the Volunteer Organiser role in the run-up to camp, and as a summer camp volunteer supporting her week’s camp leader team. She dived straight into committee and stepped up to take on the Volunteer Organiser role in September 2022.
Kerry brings a wealth of experience from over a decade working in education. She currently works as a primary teaching assistant and PE & sports lead, as well as having lots of experience with forest schools and working with children with SEND.
Kerry Cliffe
Volunteer Organiser
Hannah Edwards
Publicity Officer
Hannah joined Derby Kids’ Camp as a summer camp volunteer in 2012 and quickly joined her brother George as an enthusiastic member of the fundraising team the following year.
Hannah has been a key contributor to the charity’s recent online marketing activities and has stepped into the role of Publicity Officer to encourage further online activity.
Hannah runs digital marketing agency HeyYou! Digital in Nottingham.
Ella joined Derby Kids’ Camp in 2022 as a Summer Camp Volunteer. She has been a trainee Camp Leader on Back Dane holidays, leading weekend breaks and supporting a week at the cottage. She has stepped into the role of Volunteer Representative and is now a key point of contact for the 200+ people who volunteer with Derby Kids’ Camp each summer.
Ella is a marketing assistant at a law firm in Derby.
Ella Davis
Volunteer Representative
Angelina Brett
Safeguarding Officer & Trustee
Angelina first volunteered on Derby Kids’ Camp during the summer of 2022. Despite not camping since her girl guide days, she thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Seeing 60+ children (and volunteers) enjoying themselves and trying things they hadn’t done before is a truly rewarding experience.
Angelina became DKC’s Safeguarding Officer and joined the board of Trustees in November 2023.
Away from Derby Kids’ Camp, Angelina works in education and has been a senior leader for 15 years. She has held many roles in her career including Executive Head Teacher, Designated Safeguarding Lead, SENDCO and Behaviour Lead.
Joining DKC on summer camp of 2013, George was given the job of equipment lead assistant where he was able to call on his experience as a scout leader to keep camp standing. George quickly became further involved with DKC equipment joining the committee in 2014 and taking joint lead of equipment in 2015.
George has also previously been the Treasurer and Volunteer Organiser as part of the committee. After several years of rebuilding the internal digital systems and processes for DKC, George has stepped into a new role to lead the digital transformation of the charity.
In George’s time away from the DKC spreadsheets he is an engineer at Rolls Royce and enjoys walking camping and making things in his home workshop!
George Cliffe
Digital Transformation Officer & Trustee
Elaine Johnson
Trustee
Elaine first volunteered for DKC summer camp in 1984, a few years later becoming Camp Leader. Over the years she has held several roles on Committee, and more recently organised smaller holidays at Back Dane Cottage.
Since retiring as a teacher in a Special School, Elaine now enjoys doing lots of walking and hiking in this country and abroad.
Additional management team
Our trustees are supported by additional members of the management team:
Rob has been volunteering with Derby Kids’ Camp for over 10 years, taking on several roles including summer camp volunteer and more recently a deputy camp leader and Medical Officer.
Rob brings extensive medical experience to the role and currently works as a Paediatric Charge Nurse.
Rob Bradley
Medical Officer
Paul McCann
Health & Safety Officer
Paul first volunteered for Derby Kids’ Camp in 1996. From 1997 to 2009 he served on the committee in a variety of trustee roles including 6 years as volunteer organiser, during which time criminal records checking was introduced for all volunteers. In 2009 he became camp leader and has been part of a camp leadership team since that time. For several years has participated on the committee as the non-trustee safety advisor.
Paul is a mechanical engineer working for the Health and Safety Executive’s Science Division (HSE SD). Paul and his team contribute to HSE accident investigations and prosecutions.
