About us
The need for Sid Valley Help was identified by the Sidmouth Health & Care Forum in 2017 and it was set up by local residents and registered as a charity in 2019.
Sid Valley HELP is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered in England no. 1181458. Our entry on the Charities Commission website is available HERE.
To donate to us please go to the Donations page and to volunteer there is more information on the Volunteer page.
Sid Valley Help Management Group
Di Fuller - Trustee & Vice-Chair
After a career as a teacher and a senior manager in further education, Di moved to Sidmouth in 2006 and worked as an educational consultant to schools and colleges until retiring in 2011. Di was chair of the GP's Practice Patient Participation Group for five years and until 2020 she chaired the Sidmouth Health & Care Forum which brings together NHS, Social Services and voluntary sector organisations. Di set up the local Wellbeing and Health Action Team and she is the Voluntary Sector Representative for Sidmouth.
Keith Gillanders - Trustee & Chair
Keith has background in engineering and economics and worked for engineering firms and for PricewaterhouseCoopers management consultants in London. He moved to Exeter in 2000 and joined Regen to develop renewable energy projects. Keith has lived in Sidmouth since 2012 and he is also a trustee of Sidmouth Hospice at Home.
Peter McGauley - Trustee
From an educational and business background, Peter moved to Sidmouth 30 years ago. Currently Peter is a founder member and President of the Sidmouth St Vincent de Paul (SVP) Conference, a faith based international charity dedicated to the dispossessed, isolated and lonely. He holds office at both parish and diocesan levels and is a former Governor of St John’s School in Sidmouth. In 2020 Peter was decorated by Pope Francis for “distinguished service” to the Church and wider community. He is also a trustee of Sidmouth Consolidated Charities.
Deirdre Hounsom - Trustee
Deirdre or 'Dee' is a qualified personal coach, and as a company director produced major corporate events for blue chip companies in London. Since moving to Sidmouth in 2005 she became involved with many local groups and initiatives. Dee was the Chair of the recently approved Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan and is the Volunteering Coordinator for The Arts Society of Sidmouth. Until May 2023 she was a Sidmouth Town Councillor.
Andrew Hardy - Trustee and treasurer
Andy was born in Derbyshire and after a career as a Chartered Surveyor in London and the home counties Andy retired and moved to Sidmouth. He is a crew member of the Sidmouth Lifeboat and has spent time as a volunteer with the Sid Valley Foodbank and the Talking Newspaper. Andy enjoys walking, cycling and playing golf, table tennis and walking football.
Ron Peppin - Trustee
Ron worked in the telecoms industry in London for 42 years before moving to Sidmouth in 2014. As well as being a Trustee he answers the phone calls and emails to the Sid Valley Help Helpline. Ron is also Treasurer of the Sid Valley Food Bank and Secretary of the St Francis Church Parochial Church Council.
Janet Campbell Young - Trustee
Jan spent all her working life in or involved with the NHS as a pharmacist, manager and recently as a leadership and career development coach. She moved to East Devon in 2010 and on retirement in 2014 became a Trustee and Chair of Home-Start Exeter East and Mid Devon until 2022. She is also the Secretary of Honiton Memory Café and is a volunteer at Kennaway House.
Mike Atkinson - Volunteer Manager
Mike has worked In or with charities and voluntary organisations for the past 25 years. Mike and family have recently moved back to Devon from Yorkshire having been away for the past 10 years. Previous jobs include being Volunteer Manager in a social care charity, running a Volunteer Centre and supporting communities to set up and run social enterprises. Mike also has experience as a volunteer helping manage a credit union, running a youth group, setting up and running a Men’s Shed and being a volunteer in a Community Library.
Sid Valley Help Volunteers
We have over 25 wonderful volunteers at present supporting vulnerable households with shopping etc and providing our befriending service. They also host our drop-in social sessions and help with fund-raising. We are indebted to our past and present volunteers for their time and dedication.