Our Trustees
Paul Bellringer OBE
Chairman
I have extensive charitable experience at all levels from being a founder to volunteering. Climate change is the biggest issue facing the world, bar none, and the time to reverse the damage being done to the earth is now.
Sussex Green Living has already proved itself as a pioneering force for the good across West Sussex and, consequently, I am delighted to play a part in the essential work of this important charity.
Karrie Mellor
Trustee
I have always been concerned about climate change and the terrible impact the fast fashion industry has on the planet. In 2012 I set up Bags of Support, a school textile recycling company, and I worked with Sussex Green Living encouraging schools to reduce textile waste and ethically recycle.
As a trustee I am able to work even closer with the aim of us helping to build a fairer and greener future for people and planet.
Jill Shuker
Trustee
When ‘A Silent Spring’ by Rachel Carson (published in 1962) was read to me as a small girl, I have been very aware of the state of the planet and the effects of pesticides on our environment. Consequently I have tried to live more sustainably.
I found a soulmate in Carrie, as we were training to be West Sussex County Council Waste Prevention Advisers in 2012 and launched the Horsham Repair Cafe in 2017.
Liz Thorns
Trustee
I have been volunteering locally in Green initiatives for over 10 years.
I like to be part of the public face of Sussex Green Living, going to events and talking to people. You get a real sense of where people are coming from and how we can support them.
Dan Petrak
Treasurer
This is our planet and we’re destroying it one minute at a time.
As an individual it seems impossible to make a difference. But collectively, we did this and collectively we need to put it right. We have nothing to lose but our home. We have a world to win.
While I‘m alive, I’ll make positive changes to protect planet earth.
Hamish McDermid
Trustee
I have been concerned about our impact on the environment since the 1980s when I became aware of the threats to the planet through the work of the WWF. With 4 children and my first grandchild, concern has now turned to worry, even anxiety, about the future in store for them.
I am delighted to be able to offer my time, experience and skills to a charity that is determined to take positive action.
Sheila Humphreys
Secretary to Board of Trustees
I retired and moved to West Sussex from Kent in January 2020. Whilst working for Bromley Council I became one of their Environmental Champions. This was an issue I felt strongly about and recent global events, campaigns and TV coverage have only increased my concern for our planet.
As the grandparent, I am more aware than ever that we all need to do what we can to preserve the planet for future generations.
I am secretary to the Board of Trustees and also the Refill Shop Lead.
Management Team
Carrie Cort
CEO
I am a passionate and optimistically stubborn environmentalist. In 2012 with worsening global warming and little time to achieve zero emission I decided to act and launched Sussex Green Living.
My idea was to develop a network of people working together to create a more sustainable world, weaving together the problems and solutions.
Morag Warrack
Environmental Educator
Since retiring from teaching, I’ve taken an active role in the community, school environmental education, organising an Eco Film Festival and writing a weekly column for the local newspaper as well as becoming a Neighbourhood Councillor.
The finality of realising that we can no longer support the myth of economic ‘growth’ is now a driving force in my life. Contributing what I can and embracing a life that doesn’t need repairing is my goal!
Karen Espley
Repair Cafe Lead
I realised the damage we were doing to our planet on an expedition to the Antarctic in 2000 and again on my travels through West Africa in 2001 and I have tried to be a much more careful user of our precious resources since then.
I started working as a volunteer at the Horsham Repair Café in January 2019 and took over the role of coordinating the Horsham Repair Café in September 2021.
Joy Carter
Recycling Lead
As a young adult, I travelled extensively. Realizing how fragile our planet is, has spurred me on to be a keen environmental campaigner. For 20 years I worked in a local school where I taught the children about environmental issues and gardening skills. Now my time is spent leading the single-use plastic recycling team and encouraging people to shop more wisely.
As the lead of our recycling team, I’ve been named Chief Womble!
Rob Fryatt
Village & Community Outreach
I initially trained as a plant scientist and this has given me an interest in the natural world as well as a strong desire to minimise food waste. Having lived in Latin America I have seen the impact humans are having on the environment.
I have been one of “The Wombles” recycling team for some time as well as other Sussex Green Living projects. At home our mantra is Re-duce, Re-use and Re-cycle, an attitude we constantly promote to others.
Hazel Lamb
Fundraising
I worked as a teacher, a counsellor and a social worker and recall being concerned about the environment when my scientist father mentioned the predictions as long ago as the 1970’s.
In 2022, I undertook a course about turning hopes and fears into action and this resulted in me trying to my reduce waste and pollution. Wanting to do more, I also then offered my services with applications to funding sources, to make a county-wide impact.
Wendy Ashton
Fundraising & Instagram Comms
I joined Sussex Green Living in 2021 and help to raise funds through sites such as easyfundraising and the Horsham Lottery. I now help with their social media marketing, writing posts for their Instagram account. I also volunteer at the Sussex Green Hub, where it’s great to work with the rest of the team! I am delighted to be supporting the charity and believe we can all take small steps to help protect our planet.
I discovered a love of countryside walks during lockdown and now walk regularly and enjoy coastal walks too.
Eve Delves
Communications Officer
I am fairly new to Horsham, having moved here from London in 2015.
I have a burning desire to live more sustainably and simply. When I joined Sussex Green Living I knew I had a knowledge gap in this respect but I have quickly come to realise that what I thought was a gap is actually a chasm and I am learning anew every single day.
As well as wanting to get off-grid and have a proper system for reusing waste water, I have the desire to become a herbalist; to grow herbs and make lotions and potions - organic ones of course!
Our Volunteers
We have 135 wonderful volunteers who give us 1,299 combined hours a month. Without volunteers, we couldn’t survive and for that we are forever grateful.
- Recycling volunteers from Horsham and surrounding villages
- Event and Education volunteer
- Community Engagement
- Refill shop
- Repair Cafe
- Sussex Green Hub
- Communications and Social Media
- PLUS at all our volunteers from partner organisations
