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Help us to end homelessness one person at a time.

Our trustees

Fergus Crombie

Portrait of Fergus Crombie

Fergus’s involvement with Bedford’s homeless goes back decades to taking part in soup runs, in which he is still involved today. He also worked with the Prebend Street Day Centre (now Hub) and BeChar, a local charity which merged with SMART in 2017. In those roles the importance of his contribution was recognised by eventual appointment as a trustee and later deputy chair. 

His professional background is in construction engineering and waste regulation, which enables him to bring to SMART experience of organisational management, interpretation of regulations and dealing with public sector agencies. Specialist in organisational management, interpretation of regulations and dealing with public sector agencies.

Karen Chisnall

Portrait of Karen Chisnall, Trustee of SMART CJS
Karen is an experienced and dedicated HR, Finance, and Payroll professional with over 25 years of expertise across the education, healthcare, and corporate sectors. She has a proven track record of leading HR operations, streamlining processes for improved quality and efficiency, and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and guidance.
 
Recognised for her proactive problem-solving, strong interpersonal skills, and commitment to continuous improvement, Karen is passionate about fostering inclusive, ethical, efficient, and compliant workplaces. She also holds a qualification in criminology, with a specialist interest in victimology, adding a unique perspective to her professional practice.

Tom Otley

Tom is a Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) in the St Albans Diocese and a Reader at St Paul’s, Bedford. He is a barrister with a Masters in Energy and Environmental Law, ran a publishing business for 20 years and is now a sustainability consultant. 

He is also a company director and trustee of the Board of Finance of St Albans Diocese and Company Secretary of Priory Water Sports Association.

Heenal Buhariwala

Portrait of Heenal Buhariwala, one of our trustees at SMART
Heenal is a Senior Financial Accountant with over 15 years’ experience in Finance, specialising in compliance and corporate governance within the retail sector. Her professional journey has equipped her with strong analytical and strategic skills, which she is eager to leverage in support of charitable initiatives.
 
Previously, Heenal volunteered for a hospice in London, providing financial support and guidance, an experience that deepened her commitment to making a positive impact in the community. She is now keen to contribute her expertise to SMART, aligning her financial acumen with the charity’s mission.
Heenal prides herself on being positive, ambitious, and compassionate, qualities she believes will be valuable assets in helping SMART achieve its goals.

Sarah Smale

Portrait of Sarah Smale, one of our trustees at SMART.
Sarah has a background in corporate finance, working for a major high street bank for many years. Her role was supporting high turnover clients to structure their funding and achieve their growth potential.
 
After a career break to raise her three children, Sarah now works in administration for three local churches. This role sees her deal with the public at the highest and lowest points of their lives; as well as running the finance and credit control, website maintenance, liaising with clergy and volunteers and all the marketing and social media.
Sarah was a governor at a local primary school for a decade, is Treasurer for her local church and serves on the Parochial Parish Council and helps with marketing at her choir; she has a keen interest in volunteering in the community and ‘giving something back’.
 
Her hobbies include singing, walking, knitting & crochet, gardening, and when she can raise the energy, going to the gym.

We are looking for new trustees

We welcome applications from individuals with experience in law, housing, social care, or homelessness, ideally based in Bedford or the surrounding areas.

As a trustee, you’ll help guide our strategic direction, uphold strong governance, and ensure our work has the greatest possible impact.  The role involves attending at least four board meetings a year, with additional opportunities to contribute depending on your availability and interests. 

If you are passionate about making a difference for people experiencing homelessness and want to shape positive change in your community, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Become a trustee