Freegle Board

Current Freegle Board of Directors

In order of last name, the current people elected to the Freegle Board are:

• Cat Fletcher - elected February 2014, re-elected August 2015, October 2017, November 2020 and 7th September 2023

• Matthew Fletcher - elected 6th September 2024

• Bill Hopkinson - elected 7th September 2023

• Wendy Lishman - co-opted to the Board 2nd April 2025, elected 24th September 2025

• Neil Morris - co-opted to the Board 1st October 2024, elected 24th September 2025

• Mike Paterson - co-opted by the Board January 2022, elected 4th September 2022

• Jen Williams - elected 22nd October 2021 and re-elected 6th September 2024

• Natasha Townsend- elected 24th September 2025

As of 24th September 2025 , there are two vacancies for external independent Directors who need not be Members and are selected for their particular skills and/or experience.

Update: Sandra Llewelyn resigned from the Board on 6th February 2026, which creates one vacancy. The Board has the option to co-opt a Member to fill this vacancy, term of office to end at the next AGM.

Rule 58. At no time must the number of co-opted individuals comprise more than one-third of the Board of Directors.

(See Board Elections for links on the most recent election)
(See Board History for more information about previous Directors etc)

Responsibilities

Directors are also Trustees of Freegle. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/trustees-staff-and-volunteers/trustee-role/becoming-a-trustee/ explains what is involved in being a Trustee.

Board and Member activities are subject to the adopted Rules of Freegle.

The Board Role and Remit details the responsibilities of Directors.

Officers and Roles

The Board elects Directors to be Officers. The Rules state: Rule 82. The Board shall elect from among their own number a chairperson and Secretary and such other Officers as they may from time to time decide. These Officers shall have such duties and rights as may be bestowed on them by the Board or by law and any Officer appointed may be removed by the Board. A serving Officer who is not re- elected to the Board at the annual general meeting shall nevertheless continue in office until the first Board meeting following the annual general meeting.

The current elected appointments are:

• Board Chairman - Neil Morris, email chair@ilovefreegle.org
• Society Secretary - Wendy Lishman, email secretary@ilovefreegle.org
• Finance Director - Matthew Fletcher, email finance@ilovefreegle.org

The Board appoints (from April 2026 [[1]]) Board Portfolio Roles. The current appointments are:

• Lead for Technology & Innovation - Mike Paterson mike.paterson@ilovefreegle.org
• Lead for Volunteer Engagement - Jen Williams [@ilovefjen.williams@ilovefreegle.org
• Lead for Fundraising & Partnerships - Natasha Townsend natasha.townsend@ilovefreegle.org
• Lead for Communications & PR - Cat Fletcher media@ilovefreegle.org
• Lead for Legal, Risk & Safeguarding - Bill Hopkinson bill.hopkinson@ilovefreegle.org or, for safeguarding issues safeguarding@ilovefreegle.org
• Lead for Impact & Strategy - vacant (covered presently by Natasha with assistance from Neil)

The Board also appoints other roles: The current appointment are:

• Chief Technology Officer - Edward Hibbert, email CTO@ilovefreegle.org
• Head of Media - Cat Fletcher, email media@ilovefreegle.org
• Board Secretary - Wendy Lishman secretary@ilovefreegle.org
• Treasurer - Jane Loveday treasurer@ilovefreegle.org
• Ombudsman - Jeni Mason ombudsman@ilovefreegle.org
• Returning Officer - Jacky Barrett and Wendy Lishman returningofficer@ilovefreegle.org

Retirement Cycle

From the Rules:

56. At the first annual general meeting all elected Directors shall stand down. At every subsequent annual general meeting one-third of the elected Directors, or if their number is not a multiple of three then the number nearest to one-third, shall retire from office. The Directors to retire shall be the Directors who have been longest in office since their last election. Where Directors have held office for the same amount of time the Directors to retire shall be decided by lot. A retiring Director shall be eligible for re- election.

A Director may leave midterm under the Directors Ending Term of Office Procedure.

Discussion Group

The Board discussion group is at [2]

Meeting Cycles

• Full Board: Meets Quarterly (4 times per annum) for strategic and statutory business.
• Working Groups: Meet Monthly to manage delivery and operations.
• Annual Strategy Day: One in-person session for long-term visioning.

Contact

Our Board can be contacted via board@ilovefreegle.org or directors@ilovefreegle.org

Link: Director Handbook