We go for world class quality in our art. We believe the difference makes the art. And our people are everything. We never stop believing in our amazing people.
We want you to know the story behind those who work at Chickenshed – so each month there will be a different member of staff profiled; and of course you can always click on the names of the people opposite to find out more.
Our Trustees, chaired by Sylvia Coleman of EMI Music, are a wonderfully diverse and interesting group of people. Our President of Trustees is The Lady Rayne who, with her family and in particular her late husband Lord Rayne, have helped turn our dreams into a reality. To find out more about our Trustees, and why they support us so loyally, click on their names.
For information on how to volunteer at Chickenshed, please click here.
For further press information or photographs, please contact Susan Jamson, Press and Publicity Manager on: 020 8 351 6161 ext 233 / Mobile: 07736 956662 or email
SusanJ@Chickenshed.org.uk
Sarah Balser - Director of Fundraising
Sarah Balser joined Chickenshed in December as the Director of Fundraising.
In 1989, while taking a career break with two small children, Sarah Balser answered an advert for a part time NSPCC Schools Organiser, and this marked the start of a long and successful relationship with the Society.
As an NSPCC Schools Organiser, Sarah raised funds in Primary Schools in Essex and was able to raise awareness of child abuse and NSPCC services, with staff, parents and children in many local communities.
In 1991 she was appointed as NSPCC Schools Manager for Home Counties North Team, and in 2000 became Schools Manager for South East & London where she continued to help children through successful programmes and projects. Sarah also held the role of Product Development Co-ordinator for the national Schools Department, and in this capacity took responsibility for innovating and developing the resources, materials and partnership events such as Number Day, which have helped the NSPCC Schools Department become the most successful and well respected national charity fundraising in Primary Schools today.
In 2003 Sarah joined the South East Local Fundraising Team as Divisional Fundraising Manager, supporting a network of volunteers, supporters and staff in all income streams across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands. As a member of NSPCC Local Fundraising Management Team she worked on the development of NSPCC’s community fundraising networks, strategies and operations.
Throughout her career with NSPCC, Sarah has held many voluntary roles helping in her local community. She was invited to become a School Governor and joined the Governing Body of both a local Primary and Secondary school, both in Essex. Since 2002, Sarah has been helping children and young people directly as an Appropriate Adult. Sarah has been professionally trained and qualified to work with the Criminal Evidence Act (1984), the Crime & Disorder Act (1998), and in partnership with the Essex Youth Offending Service, Social Services and Essex Police. As an Appropriate Adult, she attends Police Stations to facilitate communication between the detainee and the police and support their welfare, by ensuring that vulnerable young people and adults with learning difficulties are treated properly and interviewed, cautioned, charged and detained fairly.
In 2009 Sarah hopes to begin training as a ChildLine Volunteer Counsellor.