Our Trustees
Our Trustees help guide the direction of The Zone, providing strategic leadership and governance to make sure we continue delivering high-quality support for young people in Plymouth. You can find out more about our Trustees here, including who they are, their experience, and the role they play in supporting our work.
Tanmayo Murray-Clark
I became a Trustee at The Zone in 2018 with the intention of using my skills and experience to add to the important work the charity does to support the mental health, wellbeing, homelessness, and sexual health needs of young people in Plymouth. Since then, demand for this joined-up and focused approach has continued to grow, alongside increasing complexity — often at a time when funding has reduced — making this work more important than ever.
I originally trained as a Civil Engineer and worked for over 30 years in London local government, holding a variety of senior roles across strategic planning, project delivery, operational leadership, and financial management. In 2010, I retrained as a psychotherapist, moved to Dartmoor, and following the completion of a five-year training programme, I have now been in private practice for 11 years.
My commitment to The Zone comes from a strong compassion for mental health and social justice, and a desire to play a small but meaningful part in addressing these issues at a local level. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me involved in community responses to the climate emergency, appreciating life in the splendour of Dartmoor, listening to novels, and spending time with my partner, family, and friends.
Chair
James Cook
I joined The Zone as a Trustee in October 2025, bringing with me over a decade of experience in Digital and IT. Since 2011, I’ve worked with some of the South West’s largest and most respected organisations, including the University of Plymouth, The Range, Princess Yachts, and City College Plymouth. My professional background spans digital transformation, technology management, and delivering innovative IT solutions that improve organisational performance.
My connection to The Zone is deeply personal. My wife was a service user in 2018 and spent three years supported by the charity — an experience that inspired me to give back to an organisation that made such a positive difference in our lives. As a Trustee, I’m passionate about supporting The Zone’s mission and helping young people access the care, guidance, and opportunities they deserve.
Outside of my professional life, I’m an active charity fundraiser. I lead the Champion of Champions darts competition, which has raised tens of thousands of pounds for local causes. My passion for community, technology, and youth development drives everything I do, both personally and professionally.
Trustee
Oli Durbin
I am delighted to be serving as Treasurer at The Zone, having joined the Board in July 2026. I have worked with not-for-profit and public sector organisations since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2018.
Throughout my career, I have presented financial information in a way that is clear, accessible and meaningful. I have also led value for money engagements and governance reviews, helping organisations strengthen financial oversight and decision-making.
The skills I've developed in my professional career will help me to support The Zone and ensure that useful and reliable information can be shared with other Trustees and management to support good decision making.
Having worked in professional services supporting clients, I'm excited to be on the other side of that relationship representing an organisation. To contribute what I can to an amazing charity, which has such a positive impact supporting young people in Plymouth, is a fantastic feeling.
Treasurer
Julia Hughes
I joined the Board of Trustees in June 2024, having recently moved to Devon from Hampshire.
My professional experience has focused on working for organisations that provide information, advice, and guidance services to young people and young adults. I began my career as a Careers Adviser and, from 1990, moved into operational management and strategic delivery roles. I have worked for local authorities and Connexions services across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton, before moving into Higher Education.
I have worked closely with a wide range of Youth Services across both the statutory and voluntary sectors, as well as with many strategic partners including Social Care, Health, the DWP, and Education.
I have also previously served as a Trustee for a similar charity in Hampshire and as a school governor for a number of years, bringing a broad range of knowledge and experience to my role as a Trustee of The Zone.
Sarah Todd
I am an experienced executive and charity leader with a long‑standing commitment to improving outcomes for young people. Over the past 15 years, I’ve worked across digital health, higher education and the social impact sector, with a particular focus on governance, safeguarding, organisational strategy and inclusive service design.
Alongside my professional roles, I provide supported lodgings for young adults aged 16–24 who have experienced trauma, instability or barriers to education, training or employment. This lived experience gives me a grounded understanding of the challenges young people face when navigating complex systems, and it shapes my commitment to trauma‑informed, person‑centred and equitable support.
I currently serve as Chair of the National Association of Disability & Inclusivity Practitioners, representing more than 1,900 professionals across the UK. In this role, I’ve strengthened governance, influenced national policy and championed inclusive practice across education and public services. I also work in digital health, leading programmes that support wellbeing, accessibility and user‑centred innovation.
As a Trustee of The Zone, I’m passionate about ensuring that young people’s voices shape decisions, that our services remain safe, high‑quality and responsive, and that the organisation continues to thrive as a trusted space for support, stability and opportunity. I’m proud to contribute to a charity that plays such a vital role in the lives of young people across Plymouth.
Trustee
Reshad Sergeant
I became a Trustee at The Zone with a strong commitment to supporting young people in Plymouth, particularly those facing barriers around wellbeing, financial stability, and access to opportunities. Through my work, I’ve seen first-hand how early support and the right environment can change life trajectories, and I wanted to contribute to an organisation making that kind of impact every day.
I currently work as an Outreach Manager at Citizens Advice Plymouth, where I lead programmes that support vulnerable individuals and families across the city. My role involves working closely with communities, local authorities, and partner organisations to improve access to support, design more inclusive services, and ensure that people’s voices are heard in decisions that affect them. I’ve led the redesign of key services to improve fairness and accessibility, with a focus on reaching those who are often overlooked.
Earlier in my career, I established and led an international school in Bangladesh, developing systems and approaches that supported students from a wide range of backgrounds. That experience strengthened my understanding of how inequality and access can shape outcomes, and the importance of building inclusive environments where people feel supported and empowered.
As a Trustee, I bring a focus on community engagement, service design, and ensuring that support is accessible, meaningful, and shaped by the needs of young people. I am particularly passionate about creating opportunities for those who may not otherwise have access to them, and supporting The Zone to continue delivering impactful, person-centred services.
Trustee
Rachael Fox
I joined The Zone as a Trustee in April 2026, bringing extensive experience as a Communities and Partnerships Manager working across housing, health, and community services. My early career at The Zone played a significant role in shaping my commitment to supporting young people, particularly those experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.
Since then, I have built extensive experience in strategic partnership management, service development, and supporting people with complex needs. I have led cross-sector programmes, secured funding for new initiatives, and worked collaboratively with partners across Plymouth to improve outcomes for individuals and communities.
I bring strong local knowledge, a collaborative approach, and a passion for developing person-centred services that support people to overcome barriers. I am delighted to return to The Zone as a Trustee and contribute to the organisation that played such an important role in shaping my career.
Trustee
I became a Trustee at The Zone in 2025, bringing my skills and experience to support the charity’s vital work around mental health, wellbeing, homelessness, and sexual health for young people in Plymouth.
I am a trained HR professional (Assoc. CIPD) with over five years’ experience in organisational management, human resources, and more recently, finance administration. Before relocating to Plymouth in 2023, I held several leadership roles in Nigeria. I currently work remotely as the Executive Director of Lit-up Wellbeing Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that supports individuals and organisations to achieve holistic wellbeing.
In 2023, I began working in the health and social care sector as a Rehabilitation Assistant, supporting individuals at a brain injury rehabilitation centre in Plymouth alongside a multidisciplinary team of therapists. My commitment to The Zone is driven by a strong passion for youth development, employee wellbeing, and holistic personal growth, as well as a desire to make a meaningful impact at a local level.
TrusteeMarian Osademe
I joined the Board of Trustees in April 2026 due to my first‑hand insight into and belief in the organisation’s purpose and impact, having previously worked at The Zone. My time at the organisation was extremely rewarding and shaped my ongoing commitment to youth‑led, strengths‑based, relational practice. I am passionate about protecting psychologically safe spaces that enable young people to access consistent, responsive, high‑quality, person‑centred support.
The role of youth work in helping young people navigate complex systems and shape their futures is something I understand deeply. My perspective is informed by lived experience, frontline practice, and research into the challenges faced by young people who turn to organisations like The Zone. My background spans youth homelessness and wellbeing, supported employment, secondary mental health services, youth transitions and systems‑change work, as well as evaluation and qualitative research.
I bring a knowledge based rooted in youth‑focused research, neurodiversity, accessibility, safeguarding, and trauma‑informed, shame‑sensitive practice, alongside strong connections with local youth services. I feel privileged to use this background to support the Board in making grounded decisions that reflect the realities and centre the voices of young people and staff, and to contribute to strengthening the organisation’s long‑term sustainability.
Gemma Doyle
Trustee
Katy Else
I joined The Zone as a Trustee in 2026, bringing with me a strong background in social work, education, and professional practice. I am a registered social worker and social work lecturer where I support and develop the next generation of practitioners entering the profession. My experience spans adult social care, safeguarding, mental health and youth work with a particular focus on placements, creativity and real life experiences.
I volunteered with the Zone earlier in my journey, and I can confidently say that I would not be where I am today without the support, opportunities, and sense of belonging it provided. That experience has stayed with me and continues to shape both my professional values and my commitment to giving back.
I have a strong sense of social justice and am deeply passionate about supporting young people, recognising them as the future of our communities. As a Trustee, I am committed to championing The Zone’s work and ensuring that young people have access to the support, guidance, and opportunities they need to thrive.
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me walking my dog, heading out on beach and woodland adventures, or relaxing with a good book and occasionally writing when inspiration strikes.
Trustee