Fiona is our CEO. She has lived on a farm in Northumberland for most of her adult life. Before moving to the Northeast, she worked in Germany as a welfare officer for the Red Cross.
On returning she became a teacher. As High Sheriff of Northumberland, Fiona realised a bridge of opportunity needed building between prison and outside to reduce re-offending,
so she founded the Oswin Project. Fiona studied at Durham University and is ordained.

Caroline previously worked as a Tutor and in the Careers Centre at HMP Northumberland, supporting prisoners prepare for employment and training on release, she was employed by NOVUS. Prior to this Caroline was a farmer on a 600 acre mixed family farm in Northumberland and a Teacher. She has an MA in Geography from Edinburgh University and PGCE from St Mary’s College (London)

Trish has a background in recruitment and office management. She brings experience from a variety of roles from start-ups to business support. With a friendly manner, great administration and IT skills she is exactly the right person to keep the office running smoothly.

Matin is hugely experienced and highly qualified. At the start of his career he worked in Italy and France for 7 years. Since returning to England he has run several well-known bakeries. Martin joined the Oswin Project to change lives and pass on his skills. He describes it as a ‘new chapter’ in his career.
Martin considers that if you make a mistake you shouldn’t be made to pay for it for the rest of your
life.

When not working for the Oswin Project, Angus is studying for a PhD at Newcastle University. His thesis explores educational decision making and socio-economic disadvantage. Starting work as an Apprentice Teaching Assistant at his local primary school, Angus joined Newcastle University through the PARTNERS Widening Access Programme. He gained a 1st Class Honours Degree in Sociology and received funding for a MA and PhD from the UK Economics and Social Research Council. Angus takes the lead on fundraising and monitoring the impact & outcomes of our work.

Clare has over 20 years of experience in hospitality and retail. She started her career in the West Coast of Scotland where she found a passion for customer experience and quality service.
Clare believes that everyone deserves a second chance and that we could all find ourselves in a similar position if circumstances were different.
She believes working for the Oswin Project is a chance to use her passion and knowledge to help people change their lives.

Oswin welcomes Nathan Coundon who has joined The Oswin Project as a volunteer. Nathan studies Philosophy at the University of Leeds. He is helping with the formatting of policies and is enjoying visiting Oswinners and taking part in some of the interviews. His passions and interests are centered around studying philosophy and religion. He is a keen traveller and enjoys learning about other cultures. He is a huge Newcastle United fan. Nathan is delighted to be part of team Oswin and hopes he can help Oswin to help Oswinners!

Valerie Windle has been involved with Oswin for about 7 years. At the beginning of her involvement, she carried out general office duties at the Bothal office. She has helped to interview offenders and ex offenders with a view to being accepted onto the Oswin project and hopefully move onto potential employment. This involved visiting HMP Northumberland and HMP Kirklevington to follow and help Oswinners during their prison journey.
Her role now is mainly helping one day a week in the busy Cafe 16 in HMP Northumberland. This gives her the opportunity to build relationships with the Oswinners who work in the cafe and identify any help that they may require. It also gives her the chance to meet prison officers who use the cafe. She finds working in Cafe 16 very rewarding and enjoys the interaction with staff and offenders.
Val is delighted that Oswin has grown during her time as a volunteer and hopes it continues to go from strength to strength.

Jamie Steane is an Associate Professor in the School of Design, Northumbria University. Jamie currently leads a successful Master’s programme in Communication Design that specialises in digital and social innovation. He has worked with many charities, public and third sector organisations as well as digital start-ups during his research and teaching activities.

Before joining academia, Jamie worked internationally as a designer and creative director for numerous design and media businesses including Philips, Time-Warner, Windmill Lane Pictures and WPP in Europe, the USA and South East Asia.

Volunteering for the Oswin Project has made me aware of the lack of support which offenders and ex-offenders receive within and outside prison walls. I primarily volunteered for Cafe 16 which allowed me to meet residents and staff inside HMP Northumberland. Working alongside Oswinners in Cafe 16, it became clear that the Cafe is appreciated by not only those who work in the Cafe on a daily basis, but also by the staff. Since I began volunteering, three Oswinners have left HMP Northumberland and are now all employed, making Cafe 16 an example of the support that Oswinners receive inside and outside prison. Seeing individuals develop skills and confidence through Oswin has inspired me to continue to search for work in a similar context. I am currently completing my MA in Art and Material Histories, my ambition is to find a way of incorporating my knowledge and experience of art with my volunteering at Oswin. The opportunity to volunteer for the Oswin Project has definitely made me reconsider my career path for the better, something which this charity continues to do for so many others.

I am an undergraduate from Darlington, currently studying Law at Newcastle University, before which I took a gap year to travel around Australia. When I learned about the Oswin Project, I instantly knew it was something that I passionately wanted to become involved in. This interest sprouted from learning briefly about the inequality within society through my degree, as well as having become a Street Law Ambassador at the University, which involves raising legal awareness amongst various groups in society. All of the above has enhanced my desire to make a difference, give back to the community and enact change within society for those that need it, which are the fundamental components of the project.