Your weekly updates about appointments in the charity sector
________________________________________________________

Royal Foundation

The Prince and Princess of Wales’s charity has appointed Sarah Rose as its next chief executive. She joins in February 2026 from Paramount, where she is president of Channel 5 and is the entertainment firm's UK regional lead.

Rose, who has three decades of experience in broadcasting with senior roles at Channel 4 and ITV, takes over from Amanda Berry, who is remaining with the royals' philanthropic organisation as its global partnerships ambassador.

"We are looking forward to welcoming Sarah to The Royal Foundation and to working with her on some of the issues which are closest to our hearts,” said the royal couple.

“We are hugely grateful to Amanda for her exceptional leadership over the past three years and are pleased she will continue to work with us in her new role as Global Partnerships Ambassador.”


Tyne Rivers Trust

Former head of development operations at English Heritage Sophia Stovall has joined Tyne Rivers Trust as its chief executive. She left English Heritage last month and has also held senior development roles at North East Museums and Durham Cathedral across her career.

“Sophia will bring a new perspective and dynamic to the team and we are excited to begin working together, for the benefit of the Tyne Rivers, wildlife and all who live and work here,” said the Trust’s chair Richard Kirk.




Charity Finance Group

Charity Finance Group is to adopt a co-chief executive leadership model when its current CEO Caron Bradshaw steps down next month after 15 years in the role.

She will be replaced by the Group’s current deputy chief executives Clare Mills and Sarah Lomas who will become co-CEOs as of 1 October. Bradshaw will remain with the Group in a part time role to support innovation and development.

“The new co-leadership model reflects CFG’s ambition to remain agile and responsive to the needs of its members and the wider charity sector,” said the Group’s chair Hugh Wallace.

British Heart Foundation

The British Heart Foundation (BHF)’s retail director Allison Swaine-Hughes is to become the charity’s commercial director from January 2026. She will replace Mike Taylor, who is retiring at the end of December after 13 years in the role.

“Stepping into the role of commercial director for the BHF is a huge privilege, building on the remarkable legacy of Mike and the incredible work of our teams to date,” said Swaine-
Hughes.

"I look forward to working alongside the executive group and our teams to save and improve lives on a scale more ambitious than ever before as set out in our new BHF strategy.”


Board Racial Diversity

Benaifer Bhandari has been appointed as the next chief executive of Board Racial Diversity UK. She takes up the role on 10 November and replaces the trustee diversity charity’s founder Malcolm John.

Bhandari has more than 25 experience in leadership and advocacy roles for racial and gender equality in the UK charity sector. She joins from Hopscotch Women’s Centre in London, where she has been CEO since 2018.

Gingerbread

Age UK London chief executive Abigail Wood has been appointed to the same role at single parent families’ charity Gingerbread. She takes up the permanent post in November after five years leading Age UK in the capital.

Wood, who is a single parent herself, has previously worked in public affairs roles at National Childbirth Trust, Save the Children and Girlguiding. She takes over from interim chief executive Lisa Pearce.

Vintage Vibes

Edinburgh based charity Vintage Vibes, which helps tackle loneliness among older people, has appointed Rory Mair as chair. He is a former chair of Citizen’s Advice Scotland and spent 15 years until 2017 as chief executive of Scottish local government body COSLA.

The charity has bolstered its board further with the appointment of new trustees Rachel Craig from the Scottish Government, risk specialist and volunteer with Vintage Vibes Michelle Robb, and Age Scotland’s Rebekah Ballantyne, who also volunteers for the charity.

Oasis Community Housing

Three new trustees have joined Oasis Community Housing’s board as it looks to expand its support amid rising homelessness rates.

Joining the North-East of England and south London charity are Alex Pitcher, who is chief risk officer at debt charity StepChange, Natasha Gray, who is director of strategy & engagement for the Church of England Pensions Board, and Tara Allen, director of fire safety firm Nortec.

The charity supports around 1,300 people impacted by homelessness.

---