Sharon Tombs – General Manager
Having led Dressability as General Manager for over 13 years, Sharon continues to play a vital role in ensuring the ongoing success of the organisation. During her time, she has grown the charity from a team of four to over forty people, including the establishment of our volunteer team. Some of Sharon’s notable achievements include national BBC coverage, an appearance on The One Show, negotiating a four-year funding deal with one of the UK’s largest trusts, and successfully coordinating a visit from HRH The Princess Royal in recognition of our work.
Tia Shortall – Service Delivery Manager
Tia has joined Dressability to support and lead our dressmaking team as Service Delivery Manager. Her unusual career background is perfect for Dressability – combining management and fundraising in the charity sector, and more recently professional sewing running her own bespoke dancewear business. Her sparkling creations have been seen on stage and screen! Tia is passionate about helping Dressability continue to thrive and grow and brings positivity, enthusiasm, and a passion for helping people.
Claire Bouverie-Brine – Grants & Trusts Fundraiser
Claire loves raising money for us, particularly through grant and trust providers, so we can continue to offer our service to those in need. As a vital part of the charity, Claire puts her 25+ years of charity experience to great use, knowing that every penny raised directly benefits clients in our local community and beyond. Claire joined us in early 2022 and says “I love working for Dressability as supporting dignity and independence runs through the whole organisation, and the vital service we provide is both unique and innovative”.
Helen Shurmer – Administrator
Helen has a fantastic blend of administrative and financial experience as well as having spent five years in alteration tailoring. Providing much needed support to the administrative side of the charity, Helen is able to utilise her skills, working on a wide variety of tasks to ensure our service is delivered and the charity continues to function effectively.
Pam Chadwick – Dressmaker
Pam joined Dressability in 2006 through a lottery grant funding the older people’s project. Since then, she has expanded her skills and problem solving ideas working on adaptions for clients with disabilities. Pam has a can do attitude and is nearly always willing to give it a go. Her thinking is, it’s not working now let’s try to make it better.
Elsa Heatley – Dressmaker & Trainer
Elsa has enjoyed being able to help our clients for over eight years. In particular, Elsa loves helping people who would not be able to properly dress themselves without alterations to their clothes. Always keen to meet new people, Elsa’s positive energy shines through when interacting with clients, working with volunteers on projects as well as sharing knowledge with the other dressmaking team. In her personal time, Elsa also works on exquisite designs for equestrian events, putting her skills to work to create some fantastic pieces.
Jacquelyn Jordan – Dressmaker
Jackie has been involved in sewing all of her life. Having spent a large proportion of her professional career in the optical industry, Dressability was a real opportunity to combine her passion for sewing with her primary occupation. Jackie’s sewing experience and skills are now put to fantastic use, delivering our service to those who require her abilities.
Hannah Thompson – Trainee Dressmaker
Hannah joins Dressability as a trainee on our dressmaking team, already having outstanding sewing skills from her background in costume making. She has her own costume business and a long history in performing. Alongside acting and costume work, she has volunteered with an inclusive arts group, seeing first hand how powerful clothing can be for confidence. Hannah brings creativity and a strong belief in inclusivity to the team.
Rosie Ash – Trainee Dressmaker
Rosie joins Dressability as a trainee on our dressmaking team, bringing exceptional sewing skills built up designing and making bespoke pieces for dancers. She has a background in sewing and textiles, along with a passion for creating clothing that is both functional and beautifully made. She’s drawn to the Dressability values of promoting accessibility and independence and enjoys working closely with clients to create solutions for them that support comfort and confidence.
Nigel Lugg OBE – Chair of Trustees
Nigel Lugg OBE is former Group Chairman of Prominent Europe, one of Europe’s largest apparel suppliers. He built the business across major fashion centres and led acquisitions and restructuring. His career spans retail buying and senior leadership roles across global fashion brands. Former Chair of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, he brings deep expertise in clothing, manufacturing and the wider textile sector, highly relevant to the work of Dressability.
Nicola Probert-Thompson – Vice Chair
Nicola has been involved with Dressability for a number of years, as carer to her late husband whom was a client of Dressability. Nicola is incredibly passionate about contributing to the ongoing success of the charity and understands the needs and position of service users well. Nicola plays an active role in pushing the charity forward, engaging with our clients regularly and donating a great deal of time and personal effort to ensure their needs are met. Nicola also helps to run a military veterans breakfast club in Swindon.
Beryl FitzGerald – Trustee
Beryl has been connected with Dressability since the organisation began and has generously donated her time to being a trustee for over 14 years. Previously working alongside Occupational Therapists, Beryl brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that is beneficial to the design of our service and understanding of our client’s needs. In particular, we are very fortunate that Beryl supports our volunteers in achieving the charity’s objectives, using her extensive knowledge of the service to ultimately benefit our clients.
Chris Ockwell – Trustee
Hello, I’m Chris, now retired, after working most of my life in Swindon, with 20+ years at Raychem/Tyco, live with my wife Sue, recently celebrated our 50th anniversary, along with grown up daughters Jo & Ros. Currently, I do various volunteering jobs…. Dial a Ride, Food Collective, GWH, Prospect & have been a Trustee at U3A for many years & also a Trustee and Treasurer at a local Rotary Club.
Teresa Elliott – Trustee
Teresa brings with her 40 years of voluntary experience alongside a full career within the health and social sector, working in hospitals, community and Hospice settings. She is a keen sewer, starting by making her children’s’ clothes and now passionate about recycling and reusing fabric to make clothes for herself and crafting. Her background makes her more than aware of the needs of disabled people and their families.
