Meet the Team

Interested in becoming a Newquay Foodbank volunteer? Get in touch with one of our friendly team for more information or take a look at our current volunteering opportunities.

Our staff team 

Zoe Nixon – Strategic Manager

I’m Zoe Nixon, the Strategic Manager for Newquay Foodbank. I’ve volunteered at Newquay Foodbank as a Session Manager for the past 4 years and was delighted to be appointed as Foodbank Manager in April 2023.

My role is to ensure we deliver a sustainable provision in the Newquay area, including partnerships with some excellent local organisations and charities. We must provide a dignified, caring and supportive service that enables families & individuals to navigate difficult times in their lives.

Our vision is to work towards a time when food banks are no longer needed. While we are here, we will raise awareness around the issues of food insecurity and poverty, whilst breaking down the stigma surrounding food bank use.

In my spare time, I am keen on spending time gardening in my allotment. 

 

Stacey Matthias – Operations Manager

My name is Stacey Matthias. I’ve lived in Newquay for 40 years after moving here from South Yorkshire. In 2024, I joined Newquay Food Bank as the Assistant Manager. 

After spending 15 years as an Early Years Tutor at Truro College, my daughter and I decided on a career change and became the owners of The Garden Café tearoom and function venue at Trenance Heritage Cottages in Newquay. The thing we loved most about our business was the friendships we built with our customers.

After several years running the tearooms, I briefly returned to teaching before realising I missed seeing people and engaging with the community. This is when I came across the role at Newquay Foodbank and knew I had to apply!

Working with Newquay Foodbank has given me the opportunity to support my local community and give a little something back to the great place that my family and I had grown up in. There is a reason why I’ve never left Newquay – nowhere else in the UK is better! 

We have an amazing set of volunteers that I love working with. The volunteers here make Newquay Foodbank so special and I’m very privileged to be working alongside all of them.

Mike Bridges – Finance and Administration Officer

My name is Mike Bridges, my background is predominately finance so the role at Newquay Foodbank was a perfect fit for me. 

I have been working with Newquay Foodbank for just over a year and see every day as a learning day and an opportunity to contribute my skills to the team.

I continue to love working in finance. In my spare time, I am passionate about keeping fit, walking and living in Cornwall.

 

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Our Trustees 

Our trustees are the people who share responsibility for leading the charity and deciding how it is run. They make sure that we have a clear strategy, that our work and goals are in line with our vision, and that the charity is run sustainably. Our board of trustees are all volunteers, bringing a huge range of skills and experience to help us run Newquay Foodbank. 

 

Richard Williams – Chair of Trustees

My name is Richard Williams. I’ve been in Cornwall since 2004 and live locally to Newquay Foodbank in St Columb Major.

I have many years experience of working in Local Government and the Voluntary Sector, finishing at a senior level in 2016. Following a short rest with retirement, I became involved with the Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum, leading a change and modernising agenda to secure it as a key infrastructure organisation for Cornwall.

I have long been interested in the causes of poverty and constantly sought solutions for those who find themselves in this situation. I was aware that Newquay Foodbank was a driving force in combatting food poverty in the North Cornwall area and knew it would be a great place for me to direct my skills and energy.

 

Claire North – Vice Chair and Volunteers Lead

Proud to be Newquay born and raised, I have lived back in Newquay since returning home after gaining my university degree in Natural Sciences. I initially started volunteering as a volunteer officer for a local environmental conservation charity. I have also worked in a variety of roles for 13 years supporting young people and vulnerable adults in undertaking environmental conservation and horticultural tasks across mid-Cornwall.

After this, I joined the National Trust in West Cornwall in 2014 where I now lead visitor experience and operations at three properties near Helston and Penzance. I also support 6 staff and over 130 volunteers in welcoming visitors to our places and looking after our historic buildings, collections, gardens and parkland.

I have volunteered as a session volunteer at St Columb Major for over 3 years and joined the Board of Trustees at the end of 2021.

I am currently studying for an MA in curation with work. In my spare time, I enjoy gardening, travelling, coastal walking and sea swimming.

Grant Vigor – Treasurer

My name is Grant. I have 16 years of experience in accounting and payroll and currently work in the payroll department for a large multinational company. 

I’ve lived in Cornwall for much of my life and currently live in mid-Cornwall. I first joined Newquay Foodbank 2 years ago as a volunteer at the weekly St Columb sessions after my partner and I decided that the time had come to give back to and support the communities around us. 

Following this, in late 2023 I was asked to join the Trustee Board as a Treasurer and put my experience in many accounting fields to good use. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, golf, writing and working with my classic cars.

Secretary – Vacant

 

David Pettigrew – Health and Safety Lead

 

Grace Blakeley – Fundraising and Grants Lead

 

Joe Brook – Non-Portfolio

My name is Joe Brook. I’ve lived in Newquay for over 8 years after moving here with my family from London.

I work as a qualified psychologist, helping children and young people. My decision to join Newquay Foodbank’s Board of Trustees stems from a desire to help the efforts of its fantastic workers and volunteers so that the people of Newquay and the surrounding area can get the help and support they need.

Prior to moving to Newquay, I was a governor in two different schools. Then, since October 2021, I have been a Newquay Town Councillor, representing Trenance Ward for the Green Party.

 

Luke Cox – Safeguarding Lead

My name is Luke and I am one of the newly appointed trustees, with an emphasis on Safeguarding for Newquay Foodbank.

Having worked for Devon and Cornwall Police and the British Red Cross as a trainer, I am qualified in Safeguarding and Prevent, as well as being CALMER psychosocial practitioner.

Working as a trustee for the foodbank allows me to make a positive difference in people’s lives and help strengthen this incredible organisation who do so much for families that require everyday living assistance.

In my spare time, I like to hike along our incredible coastline in Cornwall and enjoy paddleboarding, although I do seem to spend more time in the water than on it!

 

Natalie Dow – Leadership Lead

I’m Natalie and I am a Leadership Coach, Consultant, and Facilitator with over 20 years of experience in helping people and organisations thrive. 

I have spent most of my career supporting leaders in health and social care to create positive change and achieve great results for the populations they serve. My work includes coaching, leadership development, team development, and facilitation. I specialise in developing collaboration and partnership working, which aligns perfectly with the approach at Newquay Foodbank.

Joining Newquay Food Bank as a Trustee was an easy decision for me as I was keen to be a part of helping our local community and tackling food insecurity in Newquay and the surrounding areas. I was drawn to Newquay Foodbank’s vision and commitment to providing emergency food and support with compassion and dignity, whilst working towards a future where food banks are no longer needed.

When I’m not running my business, I love spending time with my family in Newquay and engaging in activities that promote well-being and connection. I live locally with my husband, our two amazing teenagers, and our two (usually sandy) dogs.

 

Nick Appleby – GDPR Lead

My name is Nick Appleby. I have been a volunteer at Newquay Foodbank for nearly four years. In this time, I have undertaken many roles from box packer to temporary centre lead. 

My main roles in the St Columb Major centre are front-of-house work with those who come to us and delivering boxes to local people who can’t get in themselves.

My employment outside the foodbank is with a large schools trust based in West London, where I am Director of Training.  

I have experience in governance and the development of staff. My drive in both my day job and as a volunteer is for social equality, particularly for those in our society whose voices tend not to be heard.

 

Tyler Cross – Men’s Mental Health Lead

I’ve been a volunteer with Newquay Foodbank for over 2 years now, having previously facilitated talking groups for a men’s mental health organisation here in Cornwall. It was noticing the links between mental health and food insecurity that led me to volunteer with the foodbank, alongside the desire to have a genuine impact in the county I’m proud to have lived in all my life.

In my professional life, I have worked in the creative industry for almost a decade and am proud to predominantly work with charities and purpose-driven organisations who are on a mission to do good, whether that’s for people or planet. 

Outside of this, I’m often enjoying a long hike or sea swim somewhere along Cornwall’s beautiful coastline.

 

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