Trustees & Council of reference

Toybox Trustees

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  David Lowbridge (Chair)

  David has been married to Sheila since 1974 and they have two sons. David's career spans retailing and brand marketing both in the UK and overseas and includes a period as Managing Director of the UK's Fairtrade Foundation during a time of significant development for that organisation. David also runs Bridges Management Limited, a consultancy specialising in working with SMEs and charities on strategic issues. In 2005 he travelled to Guatemala for Toybox. He is a member of St Leonards church in Chesham Bois, involved in leading worship and has travelled with the New Wine team, helping with the training and development of Prayer Ministry to Finland and Wales and various other churches in the UK. He is an Advisor for Alpha in the South Buckinghamshire area. In his spare time David enjoys cycling (miles and miles and miles!!), playing his guitars, sailing and reading. David is also a trustee of Iain Rennie Hospice at Home which has recently merged with Grove House, a day hospice in St Albans.

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  Nikki Adlam

  Nikki is married to Chris and they live in Norwich with their son, Toby and daughter Grace. Nikki is a solicitor specialising in commercial litigation. During 2006, Nikki and Chris lived and worked in Guatemala as part of Latin Link's Stride project. As volunteers with El Castillo, they spent most of their time assisting the street team, whilst also working in the protection house, the school and spending time with the children at Casa Bernebe. Nikki and Chris travelled to Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Peru, Argentina, Chile and Brazil before returning to the UK. In the little free time she has, Nikki enjoys sport, travel and learning (much to the dismay of her neighbours!) to play the sax.

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  John Eke

  John has been married to Linda, an adolescent counsellor, for 37 years. They have five children. John worked as an accountant for the National Children's Bureau and Save the Children Fund before joining a Christian-run epilepsy centre as Finance Director in the late 1980s. John retired in 2005, but he says he is busier now than when he was working. He is a member of the Vineyard Church in St. Alban's, where he leads a home group and serves in the men's ministry as well as a healing ministry. He also puts his experience in finance to work at the church as a co-opted director. In addition to serving as a Toybox trustee, John is a trustee for the Consortium for Street Children. In the very little free time he has left, he enjoys golfing, sailing, and attempting to take up skiing.

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  Martin Jennings

  Martin is married to Joanna and is a member of 4kids.com (aged 16 to 4). He and his wife worked for six years with the Anglican Church in DR Congo - Martin as an agriculturalist & community development adviser. He joined Tearfund's Disaster Management Team in 1994 on a short term assignment as a logistician in the initial response to the Rwandan genocide, and has subsequently held a number of posts within Tearfund. Those posts include: Regional Overseas Personnel Manager, Project Officer and West & Central Africa Team Leader. He recently took up the role of Head of Region for West Africa. Martin's educational background is in Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development. A Swahili- & French-speaker, Martin enjoys travel, walking and gardening, and was once a keen athlete! He is a member of St Leonard's Church, Chesham Bois.

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  Jeni York

  Jeni is married to Peter and they have two grown up daughters. Jeni was Human Resources Director at World Vision UK for 21 years. During that time Jeni travelled to many developing countries visiting projects designed to relieve poverty and she experienced poverty first hand and the appalling affect this has on many lives. Jeni led a Baptist church for several years and is now an Elder at Kislingbury Baptist Church. She is on the Board of Innovista International, a charity which nurtures and equips young Christian leaders. She is also Chair of the local School of Governors. Her passion has always been to see lives transformed and to see people reach their full potential, developing both professionally and spiritually.



Joanna Watson

Joanna has more than a decade’s experience in NGO advocacy and international development. She has lived and worked in a variety of countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. She currently works for Tearfund, providing advocacy advice, guidance and training to Tearfund’s staff and partners. She previously worked with Viva, during which time she was privileged to be able to lobby the UK government and the United Nations, as part of a number of child-focused and rights-focused advocacy coalitions. She is experienced in supporting others to do advocacy, in different contexts, on humanitarian and development issues. She has had a number of articles published, including in ‘Understanding God’s Heart for Children‘, (Authentic, 2007) and she has written various Tearfund resources, including the second edition of Tearfund’s ‘Advocacy Toolkit’ (to be published, 2013). Away from work, Joanna enjoys cycling, swimming and hill walking, but mostly she enjoys spending time with family and friends. 

Council of Reference

• Rev Steve Chalke MBE

  Steve was ordained as a Baptist Minister in 1981, having studied at Spurgeon's Theological College in London. He is married to Cornelia and they have four children.In 1985 Steve Chalke set up the Oasis Trust in order to open a hostel for homeless people. He launched Parentalk, an organisation dedicated to inspiring and equipping parents; he has laid the foundation for the Faithworks Movement, has presented his own TV series for ITV and BBC and was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List 2004 for his services to social inclusion.

• Rev Joel Edwards

  Rev Joel is the General Director of the Evangelical Alliance UK. He was born in Jamaica and came to Britain at the age of eight. He is married to Carol and has two grown up children. He is also an ordained minister of the New Testament Church of God where he served as a local pastor for 10 years. Joel's vision is to see the Church become a movement for change, working together to bring biblical transformation to society.

• Jill Garrett

  Jill is Director of Leadership Development at Caret where she heads up Executive Development and Strategic Planning. She is married with a daughter and has a passion to see people achieve their potential. Jill is a trustee of The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity and is a committed Christian.

• Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick

  Michael Hastings is the International Director for Corporate Citizenship with KPMG - essentially the Global Head of CSR for the firm worldwide. Michael is a committed follower of Jesus Christ. He has a degree in Theology from the London School of Theology and is a member of St Andrew's Church, Chorleywood. He previously headed up the BBC's Public Affairs department in Westminster. In 2005 Michael was awarded the honour of an independent cross bench peerage to the House of Lords. He assumed his seat on 6th Dec 2005. Michael received the UNICEF award from the UK Chancellor Gordon Brown MP and Lord David Puttnam, Chairman of UNICEF for his 'outstanding contribution to understanding and effecting solutions for Africa's children. Michael is married to Jane and has three children.

• Bishop Mike Hill

  Bishop Mike and his wife, Anthea, haver four daughters and a son, ranging in age from 29 to 20. His first curacy in the Church of England was in the Diocese of Canterbury. He was appointed Bishop of Buckingham in 1998 Among many other commitments, he is also involved with the Breakfast Run, a local project which works with the homeless. As a teacher and lecturer he is particularly valued for his contribution to an understanding of the Church as a missionary organisation.

• Ishmael

  Ishmael (Rev Ian Smale) has been travelling around internationally in a 'full time' capacity since 1970 and has been privileged to see many men, women and children become Christians through the work God has called him to. He has written and recorded nearly 400 songs. Although he loves spending time with children his heart is to see all ages praising God together. Ishmael and his wife Irene enjoy worshipping at Chichester Cathedral. They have three grown up children, Joseph, Daniel and Suzy.

• J. John

  J.John is regarded as one of the most creative speakers in the UK. He has an appeal that transcends gender, age, culture and occupation. J. John has authored 30 titles printed in 13 languages. He has a Lambeth MA and is an Honorary Canon of Coventry Cathedral. The Philo Trust was launched as a registered charity in 1980. Since then it has enabled him to lead over 250 missions throughout the UK and overseas, developing many innovative approaches to communicating the message of Christianity. He is Killy's husband and father to Michael, Simeon and Benjamin.

• Peter Meadows

  Peter has been on the leading edge of communication in the UK church for over twenty five years as a speaker, writer and 'starter of things'. In particular he co-founded Spring Harvest, founded Premier Christian Radio, co-created the Y Course, an evangelism resource to reach the un-churched generation. Peter has been married to Rosemary for 35 years. They are active members of their local Anglican church in Surrey and have five adult children.

• Rev Mark Melluish

  Mark, who is married to Lindsay lives with their five children in Ealing, London where Mark is vicar of St Paul's, a renewed Anglican church. Over the last few years St Paul's has grown significantly and Mark has had the privilege of speaking both at home and abroad about his experience of church growth. Together they have written a book and pioneered a course on parenting children - 'Family Time' which has recently been launched on DVD. Mark has also co-authored a book on Evangelism.