Helping Hands' UK Team

Debbie Newman

Debbie founded Helping Hands in 2004 after working with young school children in rural Uganda for a year. She has spent the last five years enabling others to get to know these children and their communities and so find ways to be involved. Her agricultural background (University of Edinburgh) and teaching experience have combined in this rural work, and the latter is proving vital as many UK children are coming on board through Top Bananas, the junior arm of Helping Hands. Originally from Scotland, Debbie now lives just outside Oxford.

Our Trustees

Mark Gyde is the Chairman of the Trustee Board. He guides us with financial insight as an accountant and with a huge heart as the man who set up "A Father to you". Mark and his wife, Fiona, are committed to seeing the love of God touch the many children in Uganda who have not known a father’s love.

Cathie Jones is a trained teacher who runs Teachwell, a well-being consultancy for teachers in Oxfordshire. Cathie is motivated by a great love for children and an awareness of what they need so as to learn well. She is a great asset in building and caring for the wider team in Uganda and UK.

Philip Pike is an energy conservation engineer who works for Oxford University. He has lived and worked in Kenya and Zambia for several years. Together with his wife, Deborah, he brings a very practical and fresh approach to discussions and decision-making. He also brings a clear desire for the local people to benefit from sustainable solutions.

Our UK Team

To run a charity requires many hands and we are so grateful to the following friends: Fi McCree, Clara Mason, Patrick Gale, Ali Wisbey, Gilly Simmonds, Elizabeth Harfield, Sally Mason, Andrea Colbrook, Margaret Maycock, Beryl Newman, Tim Hubbard, Nick Rous, Megan Prosser, Ellie Simmonds, Barney Howard, Emily Colbrook, Tim Pottle, Steve Wilson, Liz Bruce, Hannah Bruce….They do everything from accounts to websites, give us advice and encouragement, organise sales and design catalogues, update churches and write Facebook pages, run Top Bananas and host prayer times. Each one of these friends is invaluable.

See Helping Hands Ugandan Team.

Debbie Newman, the Director of Helping Hands UK

Trustees of Helping Hands, Phillip Pike and Mark Gyde.

Helping Hands in Uganda is a charity registered in England and Wales no. 1113418