The Jesmond Trust is overseen by a board of trustees who share responsibility for ensuring the charity is governed and managed in accordance with its charitable objects, doctrinal basis, and Charity Commission guidance.
All current trustees are members of Jesmond Parish Church. The trustees bring a mix of pastoral and organisational experience. On appointment and annually thereafter, each trustee signs a formal statement confirming their agreement with the objects of The Jesmond Trust and its doctrinal basis as set out in the Trust’s constitution.
Richard Ballard
Richard has lived in and around Newcastle since birth and has been a member of Jesmond Parish Church for over 25 years. He lives with his wife and 3 young children, and has over 15 years experience as an engineer and department manager. Richard has served in youth work and as a home group leader during his time at JPC. His hope and prayer is that through the work of The Jesmond trust we would see a real impact to biblically faithful church growth and evangelism.
Hilary Caisley
Hilary has been a member of Jesmond Parish Church for over 30 years and has served in a range of ministry areas during that time. A teacher by profession, she brings a wealth of leadership experience and a strong commitment to supporting faithful gospel work in the North East of England and internationally. Hilary joined The Jesmond Trust as a trustee in 2022
Rachel Charlesworth
Rachel came to Newcastle from Down South to study in 1997 and has been grown and discipled through JPC ever since. She has been involved with various ministries over the years but now focusses on youth work, including leading the biennial CYFA mission trips to Johannesburg. A trustee since the summer of 2024, she loves that she can be involved in supporting the spread of biblical truth through the support that the Trust enables.
Fiona Digby
Fiona has lived and worked in Newcastle for 25 years, worshipping at JPC since arriving as an English Literature student from Northern Ireland. She is married with two teenage sons and has served the wider church family in a variety of roles throughout her time: from under 7s to teenage and student groups, as well as Women’s and Home Groups. She hopes that as a trustee she can continue with her passion of seeing people grow in knowledge and love of Jesus.
Gordon Macfadyen
Gordon has been a member of Jesmond Parish Church since 1988, and is currently a home-group leader, a student Focus-group leader and is involved in developing small-group leadership across the church. Following 20 years as a lecturer at Northumbria University he now works part-time as a programme manager in theological education for Crosslands. His role as trustee commenced in September 2025.
Will Tufton
Will grew up in Cumbria but has lived in Newcastle since arriving as a student in 1996. He came to faith at JPC in 1998 and currently serves as a Home Group leader. He was a Churchwarden at JPC from 2018 til 2025. He is married to Liz and they have 3 children. He has worked as a GP in North Shields since 2006.