Trustees
Claire Hopkins, Trustee since February 2025
Since a career change in 2017, Claire has worked for the Local Authority as a Social Worker and in Special Educational Needs (SEN) as an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Coordinator. More recently Claire has been working in children’s mental health specialising in adapting therapeutic sessions for autistic children and children with learning disabilities.
Claire previously worked for Assist Trust as the in-house Social Worker. Claire has recently returned to university to expand her career further.
Estelle Corner (Housing Sub-Committee), Trustee since February 2025
Estelle is a solicitor and partner at law firm Howes Percival LLP. She has over 20 years of experience working in commercial property in London and Norwich, and more recently has specialised in social housing. She leads a team of social housing lawyers advising registered providers/housing associations, local authorities and developers on all aspects of social housing acquisition, funding, development and disposal. She has a particular interest in social housing policy and regulation and supported housing and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Bob Holderness (Chair of the Trustees), Trustee since November 2022
Bob has worked in education since 1995, both in mainstream and complex needs schools. He was a member of the senior leadership team in a Norfolk Complex Need School for sixteen years, latterly as Head teacher, and saw the school through four outstanding Ofsted inspections. He was fortunate to have the opportunity to set up and run Pathways College, a bespoke independence provision ensuring successful transition for young people with complex needs making the move from school into Further Education.
Since leaving Headship he has worked as a Transformation Officer for the Local Authority representing the Complex Needs sector in the commissioning of Speech and Language provision, as a Stage 2 SEND Investigating Officer and supporting the auditing process for complex needs schools. As an Independent SEND advisor, he has supported the restructuring of the leadership and management of a complex needs school and reviewed the school’s graduated approach to meeting the needs of current and future pupils. Bob has also supported colleagues in the Local Authority on various projects related to positive outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational needs and disabilities.
Between them, the Trustees at Assist bring a wide range of skills and experience to the roles they undertake. At monthly meetings and via a number of sub-committees (such as finance, HR, risk and safeguarding) they keep a clear overview of all functions and operations at Assist, making sure that the finances, aims and objectives of the Trust are maintained satisfactorily at all times. With backgrounds in social care, health, education, business, property and finance, the Trustees are able to provide essential support to the management team at the Trust, while taking a more direct role in all strategy and planning discussions.
Matt Langley (Housing sub-Committee), Trustee since February 2017
Matt qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist in 1995 and has worked in this role in mental health, in Paediatrics and with adults with learning disabilities. He now specialises in Orthopaedic Triage for the Norfolk Community Healthcare Trust.
As a private landlord with properties in Norwich, Matt is able to bring this experience to consultations on all housing developments at the Trust, along with his expertise with the health service.
Jim Tremlett (Finance sub – Committee), Trustee since October 2021
Jim is an IT Consultant, working for DXC Technology, one of the world’s largest IT service providers, and is currently working with a global insurance market customer to define and develop their future strategy. Jim provides IT support for Assist Trust and helps with website presence and social media strategy.
Rachael Morris (Risk and Safeguarding sub-Committee), Trustee since November 2022
Rachael has worked for Norfolk County Council for over 20 years, in a range of administrative roles initially in staff recruitment, including Head Teachers. She currently works in the Finance and Commercial Services Directorate leading a team dealing with HR and Payroll Transactions. Prior to NCC Rachael worked in banking for 13 years. Rachael’s sister is a member of Assist Trust.
Claire Sewell (Risk and Safeguarding subcommittee), Trustee since February 2024
Claire is part of the Norfolk and Norwich university hospital occupational therapy team. Claire has previous experience working in Stroke, neurology, older peoples medicine and front door. Claire has a particular interest in the role of OT within mental health and learning disabilities; and has created her own role within NNUH as the occupational therapy learning disability champion.
Paul Corney, Trustee since April 24
Paul, who is now retired, worked or various Councils in Revenues and Benefits (Council Tax and Business Rates collection and the calculation of entitlement to Housing and Council Tax Benefits).
Paul started as an assessment officer with Broadland Council and 25 years later became the Head of the Anglia Revenues Partnership providing Revenues and Benefits services in a partnership of 7 District Councils across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Paul brings comprehensive knowledge of Housing Benefits and some knowledge of aspects of Housing to Assist Trust which will be of great value to us.