At the beginning of Trustees’ Week, we are delighted to announce that Danielle Friend, owner of accountancy practice Create Balance has joined our Board at The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre.
Danielle brings with her extensive charity experience. Through Create Balance, which is based just outside Tunbridge Wells, she provides Finance Director (FD) services to a regional air ambulance charity as well as previously being the FD of a Maidstone-based drug and alcohol charity.
“My experience isn’t just finance, as I’ve led on HR, IT and Estates – which has given me a wealth of experience and an all-round strategic view of how charities run to better service their primary mission,” says Danielle, who was born and raised in Tunbridge Wells and attended Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School (TWGGS).
She began her finance career as an apprentice in a local accountancy practice before heading for the bright lights of London. Danielle then found herself back in Tunbridge Wells in 2004 working for a local export business, before launching her own practice in 2013.
Today, Danielle lives in Tunbridge Wells with her partner Andrew, their daughter Emily and two dogs, Baxter and Barney.
“Pickering is a charity close to my heart and I’ve wanted to be part of it for some time,” says Danielle. “In 2022, I lost a very dear friend to cancer and she had cared a lot about the charity, even before she was ill. To continue to see it thrive and help so many others will be part of her legacy. To serve as part of the Pickering board and be given the opportunity to shape the future of the charity, is nothing short of a privilege.”
Our Board also includes Chair, David Bartholomew, Angela Ward, Karen Dodd, Chris Maslin, Richard Moore, Dr Rema Jyothirmayi and Dr Jonathan Angel.
“We are delighted to welcome Danielle to the Pickering board,” says David Bartholomew. “As well as bringing a wide understanding of the charity sector, she has seen first hand the support Pickering gives to people with cancer and their family and friends.”