Kirsty Fields
Founder
Kirsty Fields is the founder of Off The Streets. She started out working in the theatre on many different pantomimes and productions, was a nanny, and she’s also helped run a youth club for the under 17’s. Growing up, her passion was always to help people, and she believes everyone deserves a chance. Her positive “we can do this” approach means any hurdle we hit we find a way over. Kirsty was awarded the Community Safety Hero Award by the police, and she is also a social entrepreneur.
Karen Fields
Project Supervisor
Karen Fields grew up in a musical family and spent many years performing with a local operatic society. Karen’s two passions in life are theatre and childcare, and she was fortunate enough to follow both passions.
Karen worked backstage for over 10 years at a local theatre in Southend and met a number of famous names! Karen is NNEB trained and spent a number of years nannying, and then went onto opening her own crèche at a local sports centre in Southend.
Karen is very proud of her daughter Kirsty who founded Off The Streets and is enjoying her time helping her.
Elaine Priest
Chair of Trustees
Elaine Priest has over 25 years’ experience working in the financial services industry, and has a passion for helping people take positive steps on their journey.
Through her work she has helped numerous charities, but she now wants to dedicate more of her personal time to help the local area and the homeless.
In her spare time Elaine enjoys spending time with her family and three daughters.
Del Thomas
Trustee
Del Thomas, 42, is married with four children/stepchildren. He was invited to help Off the Streets right from the start and continues to support the charity as a trustee. He previously worked as a primary school teacher, and project worker for HARP.
Outside of work he was a street pastor for 14 years and was heavily involved with the Winter Night Shelters, and ran various churches and soup kitchens. He has worked with the homeless in Southend for about 15 years.
Del loves football and is a keen Arsenal supporter. He enjoys walks, jigsaws, history, coin collecting, bird watching, and helping others.
Sally Mortimore
Trustee
Sally Mortimore is a registered social worker who has worked with children and families for 25 years in child protection services in both local authorities and the NSPCC. Since 2014 she has been the managing director of a social enterprise that provides specialist services to children in local authority care and family law proceedings.
Sally has been a trustee with Off The Streets since May 2019 and brings to the charity not only her background in safeguarding children and adults but also her experience in business, marketing and governance. She is the charity’s lead trustee for safeguarding and data protection. Sally lives with her family near the shelter in Westcliff-on-Sea.
Emmet Perry
Trustee
Emmet Perry was born in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1954, and is number 10 of 14 children (seven boys and seven girls). Alongside his partner of 35 years, he has two adult daughters, and has lived in Leigh-on-Sea for over 20 years.
In 1972 Emmet moved to England where he trained and worked as a psychiatric nurse until 1979, when he embarked upon a two year training course to become a qualified social worker. Between 1981 and 1987, he worked with children and families, and throughout the following 23 years he worked in several management roles within adult services for Essex County Council. Emmet joined Southend Borough Council in 2010 where he managed the fostering service until his retirement in March 2019.
Emmet has been involved as a volunteer with a wide range of charities at different times and at different levels for more than 40 years.
Riikka Reed
Trustee
Riikka Reed has worked in the financial services industry for over 15 years as an administrative assistant. Riikka was born in Finland and moved to England after finishing her degree. She now lives in Southend with her family.
Riikka joined Off The Streets as a trustee in 2022. She wanted to help people in her local community and felt that everyone deserves help to reach the next chapter in their lives. After observing the great work of Off The Streets, she wanted to lend her skills and expertise to help with running off the charity.
Clair Walford
Trustee
Clair Walford is a Global HR Business Partner and has over 12 years’ experience partnering with businesses to provide advice and counsel on all aspects of Human Resources.
Clair is passionate about helping others and has participated in a number of sporting events including the London marathon to raise funds for charity.
Most recently Clair completed the London to Surrey 100 mile bike ride to support Off The Streets, and in May 2021 joined our Board of Trustees.
