With decades of experience in the charity sector and expertise spanning operations, social housing, fundraising and communications, we’re thrilled to welcome three new members to Homeless Oxfordshire’s Board of Trustees. Introducing James Boultbee, Vanessa Ellis and Michael Rudd…
James Boultbee
From volunteering and working as a support worker to setting up a night shelter and becoming an Operations Manager, James has worked within the homelessness sector in a range of different roles since 2005. He is now the CEO of two charities in Buckinghamshire which aim to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.
“I’ve been aware of Homeless Oxfordshire for a long time and have always admired the work of the charity so when an opportunity came up to join the board I was really interested in that. After coming to my first trustee meeting, I have to say I was really impressed with the dedication and the incredible professionalism in the way the charity is run.
“To tell the truth, I think I’ve got as much to learn from Homeless Oxfordshire as anything else. But I do really hope that my long experience of planning and delivering services for people experiencing homelessness will mean I can help it to provide the most effective and impactful services possible!”
Vanessa Ellis
Vanessa began her career in the voluntary sector 20 years ago, after spending several years working in marketing and account management for corporates and marketing agencies. Following her role as Head of Fundraising for an Oxfordshire-based charity, she went on to become the Director of Development for a national charity, significantly increasing its fundraising income to enable the expansion of its services across the UK.
“It is a great privilege to join an excellent Board of Trustees and become part of an impressive and dedicated team across Homeless Oxfordshire who are working incredibly hard to improve the daily lives and future opportunities for people experiencing homelessness.
“I was immensely impressed with the Charity’s profound commitment to supporting people experiencing homelessness, the diversity of high quality support it currently provides and its future ambitions. It is an exciting time to become involved in helping the Charity to achieve its goals to reach more homeless people across Oxfordshire and diversify its much-needed support over the coming years.
“I hope my experience in senior leadership teams at two charities supporting vulnerable people will further strengthen the Board in providing excellent governance for Homeless Oxfordshire across the many important dimensions of its work. Having led successful fundraising operations at local and national charities, I hope I can also help to increase awareness of the lifeline its work offers and generate significantly more sustainable income.”
Michael Rudd
Driven by a commitment to progress, Michael has spent his career working with others on solutions that make a difference in people’s lives. Recently, he has contributed to a social housing improvement initiative – making homes warmer, more efficient, and affordable for residents; helped develop digital tools that fund community-led green projects in low and middle-income countries; and played a part in a city-wide sustainability partnership advancing fair access to jobs, education, and healthier homes in underrepresented communities.
“What inspired me to join Homeless Oxfordshire was seeing how its trauma-informed approach transforms lives shaped by disadvantage – creating real pathways from crisis to safety, stability and hope. I deeply value an organisation that addresses root causes, not just symptoms. For me, this isn’t simply about providing accommodation – it’s about offering an open door when people need it most, and recognising that everyone’s journey is unique, and everyone deserves respect and a genuine chance to rebuild.
“I’m grateful to play my part in the Homeless Oxfordshire community, where we all work together to support both the people we serve and our exceptional team who meet them with skill and compassion. Our collective focus remains on expanding our impact while maintaining the personalised, dignity-centred approach that defines our work. Thank you to everyone for helping make this possible.”
