I am Jennifer, happily married to Gary and mother to three children. I am a Christian, and although I come from a strong background in corporate sales, my story goes far beyond business. Early in my career, I secured a three million a year contract and contributed to the fastest growing business in the United Kingdom in network marketing. These achievements strengthened my skills in leadership, communication and collaboration, but they are only one part of my journey.

I have journeyed from victim to victor, overcoming domestic abuse, adversity and injustice that once tried to silence me. These experiences have shaped my resilience and the way I approach both work and life. It is a miracle that I am here today, and I embrace every moment with gratitude, strength and purpose.

Instead of dwelling on the past, I have transformed pain into passion. My journey has given me resilience, empathy and a deep desire to help others rise above their own struggles. I know what it feels like to lose everything and even face homelessness with three young children. There were three decades of lived experience of domestic abuse. I know what it is like to feel lonely, homeless, poor, beaten, rejected, hated, exhausted and to be a single mum. Yet during that journey, while living in a refuge, I came to a place of faith, and that is where this charity was born.

As part of my commitment to serving others, I trained as an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate, known as an IDVA, to ensure we deliver the best, safest and most innovative practice in the support we provide. This training equips me to advocate effectively for those experiencing domestic abuse and to help build services rooted in compassion, protection and dignity.

The Lampstand Group exists for people with lived experience of trauma, mental health challenges, disabilities and homelessness caused by domestic abuse. As a board, we are devoted to demonstrating love, value and appreciation, because we understand what it is like to be overlooked, rejected and misunderstood.

Our message is simple: you are loved, valued and appreciated. You do not need to change or pretend to be someone else. Just come as you are.

We are working towards providing housing for those who become homeless through domestic abuse. Our Grace and Glitter art therapy days will also support our long term goal of acquiring a minibus so we can enjoy much needed days out, as requested by the people we support. My own journey fuels my compassion for those who feel unseen or overlooked and for the children who are now rightly recognised as victims in their own lives.

Above all, I believe in being a light in someone’s pain. By the grace of God, I rose. As a woman of faith, I moved from victim to victor, from merely surviving to truly thriving. My journey has taught me the power of resilience, the healing force of compassion and the strength that comes when faith turns adversity into purpose.

This charity is not about me. It is about what God can do through a life that has been broken, rebuilt and surrendered. He is using every experience, every trial and every victory to allow my story to become hope for someone else.

My name is Gary, and I’m originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. I’m a trained jazz drummer with a background in construction, but my greatest calling has always been to love and serve others.

When Hurricane Katrina struck, I lost my home. Those were difficult times, but through them, I learned the power of faith, resilience, and community.

After relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, I experienced a season of renewal. My heart was opened to the struggles of people facing homelessness, addiction, and hardship experiences that my wife and I both understand personally. We’ve each known what it feels like to lose everything, to have nowhere to turn, and to rebuild our lives from the ground up. Those lived experiences have given us a deep compassion for others walking through similar challenges.

Caring for my mother, even until her passing, taught me the true meaning of selfless love. It also deepened my empathy for those who feel forgotten, rejected, or alone.

When my wife and I met, our lives and passions came together in a shared purpose. We both have a heart for people, music, and service. Together, we aim to meet others with open arms, kindness, and encouragement offering hope and understanding to anyone who crosses our path.

Three years ago, I moved to the United Kingdom, and I’ve grown to truly love the British people and their sense of warmth, humor, and community. My wife and I are currently training to become pastors, and we’re preparing to form a worship band that brings people together through music, joy, and shared experience.

Through prayer and research, we’ve seen a real need for good, meaningful days out opportunities for people to relax, connect, and find joy away from life’s challenges. Our vision is to create welcoming spaces where everyone can experience peace, belonging, and encouragement.

Our hearts are fully committed to serving others with love and humility. We believe that through compassion, music, and community, lives can be uplifted, hope can be renewed, and people can find strength and purpose one heart at a time.

My name is Lisa Russell and I am honoured to serve as the Chair of The Lampstand Group. I am 53 years old, a devoted mother of seven and a proud grandmother of four. Having been blessed with children, I have been taught patience, resilience and the importance of nurturing others. These qualities shape the way I lead and serve today.

My journey in community support began when I became a Foundation Governor and later the Chair of Governors. I served for a total of six years and during this time I provided strong leadership, using my lived experience, insight and advocacy to support children, families and staff within the education sector.

My passion for supporting women led me to volunteer at Preston Road Women’s Centre. This inspired me to open my own service called Wings, which supports women in the Ings area.

Alongside my governance work I began pastoral training through the newly established House of Treasure church. Although changes within the church meant I could not complete my formal training, my commitment to pastoral care remains strong. I continue to grow in this area as we build the church, the community hub and accommodation.

I am a Christian and I believe wholeheartedly in the impossible. As a team we are standing together in faith, holding up the need and trusting God for the vision we are building.

With my own lived experience of domestic abuse I bring authenticity, empathy and a natural ability to connect with others who have faced similar challenges. I consider myself warm and compassionate, with a dedication to supporting others and a determination to keep learning and developing. These qualities help me serve as a committed advocate and leader within my community.

Hi, I’m Julie Burton.

I’m a Christian, a mother of three, and I spent 33 years working as a nurse. It was during a domestic abuse course that I realised I had personally experienced abuse, and that moment changed the course of my life.

I’ve been part of The Lampstand Group from the very beginning. I work on system change panels and alongside the police, believing it’s crucial to blend lived experience and professional knowledge to make a real difference for people experiencing domestic abuse, helping them find hope, safety, support, and empowerment. As part of our working committee, I bring compassion, empathy, and love to everything we do, and I’m passionate about walking alongside others as they heal and rebuild their lives.

I am 48 years old and have a deep passion for caring for those who have lived through mental health struggles, loneliness, trauma, and rejection because I have faced all of these myself. My own journey has given me compassion, understanding, and a genuine heart for others who are finding their way through difficult seasons of life.

From the very beginning I have been alongside Jennifer and Gary in planting the seed of The Lampstand Group. Together we have seen how faith, love and community can bring hope and healing where there was once pain.

Volunteering with Lampstand is more than just giving my time, it is part of my calling. I believe that every person deserves to be seen, heard and supported, no matter what they have been through. My lived experience helps me connect with others on a deeper level, offering empathy, encouragement and the reassurance that change and recovery are possible.

We are devoted to making a real difference because we care and because we truly understand life’s challenges.