meet the team

Mark Wood

Chief Executive

Mark became Project Manager of Korban in June 2017. He has a long track record of working with vulnerable young people. He founded and led a charity in Hertfordshire from 2003 - 2013, supporting those with drug and alcohol problems, mental health issues and family breakdown. He has also worked with young offenders in supported housing and holds a Masters degree in addiction psychology and counselling.

Mark lives in Colchester with his wife and 2 daughters.

patsi brown

supported housing manager

Patsi joined Korban in August 2025. She has spent the last 10 years working in the Christian charity sector and homelessness, having worked for CENS (formerly Colchester Night Shelter) and Christians Against Poverty. She believes passionately that young people who have experienced homelessness deserve the chance to build their futures in a safe and supportive home.

Patsi lives in Colchester with her husband and their wayward cat.

jo wright

ADMINISTRATION COORDINATOR

Jo started working with Korban in March 2025 returning to the workplace after 8 years, due to becoming a mum!

Jo has many years of experience in the Christian charity sector and has a passion to see children and young people living in their full potential.

Jo lives in Colchester with her husband and two young children.

rae doney

support worker

Rae started working with Korban in January 2025. She has a history of working within the charitable sector, has previously worked as a Support Worker with Mencap and is excited to be working with young people in Colchester. She has completed a BSc in Social Science with the Open University.

Rae lives in Tollesbury with her husband Charlie, and young son.

the board of trustees

Nicky Sirett (Chair of trustees)

Nicky volunteered for a short time in the office at Korban and was pleased to take the

opportunity to serve as a trustee to support the ongoing work of the charity.

She is also a member of St John's church, Colchester, which is keen to build links

with localChristian charities. Nicky is an experienced primary school headteacher

and has worked for Chelmsford diocese as a safeguarding trainer.

The Rev. Tony Bushell

Tony is the part-time (self-supporting) priest in charge of the Anglican parish of Stanway

in Colchester where he has been for the past four years. He has combined his ordained

ministry with being a housefather to his three children. Prior to ordination in 1996 he was

a barrister specialising in family law, particularly involving children, care and custody

disputes. He has been a trustee of a charity ministering to young people in Berlin and

is a trustee of an almshouse charity in Stanway.

He has been a trustee of Korban since 2010.

Tim Young

Tim is a Colchester Borough Councillor and has represented Greenstead since 1992.

Tim became aware of Korban and its wonderful work through his role as a Councillor

and while he was Mayor’s Escort in 2016/17.

Richard Spencer

Richard currently works as a non-executive director in the NHS, and recently finished

working for Ofcom on the Communications Consumer Panel. He was also a trustee of

Beacon House in Colchester, and completed a theology degree in 2021. He took early

retirement from BT in 2017, having performed a number of executive roles, working in

the UK and overseas. He and his wife Shelley love being part of Kingsland Church in

Colchester, have two grown-up sons and a cockerpoo.