I joined renew169 in August 2024 as a Wellbeing Assistant, having previously worked within the charity sector, providing early intervention and pastoral support to vulnerable children, young people and their families at schools across Northamptonshire. This experience has been invaluable in understanding the importance of early intervention and the need for vigorous safeguarding and effective signposting. I became Manager in January 2025 and am passionate about the work we do here, providing support at grassroots level to the people in our community. I am committed to continuing this valuable work and excited for the future!

I am delighted to join renew169 as a Wellbeing Assistant in December 2025, having been a regular volunteer in the café over the last year. I really enjoy spending time with our visitors, and appreciate that it’s such a safe space where people feel able to share and be listened to. Prior to this, I have spent over 20 years working in the charity sector and look forward to using my skills and experience in this new role. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, including my new baby grandson, going on long walks with my dog and singing in a choir.

I began my working life in the administration offices of banks and building societies, but after having children, I changed careers completely and switched to working in care giving roles, which I found to be much more enjoyable and better suited to my personality. I worked for Age UK, in both care in the community and hospital A&E department positions. Back in 2020, these roles dried up due to the pandemic and I started working for renew169 as a Wellbeing Assistant in September 2022. I find it very rewarding and such a privilege to be able to listen to people and have them open up to me and share their stories.

Dr Lynn Suter trained as an occupational psychologist, specialising in learning and development. She then retrained as a counselling psychologist and worked in the NHS, both primary and secondary care; a university student counselling service and as Clinical Director of a 3rd sector counselling agency. She taught on counselling programmes in at both Bachelors’ and Masters’ levels. Lynn retired and moved to Towcester in 2024. She became a trustee of Renew 169, and Chair of Trustees in March 2025. Lynn’s main hobbies are walking with her husband and their beautiful springer spaniel, Buddy, and taking trips on their narrowboat.

I was born in Bristol but have lived here in Towcester for 42 years. I spent most of my working life in IT for Barclays Bank, then in office admin and as a book-keeper. Now retired, amongst other things, I enjoy keeping busy gardening, walking and visiting National Trust  gardens. The rest of my time has been filled being treasurer for Tove Valley Baptist Fellowship but now retired from that I am taking on a new challenge with Renew 169.

I moved to Towcester in 2017, am the Chair of Trustees at a Special School and former Deputy Head of an Upper School. In 2019, I was invited by the Reverend Paula Challen to become a trustee of renew169 Cafe. I also volunteer at the Cafe and thoroughly enjoy my time spent meeting/greeting people, making cups of tea, playing board games and chatting and listening to our visitors who cover a vast range of ages! Each one has their reason for being there and each has a story to tell! I find my roles of both Trustee and Volunteer extremely rewarding and privileged to be part of renew169 cafe, just one of Towcesters many jewels in supporting our community.

My name is Jane Jakes, I live in Greens Norton and have three adult children. I am part of the Tove Benefice Ministry Team, and support the clergy in the life and work of the church. I took early retirement last year in order to give my time more fully to that role. I joined Renew 169 in November 2024, as a volunteer and have had the pleasure of meeting lots of different people. It has been a privilege to be part of a team that is providing such a valuable service in our community.

Hello, my name is Emily and I live on the edge of Milton Keynes. I have 4 lovely boys and a Dachshund keeping me busy on top of running a photography business in Towcester. I joined Renew 169 in June 2024 after my mums mental health really took a turn and I wanted to be able to give something to the community with a connection to mental health. It's been great getting to know the volunteers, managers and other trustees in the charity and I hope to be able to offer help wherever I can.

I have recently become a trustee of Renew169. Now a retired Baptist Minister, I have previously been involved in exploring setting up a Renew space in Leicestershire. I have known most of those who set up Renew169 for many years and I am looking forward to joining a new, expanded team. I am particularly happy to help in the prayer space of a morning

I have lived in Towcester for 20 years and my involvement with Renew 169 started through the Repair Cafe when I retired a couple of years ago. I became a Trustee at the start of 2025 and as a former Project Manager, I have used my planning and organisational skills to help organise events and fundraising activities, which help support the valuable work the Cafe does for the local community.