Hidden Treasure Trust CIO

We are delighted that in January 2024 Gemma agreed to be an Ambassador for Hidden Treasure Trust. Gemma grew up in Trowbridge, Wiltshire and then went to the University of Bedfordshire, where she gained a first class degree in Media Performance and was fortunate enough to join the CBBC team within a couple of weeks of graduating in 2003. Gemma has worked on CBBC1, CBBC2, CBBC and CBeebies channels presenting a wide variety of exciting shows. Gemma loves playing 'Gem' on the hit pirate game-show Swashbuckle on Cbeebies and now over 100 episodes have been filmed.

Her time at CBBC was hectic and action-packed and saw Gemma travel all over the world. She hosted the magazine shows  'Smile' and then 'Xchange' for 2 years, and co-presented Best of Friends, Barney's Barrier Reef, Bamzooki, Barney's Latin America and All Over the Place. She has reported from Ghana for the Africa Lives season, presented live from Buckingham Palace for the Queen's 80th birthday and at The Royal Albert Hall for the Blue Peter and CBeebies Proms plus the 'Evolution' Prom alongside Sir David Attenborough. Gemma has competed as a runner and reported from the Great North Run, and regularly hosted CBBC's live coverage at Wimbledon, and last but no means least, appeared in an episode of Chucklevision, Cbeebies pantomimes and CBeebies Shakespeare. 

Gemma has most recently joined the longest running religious TV show, Songs of Praise as part of the presenting team.

Ruth birthed the vision behind Hidden Treasure Trust along with her husband Andy, and has since gone on to build and develop the charity in her role as CEO. Ruth is a visionary leader and pioneer and together with Andy forms much of the driving force behind the future development of Hidden Treasure. 

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Originally from Chesterfield, Ruth moved to Manchester in 2001 to become part of an Eden youth and community team in Salford and worked for the Message Trust. It was here that Ruth developed a passion for using creativity, innovation and entrepreneurialism to improve lives in deprived communities. 

In 2010 Ruth and Andy moved to Partington, Manchester to help support the local church and love the local community. Together they launched a thriving and unique travel business, which was sold in 2017 to follow their dream of developing a permanent base in the heart of their community to love and support families and vulnerable people, and improve as many local lives as possible. 

Dr Anthony bring 20 years of experience as an automotive journalist and is managing director of a publishing company.

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In addition, he has third-sector experience relating the formation of charities as well as leading on the creation of social action projects including a foodbank, job club and ex-offender ministry prior to joining the board of trustees at Hidden Treasures CIO.

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Chris completed doctoral research at the University of Birmingham in 2023 following an MA there. He also holds a first-class BA (Dual honours) from Keele University.

Karen trained as a speech and language therapist at The University of Sheffield and worked in this field for 9 years with children and young people in mainstream, special school and community contexts before beginning her work in Alternative Provision for TLG, teaching and supporting young people who were at risk of permanent exclusion from school, qualifying to teach through the PTLLLS programme.

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Karen has always had a passion for youth work, from training and volunteering as a Guide leader in her late teens and early twenties, leading on the youth work in her church in Bolton in a voluntary capacity for almost a decade and picking up an MA in Youth and Community work and Applied Theology along the way. She moved over to Partington to volunteer as part of the Eden Youth and Community work team in 2014, and took on the role of Team Leader a couple of years later.

Karen has been part of The Hideaway’s story since day one. Karen is passionate about ensuring that The Hideaway is enabling people to flourish into all that God created them to be, whether they be children learning through playing, staff progressing in their careers, parents supporting and encouraging one another along the journey or young people trying to get their lives on track. 

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Karen is also a foster carer, giving her additional experience, training and insight into the impact of adverse childhood experiences on children and young people’s development and understanding of the experiences of those involved in supporting them.

Rebekah is parent to 4 children. She studied Physics at Cambridge University and subsequently qualified as a teacher of science. She now teaches GCSE and A Level Physics and brings an extensive knowledge of education to the role of Trustee.

Susan is a qualified midwife, Health Visitor and is currently studying for her masters degree. She is also parent to an adopted child. Susan has 20+ years of knowledge and experience in health care, the NHS (Local Care Authority) and the care of children and babies.

Laura is an experienced Social Worker with 20 years of local authority experience and parent to an adopted child. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in social care and safeguarding.