About Us
History
History
The MSE Charity is a grant-making charity, it was launched in May 2008 by founder of the acclaimed Money Saving Expert website, Martin Lewis OBE. It is dedicated to improving information and education about debt, money and consumer issues in the UK. Companies spend billions on advertising, marketing and teaching their staff to sell – yet we get no buyers' training. The UK is in debt crisis, a whole generation is in debt up to its ears.
The MSE Charity is a grant-making charity, it was launched in May 2008 by founder of the acclaimed Money Saving Expert website, Martin Lewis OBE. It is dedicated to improving information and education about debt, money and consumer issues in the UK. Companies spend billions on advertising, marketing and teaching their staff to sell – yet we get no buyers' training. The UK is in debt crisis, a whole generation is in debt up to its ears.
The MSE Charity is designed to try and break that cycle of debt.
The MSE Charity is designed to try and break that cycle of debt.
A donation of £235,000 was made to launch the charity, and substantial donations from the Money Saving Expert website are given annually to the Charity. The operational costs of running the Charity are met separately by a personal donation from Martin. Anyone who wants to support the charity is very welcome; for the many who’ve said they’d like to donate to MoneySavingExpert.com as it’s saved them money, please contact us.
A donation of £235,000 was made to launch the charity, and substantial donations from the Money Saving Expert website are given annually to the Charity. The operational costs of running the Charity are met separately by a personal donation from Martin. Anyone who wants to support the charity is very welcome; for the many who’ve said they’d like to donate to MoneySavingExpert.com as it’s saved them money, please contact us.
Upto March 2018 we have made grants totalling over £797,930
Upto March 2018 we have made grants totalling over £797,930
Patron
Patron
Martin Lewis OBE
Martin Lewis OBE
Money Saving Expert, and TV's Money Guru, Martin is the creator of MoneySavingExpert.com, the founder of this charity and the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute. An ultra-specialised journalist Martin is passionate about financial education, debt education and consumer empowerment. Read Martin's full biography here.
Money Saving Expert, and TV's Money Guru, Martin is the creator of MoneySavingExpert.com, the founder of this charity and the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute. An ultra-specialised journalist Martin is passionate about financial education, debt education and consumer empowerment. Read Martin's full biography here.
Trustees
Trustees
Katija (Teej) Dew
Katija (Teej) Dew
Teej is the Chair of Trustees of the Charity and has been a member of the MSE GAP since 2011. Living in South Wales she has worked in debt advice, social enterprise, financial inclusion and tackling poverty in the public and third sectors, at the Wales Co-operative Centre as Programme Director and Financial Inclusion Champion for Wales. Identifying the parallels between managing personal health and managing personal money, Teej is passionate about helping people to take control of these aspects of their lives and about fair access to the tools and services that support them to do so. As such she has been appointed as an Independent Member to Aneurin Bevan Health Board.
Teej is the Chair of Trustees of the Charity and has been a member of the MSE GAP since 2011. Living in South Wales she has worked in debt advice, social enterprise, financial inclusion and tackling poverty in the public and third sectors, at the Wales Co-operative Centre as Programme Director and Financial Inclusion Champion for Wales. Identifying the parallels between managing personal health and managing personal money, Teej is passionate about helping people to take control of these aspects of their lives and about fair access to the tools and services that support them to do so. As such she has been appointed as an Independent Member to Aneurin Bevan Health Board.
Tony Tesciuba
Tony Tesciuba
Tony is the director of Tesciuba Limited, Chartered Accountants, and Chartered Tax Advisers. He has been helping clients since he qualified in 1982. In 11 years with Price Waterhouse, Tony trained and was later a senior manager in its audit and business services division in Manchester and London. Since then, Tony has been a partner in leading regional firms until setting up his own firm in 2001. Educated at Manchester Grammar School and London School of Economics (LSE), Tony is married with four children. He enjoys running, music and family outings.
Tony is the director of Tesciuba Limited, Chartered Accountants, and Chartered Tax Advisers. He has been helping clients since he qualified in 1982. In 11 years with Price Waterhouse, Tony trained and was later a senior manager in its audit and business services division in Manchester and London. Since then, Tony has been a partner in leading regional firms until setting up his own firm in 2001. Educated at Manchester Grammar School and London School of Economics (LSE), Tony is married with four children. He enjoys running, music and family outings.
Vanessa Bissessur
Vanessa Bissessur
Vanessa lives in London and has been a member of the MSE GAP since its inception and has served as a Trustee of the Charity since November 2009. She has experience of managing services within the charity sector, including managing various grant-giving programmes for individuals, organisations and grass-root initiatives and community schemes. Vanessa has also previously worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau and the British Red Cross, and is passionate about supporting and empowering people in creating positive change, by providing opportunities, support and funding.
Vanessa lives in London and has been a member of the MSE GAP since its inception and has served as a Trustee of the Charity since November 2009. She has experience of managing services within the charity sector, including managing various grant-giving programmes for individuals, organisations and grass-root initiatives and community schemes. Vanessa has also previously worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau and the British Red Cross, and is passionate about supporting and empowering people in creating positive change, by providing opportunities, support and funding.
Clarissa Coleman
Clarissa Coleman
Clarissa is a Litigation partner at K&L Gates LLP and has served as a Trustee of the Charity since 2015. She specialises in high value multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes. She has been involved in pro bono litigation since she qualified and was involved in the National Autistic Society advocacy scheme. She is also a member of The Anne Frank UK Trust Fundraising Committee.
Clarissa is a Litigation partner at K&L Gates LLP and has served as a Trustee of the Charity since 2015. She specialises in high value multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes. She has been involved in pro bono litigation since she qualified and was involved in the National Autistic Society advocacy scheme. She is also a member of The Anne Frank UK Trust Fundraising Committee.
Katie Davies
Katie Davies
Katie was one of the founding members of the MSE GAP in 2008, and has served as a Trustee of the Charity since November 2009. She now works part time as the MSE Charity’s Operations Manager. Previously she spent several years as a grant-making trust researcher for a fundraising consultancy in Norfolk. Voluntary roles have included collecting for her local Credit Union, and working as a CAB Debt Advice worker.
Katie was one of the founding members of the MSE GAP in 2008, and has served as a Trustee of the Charity since November 2009. She now works part time as the MSE Charity’s Operations Manager. Previously she spent several years as a grant-making trust researcher for a fundraising consultancy in Norfolk. Voluntary roles have included collecting for her local Credit Union, and working as a CAB Debt Advice worker.
Grant Advisory Panel
Grant Advisory Panel
To support the work of the charity a voluntary group called the Grant Advisory Panel (GAP) assesses, makes recommendations and decisions on all accepted grant applications, and supports the work of the Board of Trustees. This Panel is recruited from Trustees, employees and users of MoneySavingExpert.com. We are always on the look out for new members, so if you would like to volunteer, please contact us.
To support the work of the charity a voluntary group called the Grant Advisory Panel (GAP) assesses, makes recommendations and decisions on all accepted grant applications, and supports the work of the Board of Trustees. This Panel is recruited from Trustees, employees and users of MoneySavingExpert.com. We are always on the look out for new members, so if you would like to volunteer, please contact us.
Geoff Hill
Geoff Hill
Geoff lives in the Yorkshire Dales, and has been a member of the GAP since 2014. Geoff has a post-graduate qualification in community development, and has spent all his working life in the voluntary sector; both of these have been in pursuit of his belief in empowering people. He has managed projects in student community action and for unemployed people. Through his work in Councils of Voluntary Service he has worked in areas as diverse as recycling, health promotion and skills exchanges. Geoff provided the secretariat to a small and innovative Leeds-based grant-making trust for over 40 years. As well as walking in the Dales, Geoff’s hobbies include film and theatre. Diagnosed with aggressive cancer in 2017, Geoff is coming to terms with living with cancer and undergoing experimental immunotherapy, at the same time as learning anew the many blessings of friendships.
Geoff lives in the Yorkshire Dales, and has been a member of the GAP since 2014. Geoff has a post-graduate qualification in community development, and has spent all his working life in the voluntary sector; both of these have been in pursuit of his belief in empowering people. He has managed projects in student community action and for unemployed people. Through his work in Councils of Voluntary Service he has worked in areas as diverse as recycling, health promotion and skills exchanges. Geoff provided the secretariat to a small and innovative Leeds-based grant-making trust for over 40 years. As well as walking in the Dales, Geoff’s hobbies include film and theatre. Diagnosed with aggressive cancer in 2017, Geoff is coming to terms with living with cancer and undergoing experimental immunotherapy, at the same time as learning anew the many blessings of friendships.
Maxine Norris
Maxine Norris
Max lives in Hertfordshire and has been a member of the GAP since 2014. Following a City career in corporate finance, Max took a sabbatical to raise her family returning to the financial services industry to specialise in corporate and social responsibility. She is experienced in devising and developing community support programmes as well as being a pioneer and promoter of life long personal money management; Max is currently Chair of the North East London Young Enterprise Board. Max also enjoys meeting friends at the gym, watching Chelsea FC and all types of travel and adventure.
Max lives in Hertfordshire and has been a member of the GAP since 2014. Following a City career in corporate finance, Max took a sabbatical to raise her family returning to the financial services industry to specialise in corporate and social responsibility. She is experienced in devising and developing community support programmes as well as being a pioneer and promoter of life long personal money management; Max is currently Chair of the North East London Young Enterprise Board. Max also enjoys meeting friends at the gym, watching Chelsea FC and all types of travel and adventure.
Pat Kattri
Pat Kattri
Pat lives in Birmingham and has been a member of the GAP since 2014. Her experience was gained through working for Birmingham City Council as a Principal Regeneration Officer. During her time with the Council she managed a range of different grant programmes and provided support to many different voluntary and community organisations and businesses. Pat is married and has two grown up children and is kept busy helping with her three grandsons. In her spare time she enjoys walking, travelling and playing golf.
Pat lives in Birmingham and has been a member of the GAP since 2014. Her experience was gained through working for Birmingham City Council as a Principal Regeneration Officer. During her time with the Council she managed a range of different grant programmes and provided support to many different voluntary and community organisations and businesses. Pat is married and has two grown up children and is kept busy helping with her three grandsons. In her spare time she enjoys walking, travelling and playing golf.
Sheila Brazil
Sheila Brazil
Sheila has joined as a new GAP member in February 2018. Sheila lives in London. Her experience lies in writing funding applications for a wide range of projects, including higher education, women’s issues, criminal justice and more recently, Veterans. She believes that there is a need for a lot more work to be done around increasing our understanding of budgeting, managing money and over-indebtedness, which can have such a detrimental impact on our lives. In her free time, Sheila enjoys being with family and friends, cooking, films and reading.
Sheila has joined as a new GAP member in February 2018. Sheila lives in London. Her experience lies in writing funding applications for a wide range of projects, including higher education, women’s issues, criminal justice and more recently, Veterans. She believes that there is a need for a lot more work to be done around increasing our understanding of budgeting, managing money and over-indebtedness, which can have such a detrimental impact on our lives. In her free time, Sheila enjoys being with family and friends, cooking, films and reading.
Rhian Hughes
Rhian Hughes
Rhian has joined as a new GAP member in February 2018. She lives in North Wales and has a background of 17 years working in financial inclusion and tackling poverty. She was the Financial Inclusion Champion for North Wales from 2008 – 2017 working for the Wales Co-operative Centre. She has a wealth of experience in this field and is passionate about ensuring that everyone has access to appropriate financial services. Rhian currently works for a mental health charity and is a strong advocate of the effects money can have on people’s mental health. She is very much looking forward to supporting the work of the MSE Charity.
Rhian has joined as a new GAP member in February 2018. She lives in North Wales and has a background of 17 years working in financial inclusion and tackling poverty. She was the Financial Inclusion Champion for North Wales from 2008 – 2017 working for the Wales Co-operative Centre. She has a wealth of experience in this field and is passionate about ensuring that everyone has access to appropriate financial services. Rhian currently works for a mental health charity and is a strong advocate of the effects money can have on people’s mental health. She is very much looking forward to supporting the work of the MSE Charity.