Our Founders
Stephan and Jeannine Wiedmer founded Shelter Community in 2013 to create a safe, affordable home for young people experiencing housing need. They lead the charity and run the Youth Community Home in Chiswick, which provides seven supported places for young people who need stability to move forward.
Jeannine is a trained nurse and brings extensive experience working with young people across a range of settings, offering insight and care that deeply shape the community culture at Shelter Community. She also leads creative art sessions with our young people, using art as a gentle, expressive way to process trauma, explore emotions, and reflect on the challenges and experiences in their lives.
Stephan’s background spans education, charity leadership, and financial management. He taught business subjects to finance trainees aged 16–25 and supported students facing learning or personal challenges. Prior to teaching, he served as CFO of WBZ, a Swiss charity providing accommodation and employment for people with disabilities, and as treasurer and trustee of Intermission, supporting homes, education, and healthcare for children in India and Africa.
Our Trustees
Simon Thomas
Simon Thomas is the CEO of J49, a registered provider of social housing, which he founded with others. J49 develops affordable community housing alongside shared community buildings, creating a distinctive and sustainable housing model known as Creative Community Living. The organisation provides low‑cost housing as well as Supported Living homes for people who require additional and longer‑term care.
Simon served as a trustee of XLP for 20 years. XLP is a registered charity that works with inner‑city young people, helping them build positive futures through education and creative arts projects.
He is also a co‑founder of Habitat for Humanity Homes, a housing charity that brings together individual and corporate volunteers to build and renovate homes both in the UK and internationally.
Simon has worked extensively in community training and social development across the UK, helping organisations rethink challenges and implement practical solutions that strengthen families and communities.
In addition, Simon is a consultant for A Rocha, an environmental charity promoting “flourishing nature and flourishing people.” He works nationally and internationally as an education consultant and is passionate about fostering innovation and purposeful action in urban contexts. He has also developed a global network whose ethos is “engaging all spheres of life to inspire fresh conversation rooted in ancient wisdom to reshape society” (www.citytocity.org).
Donna Wright
Donna Wright has extensive experience working directly with young people, their families, and wider support networks. She currently works as a Systemic and Family Psychotherapist within Social Services and Child Protection, where she provides clinical consultation and supports social care staff, social workers, and multi‑agency professionals in their work with children and families. She also trains teams in the application of systemic approaches across social care services.
Previously, Donna worked within an Adult Community Mental Health Team, further strengthening her understanding of family relationships, mental health, and community‑based support.
Donna is deeply committed to ensuring that young people have a safe and secure place to be. She is passionate about Shelter Community’s mission to provide safety, stability, and belonging by offering young people not just accommodation, but the support they need to thrive.
Timothy Brown LLB (Hons) Solicitor of the Supreme Court
Tim Brown qualified as a Solicitor in 1987 and later became a Higher Court Advocate, which enabled him to represent clients at every level of the justice system, from the Magistrates’ Court to the Court of Appeal. He practised as a Solicitor in the Magistrates’ Court, Youth Court and Crown Court, and worked with Tucker Solicitors.
Tim now serves as the Welcome Pastor and Safeguarding Leader at King’s Arms Church Bedford. He is passionate about building a strong sense of family across all four church meetings and he helps lead the youth gatherings for 11 to 18-year-olds. He also leads the Safeguarding Team and takes responsibility for ensuring that everyone who attends King’s Arms is kept safe.
Victoria Halser, CFA
Victoria is an investment analyst and has worked in the investment industry since 2001. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder in addition to holding several other professional qualifications. Victoria is currently Head of Fund Research at Hargreaves Lansdown, the UK’s biggest investment platform for private investors, and has a passion for helping people to save and invest.
Victoria is also a volunteer debt adviser at the debt advice charity Crosslight Advice, a position she feels honoured to have held since 2014.
Wayne Wei-YI Chen (Chair)
Wayne Chen qualified as an actuary and started his career as a management consultant, advising corporates and insurance companies around the world on a diverse range of risk management topics. In 2007, he co-founded RiskFirst, a FinTech company that provided risk analytic solutions for the defined benefit pension fund industry.
Since 2010, he has built up a property investment portfolio focusing on providing high-quality homes for young professionals settling in London. Wayne is also an experienced developer specialising in turning disused commercial buildings into unique and desirable homes.
Wayne is keen to use his commercial skills and experience to help those without a safe home. As a trustee of Shelter Community, he brings his commercial expertise and work with the charity's partners to create new quality accommodation so Shelter Community can help more young people in need.
Jason Huggins
Jason has worked in a wide range of housing roles, most recently as a Neighbourhood Manager overseeing more than 850 multi‑tenure properties. His experience includes housing management, tenancy sustainment, fraud investigation, estate improvements, and budget oversight. Throughout his career he has been recognised for his strong customer focus, problem‑solving abilities, and commitment to supporting residents and local communities.
Jason has worked across several London boroughs, including senior roles with Sanctuary Housing, Haringey Council, Hammersmith and Fulham Council, Origin Housing, and Southwark Council. His work has often involved supporting vulnerable residents, resolving complex tenancy issues, and ensuring that neighbourhoods are safe and well‑managed.
He is passionate about seeing people flourish in secure and supportive environments, and believes strongly in the importance of providing young people with a safe place to belong. Jason hopes that Shelter Community can play a key role in offering stability, dignity, and hope to those who need it.
Outside of work, Jason values health and wellbeing, enjoys going to the gym, plays football regularly, and loves spending time on family holidays with his wife and children.
Ian McLeish BA (Hons) ACII
Ian McLeish is Head of Engineering for Gallagher Re’s Global Engineering Practice and is based in London. His responsibilities include the production, placement and management of Engineering and Construction RI treaties handled through the intermediary of Gallagher Re. He also works in conjunction with the Gallagher Re office network in an advisory role for local clients. The client base is a mix of International, Regional and territorial specific (re) insurance companies. Ian has extensive knowledge of dealing with Global Construction Clients and the delivery of bespoke specialist Engineering and Construction reinsurance solutions both on a transactional as well as an advisory basis.