Bella Jamieson

Bella Jamieson is a part time Montessori nursery teacher who lives in Hammersmith and has three daughters. She  became involved in New Ways when Fr.Albert Savans was assistant priest at St Thomas of Canterbury. Her first experience of helping New Ways was a run in Richmond Park. She went on from this to a bigger challenge - raising money through running the London Marathon. She has also raised money through collection pots at various shops in Fulham for the Nutritional Nursery schools and selling Christmas cards in the parish. On top of this, she helps to keep the organisation going by organising the monthly supporters meetings in London. 

Despite all the activities with which Bella is or has been involved, it is perhaps the way in which her compassion and commitment infects all her life which is most striking. As a nursery teacher she has taken the opportunity to use her New Ways knowledge and involvement to benefit the children in her care and raise their awareness.

In her words, 'New Ways in the Nursery is about sharing a passion with the children, parents and staff, to raise an awareness of when we give of ourselves we truly give, money is always second.

James Poole

James, of Chiswick, has been working in the financial services industry for over ten years, formerly for a fund management firm but now as the Business Director at GR Communications, a specialist financial PR and marketing agency.

His first involvement with New Ways was in 2006 on the second of our Kenya Bike rides where he was an encouraging and morale boosting presence. James describes the trip as an incredible experience. 'We saw big game (impressive), tried to outrun zebras on our bikes (impossible) and were even challenged to a bike race by some of the locals (comical). But it wasn't all fun and games; there was also a serious and humbling part to the trip.' 

Over the last three years his involvement with New Ways has been less adventurous but no less rewarding -as part of the committee responsible for organising the New Ways Ball - a major source of fund raising, a great evening and a chance to catch up with old friends.

Finally, James says 'Being involved with New Ways has been a real privilege and has given me the opportunity to give a little bit back. It's important to me that any money I help raise will go direct to the people who need it - not swallowed up by administration costs - and for that reason I hope to continue to be involved for many more years.'