Meet the Board
The charity is served by a diverse and committed board from varied backgrounds including health care, education, construction, retail and leisure industry and quick service restaurants (QSRs). The board brings a wealth of experience and you can read more about them here:
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Suzanne Thompson (Founder & CEO of The Key)
Suzanne Thompson is chief executive officer and founding member of The Restore Trust and a member of the company's board of directors. Suzanne has a demonstrated history of working in public services and over 25 years’ experience of working in Criminal Justice. Skilled in Business Process, Coaching, Government, Entrepreneurship, and Team Building. Strong business development professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in Social Work from University of the West of England. She has been named as one of the 'Top 100 Inspirational West Women of the Year 2019' who have made a difference in their communities. She is also the founding member of The Key- Unlock Potential Charity to support the aim of creating paid employment for people leaving prison to assist them in desisting from crime and contributing positively to their local communities.
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Alex Ardalan-Raikes MBE (Chair)
Alex Ardlan-Raikes is a charity leader who has dedicated her life to ending inequality. Alex became Strategic Director of Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI) – a leading, regional hate crime charity – in 2014 having joined as their first caseworker in 1991. Alex is a trustee of the Learn @ MultiAcademy Trust; a member of the University of Bristol Court; was awarded an MBE in 2009; an Honorary Doctorate by the University of West of England in 2019 and in November 2019 was announced as Bristol’s High Sheriff in Waiting (2022).
Alex brings energy, enthusiasm and experience to the TKUP team, as well as extensive connections with and insights into the charity sector locally and nationally
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Sarah Buchanan (Non-Executive Director)
Following a successful career in sales and new business development within the commercial sector, Sarah transitioned into fundraising in 2005. As Corporate Partnerships Manager at The Outward Bound Trust, she managed major partnership programmes with the likes of HSBC and Barclays Capital, and was instrumental in securing significant new business from both corporates and high net-worth individuals.
After her time at the Trust, Sarah pursued a full-time Master’s degree in Criminology at the University of Brighton. She subsequently held various youth justice/crime diversion and restorative justice roles for Sussex based Youth Offending Services / HMP Lewes.
Sarah currently works at a Probation Hostel in Bristol, where she supports high risk male offenders transitioning from custody. She facilitates regular rehabilitative activities, is the Wellbeing Champion for both staff and residents, and also the Enabling Environment Lead (an Award given by the Royal College of Psychiatrists).
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Olly Swayne
Olly Swayne has worked in senior operational and commercial roles within the hospitality industry for some 30 years across several sectors including cafés, bars, and restaurants, on the ‘High Street’ and in airports across the UK, with local, national and global brands.
Olly has experience of complex stakeholder groups, at the ‘coalface’ and in the Boardroom, with experience of multi-site operations, business development, commercial, compliance and change management, for businesses including Whitbread, SSP Group, and more recently Loungers.
Between 2009 and 2016, Olly also worked as a volunteer, trustee and Director/ Chair of the local Bristol charity, Caring at Christmas, and Bristol Night Stop during a time of significant change and reinvention.
“I am delighted to be involved in The Key because it is a local charity that, at its heart, cares for people who need to be given a second chance, given a genuine sense of belonging and value, and given the skills, support and renewed self confidence to move on.”
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Sharon Woma
Sharon is a certified Equality Diversity & Inclusion practitioner and she currently works for Great Western Hospital in Swindon. Sharon monitors and advises the Trust on its inclusion practice and helps to shape the organisation’s EDI strategy and its related programme of work. She is also a Staff Network/ERG champion and is passionate about shaping best practice and bringing innovation to this space in the NHS.
Sharon is an avid networker and has co-founded the Big Coffee Break that promotes peer-to-peer support in the NHS. In addition to championing Diversity & Inclusion across the UK, Sharon is an avid volunteer and has fulfilled a number of board roles over the past five years. Prior to working for the NHS Sharon has run several small businesses, including consultancy, working in the business advice sector specialising in supporting businesses in ethnic minority communities.
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Emily Mellon
Emily is a marketing professional with a decade of experience in the field. She is a content marketer with expertise in end-to-end strategic marketing; SEO and events management.
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Sophia Siddique
Sophia is an experienced and dedicated Human Resources professional, holding a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management and a CIPD Level 7 qualification. With a strong foundation in HR principles and practices, she is known for her approachable nature and genuine passion for supporting others. Throughout her career, Sophia has consistently demonstrated a commitment to going above and beyond to empower individuals and contribute positively to the communities she serves.
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Jo Hadden
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Mike Cranney
Mike Cranney has 30 years experience in the hospitality industry. From managing small independent bars in Bristol to incorporating a small pub co. comprising of 3 award winning public houses/bars in Bristol. Having built those businesses from the ground up, all were closed and almost derelict sites, many things have been learned along the way.
With a passion to be able to pass on the benefit of experience to those who need it, Mike brings knowledge of what it takes to be successful in an extremely competitive hospitality environment and a willingness to introduce the trainees that work with the team to a wide network of hospitality business owners, who are looking to fill roles in multiple areas of their businesses.
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Lee Williams
Lee was appointed Chief Executive of Young Bristol in 2018 and has seen the charity through a continuous period of change and growth. He now combines his wealth of experience from working in the Private, Public and Third Sector in Senior Management roles with a lifelong passion for supporting community based voluntary sector youth provision. Lee remains committed to providing and developing high quality, safe but fun youth provision and programmes that are freely accessible for all young people.
Lee was appointed a trustee of The Key Café in December 2025. He is also a trustee for a range of other charities and a member of several National Advisory Boards. Lee was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the City and County of Bristol in 2020, and His Majesty’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant in October 2025.
Outside of work, Lee has always been heavily involved in a range of sports, football in particular where has a qualified Sports Therapist he also works part time for Bath City FC. -

Chris Scriven
Description goes hereChris Scriven is Director of Education at The Restore Trust, where he leads programmes that support people facing barriers to work, including those with experience of the criminal justice system, to gain skills, confidence, and move into employment.
He has a strong background in further and higher education, with experience in designing training programmes that are closely linked to real job opportunities. Chris works closely with employers, probation services, and local partners to create pathways into sectors such as construction, hospitality, and education.
Alongside his work locally, Chris has also contributed to national education frameworks, particularly in apprenticeships and quality assurance, bringing a strong understanding of what high-quality provision looks like.
Chris joined the Board of The Key Café because he is passionate about creating opportunities for people to rebuild confidence and move forward. He values the Café’s role as a welcoming, supportive space that gives people real experience and a stepping stone into work.
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Griff Holland
I've spent the last 17 years building, running, and learning from hospitality businesses — and watching operators leave serious money on the table through inefficient procurement and poor systems.
That's why I built PERCY.
Think Compare the Market for hospitality buying. PERCY gives operators a clear picture of their COGS spend, identifies where margin is being lost, and connects them with better suppliers. Our first cohort averaged £90k in savings per client. The problem is real. The solution works.
Before PERCY, I founded Friska (2009), one of the UK's pioneering fast-casual brands, and went on to co-found RocketOS and Double Puc Café. Each one taught me something the last didn't — about people, operations, technology, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.
I'm interested in the intersection of food, tech, and the messy reality of running a hospitality business.
Father of three girls. Food lover forever trying to lose 10kg, Traveller when I can afford to. Saw Oasis play Be Here Now in 1997 with my mum and took my girls to their first gig at Wembley Stadium for Taylor Swifts Eras Tour!
Thank you to our partners
The Board would like to express its thanks to the volunteers and advisors that support the vision, championed our work to date and shared their skills and expertise.
Alex Raikes MBE, CEO of Sari (Stand Against Racism and Inequality) and High Sheriff of The City and County of Bristol
James Lucas, Governor, HMP Bristol
Debbie Stiles, Architectural Designer
Hive Design
Lee Bignall, Managing Director, Mobius Construction
Martin Kerslake, Kerslake Design
Nick Doe, Space & Line Design
Nigel Hutchings Head of Catering HMP
Nigel Pitcher, Head of Catering HMP Bristol
Penny Manuel, Managing Director, Soho Coffee
Rachel Barker, Real Communications
Ronan Haughey, Creative Director, The Creative Sparks
Simon MacDonnell, Papadeli