Meet our Funding & Governance Advisor
Sarah Elizabeth Jones, freelance Funding & Governance Advisor for the Open Table Network
We’re delighted to introduce Sarah Elizabeth Jones, who supports the Open Table Network on a freelance basis as our Funding and Governance Advisor.
Sarah brings a wealth of experience from a lifetime of working with and within the voluntary sector.
Growing up in an Anglican church, she began volunteering with church and community projects as a teenager, developing a deep commitment to inclusion and belonging that continues to shape her work today.
She has spent much of her career specialising in small charities – including 14 years as chief executive of a local learning disability charity.
“I’ve always been passionate about church being a place where everyone feels more than welcome, a true community of belonging, somewhere to heal and somewhere to thrive.”
WATCH: Sara’s intro video [2mins]
Alongside her consultancy work, Sarah is also a marathon coach, helping people discover their potential and enjoy the journey by giving them practical tools to manage their mindset. She also walks the talk: she has already completed 14 marathons and ultra-marathons, often accompanied by her Greek street dog, Lemon. At home in Liverpool, she is also kept company by her cats, Lucky and Tinkerbell.
Sarah first became part of the Open Table community in Liverpool in 2010, when she came out as bisexual. Since then, her involvement has only deepened. In 2019, she helped lead the process of the Open Table Network becoming a registered charity, and since March 2024 she has supported us with two vital areas of work:
Securing the funding needed for our network to grow and thrive
Advising and supporting the trustees to ensure strong, healthy governance.
Her passion is clear: In her introduction video Natasha explains:
I've always been passionate about church being a place where everyone feels more than welcome, a true community of belonging, somewhere to heal and somewhere to thrive. It's why Open Table has always been so important to me.
