Being part of an international firm of corporate treasury consultants for over twenty two years gave me the opportunity to work both with and for a huge number of different and talented people, as well as providing the chance to visit many interesting places around the world. Since retiring at the end of November 2017, I have taken a number of voluntary roles, and was pleased to be able to join the board of trustees of BowHaven in April 2019. I am delighted to be part of an organisation that has a skilled and dedicated team who work hard to provide BowHaven’s vital services in the Tower Hamlets community. Outside my volunteer work, I enjoy walking, travelling, and am an enthusiastic gardener.

Joanna joined Bowhaven as a trustee in January 2021. She has been a GP since 2006, mostly in the NHS but with some other jobs including working for a headache charity, working in brain injury and time teaching overseas including in Hong Kong. 

She also worked as a medical advisor for VSO for several years. 

She is currently working part time as a specialist GP for people with complex problems at The Royal London Hospital in the Department of Psychological Medicine. She also helps run a local mental health support group charity (The Ashdown Hub) in Sussex. She has a strong interest in mental health and well-being, including in mindfulness, which she practices most days and teaches.

“I’m really excited to join the team helping to support Bowhaven in its very important work, helping people become involved in supporting each other’s mental health and well-being, and offering a safe, friendly and creative space. 

Recent events with Covid have shown the negative impact on everyone’s well-being, when we can’t connect to others and the community. It’s important we get back to normal as soon as we can. I’m really keen to help Bowhaven be ready to open in-person as soon as possible and to support the charity as it develops long term.”

Joanna joined Bowhaven as a trustee in January 2021. She has been a GP since 2006, mostly in the NHS but with some other jobs including working for a headache charity, working in brain injury and time teaching overseas including in Hong Kong. 

She also worked as a medical advisor for VSO for several years. 

She is currently working part time as a specialist GP for people with complex problems at The Royal London Hospital in the Department of Psychological Medicine. She also helps run a local mental health support group charity (The Ashdown Hub) in Sussex. She has a strong interest in mental health and well-being, including in mindfulness, which she practices most days and teaches.

“I’m really excited to join the team helping to support Bowhaven in its very important work, helping people become involved in supporting each other’s mental health and well-being, and offering a safe, friendly and creative space. 

Recent events with Covid have shown the negative impact on everyone’s well-being, when we can’t connect to others and the community. It’s important we get back to normal as soon as we can. I’m really keen to help Bowhaven be ready to open in-person as soon as possible and to support the charity as it develops long term.”

I have lived and worked in Tower Hamlets for over 30 years now, almost entirely in the voluntary sector. I started my working life as a social worker, but as my political awareness developed I moved into community work and public health.

Eventually the two came together and most things I’ve done can be described as public health action, and I’ve never moved far from my base in Tower Hamlets.

I’ve been involved with BowHaven since its founder, Rita Dove, recruited me to support taking over a Social Services Mental Health Day Centre (William Place) to transform it into a User Run resource for positive well-being (BowHaven). She challenged the establishment to hand over the venue to its users, and it worked!

I would like to continue my involvement with BowHaven as a Trustee for as long as possible.

Martin is our current Member Trustee