Who are Homes for Wells?
Homes for Wells is a Charitable Community Benefit Society. We were formed back in 2006 by a group of local people who were concerned about the housing problem in Wells.
Our shareholders are people with a local connection who are committed to our aims. Shareholders do not receive any profit.
Our directors are all volunteers. The board of directors run the organisation with the intent of making a small surplus each year which is reinvested in more property and making sure we have some cash in the bank for a rainy day.
Staff
Jane Berwick, General Manager
I am the General Manager at Homes for Wells. I moved to Wells in 1998 with my daughter, Bethany, and my husband Mark.
Although I no longer live in Wells, I have a great passion for affordable housing for local people. I have a wealth of experience dealing with property and tenant management.
I like to get involved in the local community and have volunteered at many events over the years.
I have been involved with Homes for Wells for the past four years, having served on the Board before being employed as its General Manager.
I hope to give some continuity to the Board, tenants, supporters and people on the waiting list for information and updates in all things Homes for Wells.
Board Members
Lynne Burdon - Chair
I first came to Wells in 2018 to view a house for my retirement – my dream was to be able to walk my dog on the beach every day. It was love at first sight – first with the harbour, then with the beach and finally with the house. When I bought my home what I did not know was that I had just contributed to a problem for Wells. Yet another lovely home snapped up with money earned in London at a price that would be unaffordable to most who worked in Wells.
I joined the board of Homes for Wells because I wanted to contribute to this lovely community and to be part of the solution to the affordable housing shortage rather than part of the problem. I am passionate about helping Wells to thrive – to be a vibrant year-round town as well as a seasonal holiday resort. For this to happen local people must be able to live here.
Before retirement I was a solicitor and a founding partner of a law firm in London which I managed for over 30 years growing to over 200 people. My passion was creating a great place to work. I now work freelance coaching law firm leaders.
Richard Van Ree - Finance
I’m retired now but first went to school in Norwich and have lived in Norfolk for over 40 years, and in North Norfolk since 2008. Wells is a town that I visit regularly, walking on the coast and seeing friends who live here.
It was while talking to a friend from Wells that I became aware recently that Homes for Wells were looking for someone with financial experience to succeed Rod in the role of Treasurer on his upcoming retirement. I qualified as a chartered accountant and have spent ten years in the accountancy world, in addition acting in my latter years as the Finance Director of a small family property development company.
The welcome that I’ve received from Homes for Wells reflects what I’ve found from Wells people as a whole over the years. It’s been fantastic and I’m looking forward to helping as best I can with the team’s challenge of providing rental homes for local people that they can afford.
Annie Golding
I am very lucky to have been born and brought up in Wells. I studied business management, retail and accountancy at The College of West Anglia. I now have two young children and a successful business within the town and many of my family still live here.
Myself and my partner became Tenants of Homes for Wells after our first child was born. After a short time I joined Homes for Wells' Board as the tenant representative in 2016. In 2018 we were lucky enough to be able to purchase our own family home in Wells, I decided to remain a board member as I feel strongly about helping to support the thriving community of Wells and helping local people by providing affordable and secure homes for them to live in.
Fiona MacCallum
Wells is my home town. I grew up loving the sea and open space here. After school, I left for London and was employed as a press and events officer at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and later for Crisis, the national charity for homeless people. While there, I worked with Big Issue vendors and major donors to commemorate 30 years of street homelessness with an event at the Globe Theatre. I came back to North Norfolk to raise my family and created a community learning hub at Wells High School. From family learning events to youth work, one thing I noticed was how many young people had left Wells because of the lack of affordable housing and year-round work. Hearing how Sam Peel, a pioneering social reformer, created the first council housing in Wells, inspired me to do something about it too. With £10, lots of goodwill and hard work Homes for Wells was launched. After initiating the start-up, administration and first home for HfW, I stepped back to become a Board then co-opted member of HfW while training as a youth counsellor. Seeing more than 20 families now in secure homes is a credit to the many people who have shaped and supported its growth over the last 15 years. While there is so much more to do, sometimes taking a risk pays off.
Lisa Reynolds
Wells has always held a special place in my heart.
Born and raised in South Norfolk I spent many a summer holiday in the town, a place my family has always adored.
So when I was looking to put down roots it felt natural to settle here.
That was more than 20 years ago when house prices were still reasonable, but over the years I’ve watched them rise as the popularity of the town soared.
The truth is without affordable homes for local people the businesses and vital services will suffer and Wells risks becoming a ghost town outside of the holiday season.
By being part of Homes for Wells I’m hoping I can make a difference and support a town I love.
Wells has a wonderful, vibrant community and I want to see that continue to thrive for generations to come.
Liz Howell
My name is Liz Howell, and I am married to Wells butcher Arthur Howell and a partner in our family firm.
I help manage the firm’s various retail shops in both Wells-next-the-Sea and Burnham Market.
Born and raised in Holt, I previously lived in Binham before moving to Wells 22 years ago.
I am passionate about my local community, and for many years I have been a member of the Wells Christmas Tide Festival organising committee. I am also a former governor at Alderman Peel High School.
I joined Homes for Wells because I want to give something back to the community. I love Wells and the people who live here, and I want to play my part in helping it continue to thrive for years to come.
The people who move to Wells from other parts of the country bring a lot to the town, but it’s important that the needs of local people are not forgotten
I want to help ensure that we can continue to provide affordable accommodation for key workers so that the town doesn’t lose its traditional identity.
Tom Chaplin
My paternal grandparents retired to the area in 1985 and ever since then I’ve always loved coming to Wells. My parents subsequently retired to North Norfolk in 2009, and we have been frequent visitors ever since. We finally achieved our dream of moving to North Norfolk in 2023.
We’ve seen the whole North Norfolk area rapidly change over the past ten years, seeing an incredible amount of renovation and construction work along the whole coast. Since moving to the area I’ve become increasingly concerned with the advent of second/holiday homes and what I view as the erosion of local communities.
I joined the Homes for Wells board because I’m passionate about our cause; to provide affordable housing to key local workers. If we want our coastal communities to thrive, local people and their families have to be able to live locally.
Prior to moving to Norfolk I worked in the City for 20 years. I hope to bring energy, ideas and strategy to the Board and advance its positive impact in Wells by providing more affordable homes to key local workers.