We're thrilled to introduce three outstanding individuals who have joined Carefree's Advisory Board this year. Each brings a unique perspective and a deep commitment to supporting carers. We can't wait to see the impact they'll have. Read on to meet David, Michael, and Hannah.
David Janner-Klausner
David is an experienced leader in business and charity. He was Co-founder of Commonplace, the UK's leading platform for local online public engagement. In his decade at Commonplace, his roles included Head of Business Development, Head of Customer Success, and Deputy CEO with responsibility for People and for Communications.
What drew you to Carefree?
"What drew me to Carefree is, first of all, the concept of making use of an available resource to address an acute social problem. Second, I have always loved and admired Carefree's technology-first approach, because it enables scaling in a way that rapidly reduces the transaction cost per stay. Over the years I've seen Carefree execute its mission with a mix of strategy, effectiveness, kindness and resilience. I am proud to be a friend of Carefree!"
Michael Grove
Michael brings a wealth of experience at the heart of the global hospitality industry, and we're excited about how his expertise will help us grow and deepen our hospitality partner network.
What drew you to Carefree and its mission?
"I heard about the charity from an industry peer and felt it was not only something I had a personal connection to due to my own life experiences, but also somewhere I could help through my role and industry connections.
I am hoping that I can help advise on the strategic direction, open doors to grow the network and support more people in and around the UK. I think as with many organisations offering support to individuals, whilst managing stakeholder engagement, operational challenges and funding, proving your output and benefit to the various parties is a challenge. The charity has spent good time to get the groundwork in place, using external third parties to assess, quantify and articulate the results of the good work the charity does."
Hannah Fox
Hannah has been caring since she was 10 years old and since then has worked with a variety of stakeholders to champion carers' health and voices.
What drew you to Carefree and its mission?
"The practical support Carefree offers carers in the form of a hotel break away from their caring responsibilities is what first drew me to Carefree. Practical support for carers is an area that is often lacking, and as a carer myself, after fruitless searching for an affordable respite break I came across Carefree online. As soon as I saw the website I knew Carefree has something special to offer carers. They seemed to really understand carers and their needs, and it was a straightforward process to access a break facilitated through an ingenious model which links carers to hotels with vacant rooms."
I am excited to join the team volunteering for Carefree's Advisory Board to exchange innovative ideas, gather and share carer feedback and experiences, as well as representing carer voices in decision making. I would like to help the charity to continue to provide vital support for carers and ensure its offer to carers is the best it can be."
We are so grateful to David, Michael, and Hannah for joining us on this journey. Their combined expertise, spanning technology, hospitality, and lived carer experience ,will be invaluable as we continue to grow and support more carers across the UK.
