About UsCHEER exists to promote the welfare of older people in Elmbridge, and has been supporting the retired community for over 65 years. Our befriending service, including social events, covers the whole of Elmbridge, whilst our benefits advice service is available in the eastern part of the borough, i.e. Esher, Oxshott, Thames Ditton, Long Ditton, East and West Molesey, Hinchley Wood, Claygate, Weston Green, Stoke d'Abernon, Cobham, and neighbouring areas. With its origins in the Esher and District Old People's Welfare Council (founded in the early 1950s), CHEER became a charitable company on 1st April 2010. In 2018 we expanded our coverage area by taking over the befriending service previously provided in the western part of the borough by Friends of the Elderly. According to the Campaign to End Loneliness there are 800,000 chronically lonely people in England. That translates into several hundred elderly people in the East Elmbridge area. Although Elmbridge is a generally affluent area, we still have many elderly residents who are struggling with low income, poor living conditions, disability and loneliness.
We are the only local charity to provide a comprehensive and caring response to these issues, including visiting people in their own homes. You can get more information from our handy leaflet; and our accounts, reports and other publications can be viewed and downloaded here.
Our people
Jayne MatherBenefits
Irene BelcherEvents
Charlotte ChatwinAdviser
Trustees
Julian Mobbs (Chair)Julian has been living in Claygate with his partner, their sons, mad Labradoodle and cat since 2015, and has been a volunteer with CHEER since 2018. He was appointed to the CHEER Board as a Trustee in Spring 2020. He currently runs his own consultancy business following a successful career in senior management roles in large corporations, start-ups and SMEs in the private and public sectors (with a focus on media, publishing, technology and software). In his free time, Julian enjoys music, sports, gardening and travel. Julian RyeJulian has lived in Elmbridge since 1966, now having two sons and five grandchildren. His career was mainly in ICT and major project management in international banking. He is a CAB volunteer, sits on schools appeals panels and is a trustee of Elmbridge Rentstart. Leisure interests include amateur theatre and choral singing – and he has had golden retrievers since he was three! Janis Fletcher Janis lives in Hinchley Wood with her husband, and has been a volunteer with CHEER since 2014. In a varied career, she has done administrative work in Africa (Zaire), held senior positions in financial services and consultancy, and she ran her own business working on projects for banks. Leisure interests include playing bridge, music and walking.
David Moss (Treasurer)David joined the CHEER Board at the beginning of 2023. Christine ElmerChristine served as a Councillor for Walton South ward on Elmbridge Borough Council for 15 years until 2021. She was on the Council's Cabinet for 10 years and was the Cabinet Member for Social Affairs for 6 years (2010-16). Christine served for 2 years as a Council Nominated Observer of CHEER and she is also a Trustee of Home Support Elmbridge. Her work career for nearly 24 years was as a Civil Servant for MAFF/Defra until 2007. She lives in Walton-on-Thames and is a member of the Friends of Flt. Sgt. Charles Sydney RAF, working with other volunteers to see the replacement memorial site re-established at the ex-Birds Eye site in Station Avenue, Walton-on-Thames.Lisa KhwajaLisa hails from the west of England but moved to Elmbridge in 2007 and now lives in Walton-on-Thames with her husband, secondary school-aged children, dog and 2 cats. She has a 25+ year career in HR and talent strategy and is currently a Global HR Director at a global professional services company. Lisa was appointed to the CHEER board as a Trustee in Spring 2023 and enjoys socialising, travel, walking, music and spending time with her family.
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