Trustees
Dovetail Orchestra is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO),
register number 1206563. This is our board:
My career has taken me down a different path – into the world of academia, initially building international partnerships for the Arts and Humanities Research Council and, most recently, as Chief Operating Officer for a large research infrastructure in the NHS – but music remains my home. I perform as much as possible and play principal flute for various ensembles and projects in the Bristol area. I also enjoy teaching meditation and mindfulness when time allows.
Dovetail is very close to my heart. Music has a transformative power and an ability to connect people, no matter what life experiences we have encountered along the way. Dovetail embodies this. It is a joy to be part of such a special community of musicians from all over the world.
I’ve been involved with music in one form or another since being a child, where I was a chorister at Rochester Cathedral. I moved to Bristol after university for a change of scenery, starting a career in finance and becoming a chartered accountant with one of the big four consultancy firms, where I worked for six years. I now work for an organisation in Bristol which helps companies and individuals to invest in carbon reduction projects which provide safe drinking water to rural communities in Africa. I love getting out walking in the countryside around Bristol and spending time in my garden.
Khrystyna has practiced law in Ukraine for 8 years and began playing jembe with the Dovetail Orchestra about 6 months ago. Currently, she works as a freelance translator and interpreter and enjoys writing poetry as a hobby.
Sherien Elsheikh has been engaging refugees and asylum seekers for several years, working as the Drop-in coordinator for Refugee Women of Bristol and as an ambassador and producer for Bristol Refugee Festival. With a background in graphic design, Sherien is a member of Bristol Refugee Artists’ Collective and uses many different media within her own work to explore her African culture. From 2021-2022 Sherien worked on the Spike Print Studio Home Print Packs and Mobile Print Project. She has delivered print making workshops at the Arnolfini and with Bristol MIND for refugees living in hotels as well as at many Celebrating Sanctuary events for BRF. Sherien provides Arabic translation for workshop participants.
Up until recently Richard was the Chief Executive of the Anchor Society, a grant making charity serving older people in the greater Bristol region and served for 7 years as the first chair of Bristol and Bath Regional Capital, a social investment Community Interest Company. Prior to this he established a number of charities including Changing Tunes, Emmaus Bristol and The Beacon Centre, Cardiff.
He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County and City of Bristol in June 2010. He is currently in nomination to be High Sheriff of Bristol for 2024-25.
Richard was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours 2009 and a Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration by the University of the West of England.
Richard is an ordained minister in the Church of England.
Having lived experience as an asylum seeker, I understand the challenge of starting over, of seeking refuge, and healing from the journey through community support. In Iran, I was a qualified Mechanical Engineer. I was working toward a PhD whilst working for BMW. However, without warning, I was forced to flee for my life, leaving my parents and my country, without saying goodbye. After seeking asylum for many years, life brought me here to Bristol, where I was granted refuge and found Aid Box Community. Through this community, I have found healing, connection, and meaning. Being part of this community allows me to give to others what I needed on this journey – kindness, caring, and connection.
Music has always been a part of my life – I comes from a musical home, where poetry and music were part of my daily life. I trained in violin and piano, and the Ney-anbān, an instrument from my region in Iran. The childhood memories of my mother playing piano whilst my grandmother would sing bring me joy, warm my heart, and give me strength in trying times. Supporting Dovetail Orchestra is a way of continuing this joy in this new chapter of my life.
Safeguarding statement:
Our primary aim is to create a safe space for all involved.
We believe everyone has the right to live free from abuse or neglect regardless of age, ability or disability, sex, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital, gender status and immigration status.
We are committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment and an open, listening culture where people feel able to share concerns without fear of retribution.
We acknowledge that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and is committed to prevent abuse and neglect through safeguarding the welfare of everyone involved.
We recognise that health, well-being, ability, disability and need for care and support can affect a person’s resilience. We recognise that some people experience barriers to communication, for example in raising concerns or seeking help . We recognise that these factors can vary at different points in people’s lives.
We recognise that there is a legal framework within which our organisation needs to work to safeguard adults who have needs for care and support and for protecting those who are unable to take action to protect themselves. We will act in accordance with the relevant safeguarding adult legislation and with local statutory safeguarding procedures.
Actions taken by Dovetail Orchestra will be consistent with the principles of safeguarding, ensuring that any action taken is prompt, proportionate and that it includes and respects the voice of the adult concerned.
Download our full safeguarding policy here: