The Board of Trustees are a representative body of men and women from across the NISCU areas. They bring different skills and experiences to the board, but are united by a passion that gives all children and young people across our NISCU areas the opportunity to hear about a God who cares for them.
A message from the chair September 2025
Hello NISCU Supporters,
I just wanted to introduce myself as the new chair of trustees. We are hugely grateful to Dave Grime who has stepped down as chair of trustees after 14 years of dedicated service and we thank God for his wisdom and faithfulness in this role. For more information about me, then please read my bio below.
Thank you for all you do to support NISCU, as volunteers, praying for the work, encouraging our workers and volunteers and for your ongoing financial support. We are so blessed to know that as the writer of Hebrews 6:19 says ‘We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure’.
Ruth Houston
Chair of Trustees
My name is Ruth, and I am an ex NISCU kid!!! This is one of the reasons I joined an area support committee and then the trustees. I know what a difference NISCU can make. In my professional capacity I used to be a secondary school headteacher, and I now work as a Church school inspector and for Carlisle diocese supporting local Church schools. I am married to Mark, who is a vicar in south Cumbria, and we have two grown up children and two dogs.
Ian Harvie
Trustee
Ian lives in Whitehaven with his wife Sheila. He is a retired industrial chemist. He attends Emmanuel Church Moor Row where he is a member of the leadership team.
Ian is a Niscu volunteer co-worker helping with lunch clubs at Whitehaven Academy.
Alastair Richards
Trustee
Alastair lives in Lancaster with his wife and two children and worships at St Tees Church, Lancaster.
In his work life he is an Accountant who has worked for a number of years in the charity sector and he is currently Chief Executive Officer at North West Cancer Research.
Mat Ineson
Trustee
Mat now lives in West London with his wife Emma. He worships and serves at St Stephens, Twickenham. His day job is in the Diocese of Guildford where he is Director of Mission. Until August 2020 Mat was the vicar of Holy Trinity Kendal and Crosscrake. He left Cumbria when Emma took up a new post in London. He is from the North and spent his teenage years in Sedbergh where his dad was vicar in the 1980s.