The One Love ProjectKing's Award for Voluntary Service
Main Menu
AboutAbout UsMeet The TeamFAQsNewsUpcoming EventsServicesEvening Food ServiceFood BankWell-Being WednesdayWrap Around & Signposting SupportProjectsCommunity Cooking InitiativeTreat The FeetCommunity Pay BackHello NeighbourGet InvolvedDonateDonate ItemsVolunteer With UsCorporate SponsorshipFundraisingVacanciesContact Us

Meet The Team

Meet The Team

The One Love Team

Our trustees and small team of staff all started out as One Love volunteers and brought a range of experiences to the charity.

Our trustees decide the charity’s strategic aims, supported by our staff and volunteers who are involved in the day-to-day running of the service. 

Nicky Ficken - CEO

Nicky has worked extensively in the charitable sector, supporting children and families across Southend. Combined with a long-standing career in project management, retail operations, and area management, she brings a wealth of experience in leading teams, driving community-focused initiatives, and creating sustainable systems that improve outcomes for people and places. As a qualified practitioner in change management. She also has a deep passion for leadership principles, particularly how self-awareness, culture, and values shape the effectiveness of teams and organisations.

She is passionate about supporting Southend residents facing the greatest need and is committed to developing The One Love services that directly respond to those challenges. She believes in working collaboratively with partners across the city to ensure that support is accessible, inclusive, and available to everyone—when and how they need it.

Sharon Yavuz - Chair of Trustees

Sharon brings extensive leadership and governance expertise to her role as Chair of Trustees at The One Love Project. With a strong track record in organisational leadership, Sharon is passionate about ensuring good governance and supporting sustainable growth. She is committed to using her skills and experience to strengthen The One Loves Project’s strategy, uphold integrity in decision-making, and help the charity make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people it supports.
Alongside her work with the charity, she is a Director of Corporate Governance, with broad responsibilities including People, Talent & Culture, Facilities, Accreditations and IT, and is passionate about embedding the five pillars of good governance – accountability, transparency, fairness, responsibility, and sustainability across the business.
Having been a volunteer with the charity for over 4 years her knowledge of the sector has grown and she now dedicate her time with the charity not just as a Trustee but also volunteers most Thursday evening at the evening service.

Tess Cansdale - Trustee

Tess joined The One Love Project Board of Trustees in February 2025. She has volunteered with other local homeless charities for over 2 years, after an extensive career in Financial Services.

Tess will use her experience and knowledge in governance, operations and change management to support the charities services, whilst undertaking the role of secretary.

Alex Khaldi - Trustee

Alex began volunteering at the One Love Project last year and is a regular at our Thursday evening service. Like many who volunteer, he was struck by the importance and impact of our work for so many people who are experiencing homelessness and poverty.

Alex has enjoyed a long career as a consultant to government and the public sector, and as a leader within local government. He specialises in social policy, social care, childrens services, and public health. Alex previously chaired A Better Start Southend, a lottery funded 10 year programme supporting early years children and families in the City. More recently he has co-founded City Family Community Interest Company, which he also chairs.

Alex brings to the Board of Trustees his experience in developing and growing not for profit organisations, as well as a passion for making the City a safer and more inclusive place to live, for everyone.

Gabrielle Rydings - Trustee

Gabrielle brings a wealth of experience from both the public, voluntary and commercial sectors. Her professional career has centred on public sector audit, with a particular focus on ensuring value for money in public spending. She spent ten years on the Board of the National Audit Office, where she led on parliamentary relations, media and communications, and wider stakeholder engagement.

Since leaving the National Audit Office, Gabrielle has played a key role in establishing and running Leigh on Sea Brewery and Legra Tap & Kitchen. She also served as a Non-Executive Director at Southend Hospital Trust and dedicated nine years as a Trustee of Southend Association of Voluntary Services, concluding her service as Chair.

Gabrielle recently joined our volunteer team and quickly experienced first-hand the impact of The One Love Project's work within our community.

Our aim is to provide opportunities for a brighter tomorrow.