The Umbrella Team

Keziah Watt (Trustee)

Keziah lives in Whitstable and wanted to get involved with the Umbrella because of the role it plays at the heart of the local community, bringing people together and supporting a wide range of services, groups and events.
Keziah is an in-house Solicitor and Company Secretary with experience across legal, governance and board-level matters. In her day-to-day work, she advises on risk, policy, strategy and decision-making.
She joined as Trustee in 2026 and is particularly interested in supporting the Umbrella’s long-term sustainability, governance and community purpose, and helping it remain a welcoming and valuable hub for Whitstable.
Originally from Lincolnshire, Keziah has studied and worked in Sheffield, Manchester and London before settling in Whitstable. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time by the sea, watching and playing football. You will most likely find her walking her greyhound on the beach!

Emma Parris (Trustee)

Emma has recently made Whitstable her home, drawn to its strong sense of community and the welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that makes the town so special. The Umbrella Centre was one of the first places she visited after choosing her new home, and she is keen to support its role as a space that brings people together and serves the local community.
Emma brings experience in education, organisational development, and charity governance, having worked extensively in roles focused on supporting individuals to thrive and building inclusive support systems. Through her work, she has developed strengths in creating clear structures, improving processes, and supporting organisations to grow in a sustainable and people-focused way. She is particularly passionate about social mobility, mentoring, and widening access to opportunities.
She has also supported volunteer-led organisations with governance, operations, and strategic planning, helping to build strong foundations that enable long-term impact. This experience underpins her understanding of how community organisations can grow while remaining true to their purpose.
As Trustee Secretary, Emma is focused on strengthening governance, supporting effective communication at board level, and helping the Umbrella Centre continue to evolve as a welcoming, inclusive space for the local community.
Outside of work, Emma enjoys staying active, spending time by the sea, and getting to know the local community.

Matthew Shinebourne (Trustee)

Matthew has been a trustee at Whitstable Umbrella Community Centre since October 2023. With extensive experience in business development, leadership, and supporting start-ups at C-suite level, he brings valuable insight to the Centre’s growth and strategy. Matthew is passionate about helping the Centre remain a vital community hub while exploring new opportunities to expand its role as a creative arts venue for live music, theatre, and comedy. He is inspired by the dedication of the volunteers and staff working tirelessly to keep the Centre thriving and is committed to supporting its evolution into a welcoming, inclusive space for all.

Kirsty Millar (Trustee)

Kirsty has lived in Whitstable for 20 years attending many events and activities at the centre over the years. Kirsty is keen to support the centre in its mission to be an inclusive, warm, and welcoming space for all members of the community and look for new and diverse ways that this mission can be achieved. She has a wealth of experience as a project and people leader, gained for many years working in the pharmaceutical industry which will aid the centre in delivering key projects, ensuring long term stability for all users.

Vicky Coutts (Trustee)

Vicky has called Whitstable home for over a decade , drawn here by the unmistakable sense of community (and the sea breeze!) that makes this seaside town so special. She’s passionate about helping maintain and grow one of Whitstable’s most beloved community hubs.

Vicky brings strong leadership and entrepreneurial experience to the Board, having founded and grown her own businesses. Through these ventures, she developed deep expertise in strategic planning, brand development, communications and building purpose-led organisations, skills she now applies in support of community and charitable initiatives.

She currently works for a social enterprise business that supports organisations doing good work through smarter grantmaking and community investment. This role further strengthens her understanding of governance, impact, sustainability and how community-focused organisations can thrive.

When she’s not talking all things community engagement you might find Vicky exploring local beaches, supporting local independents and valuing the everyday connections that make the town feel like home.

Sam Longman (Trustee)

Sam has lived in Whitstable since 2012 with his family. He works in the public sector leading on environmental and social sustainability, overseeing policy development, strategy, research, and financing through to delivery and management systems. Sam is passionate about progressing inclusive, equitable improvements to health and wellbeing, and believes strongly in the power of facilitating communities to achieve these goals.

Outside of work, he is a dedicated musician who enjoys performing at open mic nights, playing in various bands, and producing music in his home studio. Wanting to do more to support his local community, Sam joined as a trustee in 2026, where he focuses on the Umbrella’s music-related services and events.

Craig Potter (Centre Manager)

Craig was born and raised in Whitstable, is committed to working with local people and wants to help create a thriving community centre for all to attend and enjoy. In past years Craig had spent time supervising and running the charity carpark at the Junior School with the Whitstable District Chamber of Commerce, seeing to it that local charities received opportunity and support in reaching their fundraising goals. Craig participated in the National Citizen Service, studied in media and design and has experience in catering, events planning, facilities maintenance and finance.

From DIY to IT or design, Craig will turn his hand to most things if he feels he can be of help to the community. Outside of hosting Centre activities, you’ll often find him lending a hand at events in in the area such as the Whitstable Open Gardens, Charitable Fundraisers and town wide seasonal activities.