About BBS
The British Benevolent Society of California (BBS) is a 501(c)(3) charity who provides aid and relief to British Citizens in need. Our support comes from generous donations, legacies and fundraising by members, and our community in California.
Who we are
The BBS is made up of predominantly volunteer members, 11 of whom form a Board of Directors who manage the charity and its activities. The Board of Directors each carries a position of responsibility. Through discussion and unity they make all decisions which determine how the charity continues to succeed and deliver its mission.
Individual crisis cases are also bought to the Board in order to discuss and determine if they qualify for financial support from the BBS. The Board is also responsible for fundraising, the investment and management of the charitable monies, legal alignment, coordination with the British Consulate and the marketing of the BBS organization.
Most importantly the BBS Board is focused on helping and supporting British Nationals, residing in the states covered by the Consulates General offices in California, who are desperate and quite literally have no where else to turn for help. The BBS relies on the support of a paid membership program and welcomes anyone who would like to join and help support its cause.
Membership for a year costs a modest $100 and allows the member an opportunity to attend all BBS events and fund raisers whilst supporting individuals who are in desperate need.
What we do
Emergency Assistance and Repatriation
Every day, the British Benevolent Society responds to urgent calls for help from British nationals in distress across California and the Western United States. Whether it’s providing emergency repatriation for those facing homelessness or covering the cost of essential document replacement, your donation is a lifeline. These individuals often have nowhere else to turn. By supporting the BBS, you ensure that those in critical need receive the help they deserve—swiftly and compassionately. Donate today to make a tangible difference in someone’s life.
Compassionate Relief for Families in Crisis
The BBS has a long-standing tradition of extending a helping hand to British families facing unforeseen hardships. Recently, we supported a family struggling to make ends meet after the sudden loss of a loved one. Through your generosity, we were able to provide them with the financial support they needed to cover basic living expenses during their time of grief. Your donation helps us continue to offer vital assistance to families in their darkest hours, ensuring that they are not alone as they rebuild their lives. Please donate today and be the beacon of hope they need.
Holistic Support and Mental Health Aid
At the BBS, we understand that distress comes in many forms. From providing safe lodging for those experiencing homelessness to aiding individuals battling mental health challenges, our comprehensive support services are tailored to meet the diverse needs of British nationals. Your contribution enables us to offer not just financial assistance but also emotional and logistical support, helping people regain stability and hope. Join us in our mission to provide compassionate care to those who need it most—your donation can change lives.
Board of Directors
Alex Sinclair - President
British-born Alex J Sinclair is a seasoned management consultant for The Nightingale specializing in pre-seed company foundational development. With 20 years of intra/entrepreneurial expertise, he has pioneered products and subsidiaries for clients such as Pearson Education, McGraw Hill, JTB, De Agostini Editore, and Britannica. Alex holds a BA (Hons) in Film, an MA in Advertising, and an MBA. In his free time, Alex established Willow on the Green, a British Cheese shop in Inner Sunset, San Francisco, and is expanding several food brands.
Steve Wares - Chief Financial Officer
Steve is a UK qualified chartered management accountant, CFO of the BBS and past-President of the British American Business Council. He has spent the past 25 years working with growth stage technology companies helping them with their international expansion support needs including global payroll, accounting, tax, compliance and HR. Steve has lived in the Bay Area since 2005 with his wife, two children and two dogs.
Hedley Potts - Director, Chair of Events Committee
Hedley Potts is a British National who has been based here in the Bay for the last ten years. He is an innovative and execution oriented senior executive who has served in roles at Lloyds Bank in the UK, and global roles at HP, HPE and Google Cloud. He is currently the Vice President for Customer Experience and Sales Excellence at UiPath. He brings a wealth of experience from these roles to the BBS and serves as the leader of our Events Committee. Hedley has been a Director on the Board for 4 years.
Karen Leech - Director
Karen began her professional career in Northampton, England, initially working for two Scottish insurance companies and later as a financial advisor for Compton House Financial Management. Compton House originally had been part of Shoosmiths’ law firm before the law and financial segments were separated. After relocating to the United States in 2001, she joined Laird Norton Wetherby and in 2004, three years after arriving at Wetherby, she became a Shareholder. She is a Certified Private Wealth Advisor and alongside working with clients, she contributes to the firm’s client service and communications activities. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association of San Francisco, having previously served on the Board of Directors as its Treasurer. Karen sits on the Investment Committee for the BBS, and also serves as the Investment Committee Co-Chair for The Redwoods, a nonprofit senior retirement community in Mill Valley.
Karen lives with her husband and son in Novato, California. She is an avid tennis player and enjoys hiking and biking around the local countryside.
Penny Harwood - Director
Penny is the SVP Business Development at London & Partners and leads the San Francisco office and the Northwest region of the US and Western Canada. She advises and supports high-growth scaling technology companies to globalize to and grow in London as an entry to the UK and EMEA markets. She has deep expertise working with C level executives, across key sectors, in particular in SaaS, fintech, ecommerce, creative and sustainability. She also supports the highly successful trade services for London scale-ups including trade missions as they expand to the west coast. She is a super connector and passionate about purpose driven causes.
Prior to London & Partners, Penny was the Director of Customer Support, Starmine (acquired by Thomson/Reuters) in San Francisco. Previously she led west coast sales teams at Bloomberg L.P. in San Francisco. She moved from Bloomberg L.P in London where she focused on major buy-side clients in London and Paris. Penny has a BA (Hons) in French and Economics from Kingston University, London and is currently working on an EMBA with Quantic School of Business and Technology.
Andrew Jack - Director
Andy Jack is a Vice President in BlackRock's Cash Management team, responsible for distributing liquidity and short duration fixed income products to US corporate clients, multinational corporate clients and institutional investors. He is primarily focused on west coast and western US Headquartered clients, as well as pre-IPO companies across the US. Andy's previous role was in the EMEA Cash Management team in London, where he was responsible for business development and relationship management with BlackRock's bank clients across the UK & EMEA, as well as leading private bank distribution. Andy moved to San Francisco in September 2022.
Before joining BlackRock Andy served in the British Army, having commissioned from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He completed his service as a Captain in The Royal Dragoon Guards.
Andy graduated from the University of Oxford with a 2:1 (Oxon) in Oriental Studies, and holds the CFA Investment Management Certificate (IMC), FINRA Securities Industry Essentials (SIE), Series 7 and Series 63 licences. He is a keen skier, enjoys country pursuits and is an avid rugby fan.
Jon Wingent - Director
Jon is a Wealth Advisor at Morton Wealth in Los Angeles responsible for managing the financial interests of high net worth individuals, families and business owners. Prior to relocating to the US in 2021, He lived and worked in London where he held various investment roles witht Barclays, Merrill Lynch, Close Brothers and Schroders where he was the Head of Investment Specialists for the Chief Investment Office.
Jon is a member of the Financial Planning Association and holds the Certified Financial Planner designation and also sits on the Investment Committee for the BBS.
He lives with his wife and two children in Los Angeles, loves the outdoor lifestyle, whiskey and fine wines and is a huge sports enthusiast.
Message from our President
Dear Members, Friends, and Supporters,
It is both an honor and a privilege to address you as the President of the British Benevolent Society of California. As we stand at the threshold of a new chapter, I am inspired by the remarkable legacy of compassion and community that defines our 170 year old organization.
The heart of our mission lies in aiding and providing relief to British citizens west of the Rocky Mountains facing challenges, embodying the spirit of support and shared responsibility. Together, we form a community that transcends borders and embraces the values of generosity and kindness.
Our focus on the future is unwavering. We envision a BBS that not only continues to transform lives but also evolves to meet the ever-changing needs of our community. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and innovation, we are dedicated to expanding our impact and reaching even greater heights.
As we embark on this journey together, I invite each of you to be an integral part of shaping the future of the British Benevolent Society. Your support, ideas, and engagement are invaluable as we work towards a future where no one in our community faces challenges alone.
I am excited about the opportunities ahead, and I am committed to leading the BBS with dedication, transparency, and a shared vision of creating positive change.
Thank you for being an essential part of our mission. Together, let's build a future where compassion knows no bounds.
Warm regards,
Alex Sinclair
President
British Benevolent Society of California