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

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.

James Brittain

James has worked in the homelessness sector since 2020, beginning his career at HARP where he gained experience across a range of roles before joining Southend City Council in August 2023 as a Rough Sleeper Navigator.

Through his professional role, James came into contact with The One Love Project and was immediately struck by the strong sense of community it created. Inspired by this, he wanted to play a part in shaping and expanding its services.

Since joining, James has become an integral part of the One Love family. As Safeguarding Lead, he draws on his frontline expertise to ensure the space remains safe, supportive, and welcoming for all. His commitment to building services and deepening the sense of community that first inspired him continues to guide his work today.

Our aim is to provide opportunities for a brighter tomorrow.