The Team
Dedication. Understanding. Compassion.

Founder
Sandra Smook
Sandra was a volunteer befriender for the charity Visiting Friends in Woking for many years before taking over the role to manage this service in 2010 until 2021. This service was sadly closed due to lack of funds during the pandemic, when she was made redundant. However, Sandra was very motivated to continue to offer a befriending service as she knew the huge positive benefits for the elderly, isolated community. Silver Friends was the result of Sandra’s passion to make this difference, and the charity was registered with the Charity Commission in April 2022.
Sandra firmly believes that no man is an island, and really values the dedication and help from the Silver Friends’ remarkable trustees, volunteers, and newly appointed Volunteer Coordinator, Mel Primic.
Sandra's vision is to grow the services of Silver Friends and roll out to other boroughs who can benefit from this much needed service for our elderly citizens.

Trustee
Mark Hua
Mark, along with his wife and two teenage daughters, moved to Guildford, UK in 2006. Since 2017, he has been an active volunteer providing befriender services to the elderly community. Due to his dedication and commitment to the cause, he was appointed as a member of the board of trustees for the newly formed charity, Silver Friends.
Mark is a successful business consultant who has been helping owners, entrepreneurs, and start-ups go to market, and empowering sales teams to excel. In his free time, he loves mountain biking around the Surrey Hills. He also volunteers his time to guide and support others to grow in various areas of life.

Trustee
Joanne Shackleton
Jo, her husband and their rescue dog live in Walton-on-Thames. She is the Head of HR in the City and has always been involved in charity work of various kinds.
Having a very close relationship with her grandmother, she truly respects and values the gift of ageing and wants in some small way, to play a part in enriching the lives of the elderly in our community, ensuring that loneliness amongst this generation is not something we as a society, should accept.

Trustee
Mandy Smook
Mandy was inspired by her mum, Sandra. It was Sandra's passion and commitment to Silver Friends which led to Mandy offering her services as a trustee when the charity was born.
Mandy, who lives in Byfleet, Surrey, underwent a Bustler Bus Driving course which enables her to drive the mobility buses which are almost always required for Silver Friends events or outings.
Mandy currently works as an Operations Manager for a consultancy firm in the Oil, Gas and Renewable industry, and prior to that Mandy was based in London as the Account Manager for a medical device company. Mandy is a mum to her 10 year old daughter, and in her spare time, she enjoys playing golf.

Events Coordinator
Mel Primic
Mel started ger career off as a Personal and Marketing Assistant for a large insurance company but after having her two boys, decided to be more at home for them.
Mel took on the role as a full time care worker over two years ago and absolutely loved it. She found it such an important, fulfilling and rewarding job. With certificates in care work, Dementia and Parkinson's Disease, Mel hopes to put this training and first hand experience to good use in her new role as Events Coordinator, by helping Silver Friends reach all those in need of its amazing service.
In her spare time, Mel enjoys spending time with her boys, travelling and exploring new places.

Volunteer Coordinator
Emma Baker
Emma has dedicated over three years to her role as a full-time Support Worker, during which she earned a Level 2 NVQ Qualification in Health and Social Care.
Passionate about making a difference, she joined Silver Friends to share her experience in assisting isolated elderly individuals.
Residing Woking with her two young children, Emma enjoys watching her son play football, spending quality time with and friends, and traveling whenever she gets the chance.