Chief Inspirer
James Shone
Following a sixteen year career in several boarding schools and being a housemaster for twelve of those years, James Shone was appointed as headmaster to Monkton Prep School in 2012.
During his medical assessment a brain tumour was discovered. Over the coming months James underwent two massive operations spending 11 weeks in hospital; the operations saved his life but took most of his sight. Further to this, James had to relinquish a dream job, undergo radiotherapy and then set off into a new future without employment or buoyant health.
James is a man who embodies a positive attitude to life and a determination to turn setbacks into springboards. As a housemaster, this was at the heart of his pastoral message but it is now fundamentally important that he lives this message out everyday himself as well as sharing it with a wider audience.
James is married to Olivia and they have four children. As well as spreading the messages of ‘I Can & I Am’, James’s passions remain in golf, Liverpool football club, conversing, spending time at the Cornish coast and the good Lord.
Operations Conductor
Anthony Dutton
Anthony joined the team in 2020 as the man to make the bus project come to life.
After graduating from Durham and University and a very brief accountancy career, Anthony found his niche in his mid 20’s as an entrepreneur running his own ‘blue collar’ businesses. His first step was a plant display and landscaping operation in London, but after marrying in 2000 and a move to the south west, he bought and built up Archers Marquees into one of the foremost event operators in the area. After 18 years of steady expansion (and literal blood, sweat and tears) he realised it was time to hang up his boots; after successfully selling in 2018, he set off looking for life’s next challenge.
Anthony realised that his true passion lay in enabling young people to fulfil their potential and bolster their self belief, something he had unwittingly been doing for the past 25 years. His friendship with James has developed through this mutual commitment, but they also share a love of Liverpool FC, snacking, golf, useless service station information and parenting challenges / opportunities.
Anthony lives near Radstock with his wife Ness, three teenage children, two dogs, three cats, eight chickens, nine sheep and two goldfish.
Gets Stuff Done
Rebecca Burton
Rebecca joined James and the ‘I Can and I Am’ team at the beginning of 2017 to assist in the day to day running of the charity. She works in all areas of the business from marketing, bookings administration, and providing ‘eyes’ for James as and when it’s required
Rebecca studied Natural Sciences at Durham University and since graduation has worked in marketing in several sectors including within education. She has also run her own successful business for the last 8 years. “Working for I Can and I Am alongside James has been, without doubt, the most rewarding job I have ever done. To not only use all my business skills but to do it in a way that ultimately helps this remarkable cause is very fulfilling. It’s also a lot of fun and there are exciting times ahead”.
Rebecca lives in Bath with her husband Howard and their three children.
Workshop Expert
Alice Delap
Alice joined the team in September 2020 and creates and runs the workshop sessions on board the bus.
“James’s attitude to life, approach to adversity and vision for what he wants to achieve is truly inspiring and I love being a part of this very special organisation.”
Alice studied Geography at Manchester University and a PGCE at the Institute of Education. She taught in East London for nearly fifteen years, first as a Geography teacher and then moving into special needs teaching.
She took a career break in 2011 to care for her husband and bring up her children, but she managed to keep a foot in the door of education as a Governor for her local school and more recently through tutoring and mentoring teenagers through the stresses of GCSEs.
Her passion has always been in education and for enabling children from all backgrounds to believe in themselves and achieve their potential.
Alice lives near Frome with her two children.
Patron
Sir Anthony Seldon
Sir Anthony Seldon is one of Britain’s leading contemporary historians, educationalists, commentators and political authors.
He was a transformative head for 20 years, first of Brighton College and then Wellington College. He went on to become Vice-Chancellor of The University of Buckingham in 2015.
He is author or editor of over 35 books on contemporary history, including the inside books on the last four Prime Ministers, was the co-founder and first director of the Institute for Contemporary British History, is co-founder of Action for Happiness, honorary historical adviser to 10 Downing Street, UK Special Representative for Saudi Education, a member of the Government’s First World War Culture Committee, was chair of the Comment Awards, is a director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, the President of IPEN, (International Positive Education Network), Chair of the National Archives Trust, is patron or on the board of several charities, founder of the Via Sacra Western Front Walk, and was executive producer of the film Journey’s End.
Anthony has been a keen supporter of James and the charity since its conception in 2014. He is married to I Can & I Am trustee and teacher, Sarah Sayer.
Trustee
Charlie Goddard
In his professional life, Charlie has spent the last 20 years working as a consultant to the Financial Services industry. He started his career at Accenture before moving to Troika and then Navigant. In 2012 he left Navigant to found the PEN Partnership. At PEN Charlie is the partner with responsibility for Finance.
As a consultant he works predominantly with investment managers and wealth managers. He specialises in the delivery of operational and organisational change.
“I feel so privileged to be involved with the journey of I Can & I Am. It is clear to me that God has blessed James Shone with the ability to inspire people and build confidence – a cause very close to my heart.”
Charlie is married to Bea. They live in Bath with their three sons. He is a keen runner and loves being outdoors.
Trustee
James Kendall
James’s career has been in the sports industry working for Harlequins FC, Volvo, BSkyB and Portas Consulting in a range of senior strategic, commercial and development positions. He currently works for the FA running Grass Roots Football.
His passion and commitment to I Can And I Am is borne out of his great friendship with James Shone and a heartfelt belief in the essence of the charity’s purpose, to see individuals, particularly young people, fulfil their true potential.
James is married to Caz and they live in Winchester with their four children.
Trustee
Sarah Sayer
Sarah has taught for over thirty years in both state and independent schools, all boys, all girls, co educational, day, boarding, national and international, ranging in age from A level and GCSE down to Year 2. She has been a school governor and a trustee of different charities. She currently teaches French, English and RS at a prep school in Berkshire where she is also head of Wellbeing and leads on Mental Health.