Carefree

A New Kind of Charity

Our Story

Carefree was started in the summer of 2016 by two brothers, Charlie and James Ricketts, whose own experiences motivated them to launch an initiative in support of unpaid carers. Having tested the concept in Cornwall and witnessed the extraordinary impact on carers’ wellbeing, they moved the operation to London in early 2017 and began looking for seed funds. In July 2017 they were awarded a place on an accelerator for charitable ventures with outstanding potential and, not long afterwards, the first round of funding was secured.

In October 2017, Charlotte Newman (now CEO) joined the team and the charity was officially incorporated a month later, just as work on the first version of the booking platform began. The initial automated pilots in 2018 and 2019 enabled hundreds of carers to enjoy breaks in hotels and holiday cottages throughout the UK and further revealed the transformative potential of Carefree’s pioneering model.

In 2019, Carefree won Breakthrough Charity of the Year at the Third Sector Awards and was awarded multi-year funding by the National Lottery Community Fund, the Postcode Innovation Trust and a number of other prestigious grantmakers. In November 2020, the charity gained further recognition by winning the Sustainability prize at the Skift Innovation, Design and Experience Awards, which celebrate “the big ideas defining the future of travel.”

Post-pandemic the organisation has continued to scale, delivering over 10,000 breaks to unpaid carers nationwide representing over £1m of donated accommodation through its now multi-award-winning tech platform. It continues to forge relationships with numerous private and public sector partners to drive forward a radical solution to systemic challenges within the UK’s social care sector.

Team

Charlotte Newman (CEO)

Charlotte, a Founding Member of Carefree, has spearheaded its model, product, financing and strategy. She actively contributes to the wider sector, sharing insights on new economic thinking, social investment, and digital transformation.

Joey Ceunen (CTO)

Joey works with the latest no-code tools to shape the tech that powers Carefree’s social intervention. He’s previously exited two start-ups and has a rich mix of experience in hospitality, technology and property.

Adriana Trzeciak (Customer Operations Manager)

Adriana leads our Customer Support Team. Joining Carefree from a travel-tech start-up and with a background in the hospitality industry, Adriana brings a unique blend of skills and personality to the team.

Miruna Harpa (Head of breaks Delivery)

Miruna leads the growth of Carefree's gifted accommodation supply and maximises carer uptake. With extensive hospitality experience, she ensures our partners and beneficiaries are well cared for at every step of the way.

Philipp Friemann (Head of Product and Impact)

Philipp ensures that Carefree’s offer meets the needs of Carefree’s partners and platform users, and, that it improves carer wellbeing. He’s held innovation roles across the public sector, tech, consulting and academia.

Sarine Sofair (Community Partnerships Manager)

Sarine manages our Community Partnerships and has onboarded a wide range of organisations to Carefree’s platform to enable them to refer unpaid carers and increase access to carer breaks in their area.

Shereen Amjad (People and Operations Manager)

Shereen runs Carefree’s business operations and team support, working closely with the CEO on corporate governance and financial management to strengthen the organisation’s project management, HR and operational processes.

Lauryn Perrineau (Customer Operations Associate)

Lauryn provides exceptional customer support to Carefree’s carers, answering queries through various communication channels to help them book their ideal breaks. She’s passionate about the startup experience and excels in fast-paced settings.

Nathan Yorke (Community Manager)

Nathan is Carefree’s network builder - expanding and deepening our relationships across the hospitality and social sectors. His travel-tech experience in sales and operations makes him a natural champion for Carefree’s cause.