Meet our Management Team         

                
Josiah Knight, Chief Executive Officer

Josiah is our Chief Executive and leads the senior management team responsible for all aspects of The Lodge Trust’s work. This includes Residential Services, Day Services, and the Lodge Country Park. Josiah is also part of the Trustees Management Committee, which meets ten times each year.
 
Josiah came to The Lodge in 2016 as a volunteer after taking time out following studying medicine. He then joined as a residential care worker and progressed through The Lodge, taking over as Registered Manager in 2021 and Chief Executive Officer in 2026.
 
Josiah grew up in Rutland and has had links with The Lodge from a young age, which some residents like to remind him of on a regular basis.
 
He enjoys DIY and sports and holds the self-imposed, unofficial title of coffee quality control in our café.


Lauren Gilfillan, Care Manager 

Lauren is our Care Manager, Lauren joined the Lodge in 2025. Before joining The Lodge, Lauren had experience working with individuals with learning disabilities and mental health needs. She started her career as a support worker and worked her way up to management. 
 
Lauren was baptised in early 2025 and felt called to blend her Christian faith and work experience, that is what brought her to The Lodge. 
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending quality time with her family, walking, volunteering at the local church and studying psychology. 


               
Damian Mitchell, Operations Manager

Damian joined the Lodge in 2024 and is responsible for providing effective HR and Operational Support to meet the daily operational needs of The Trust.

He has enjoyed a diverse management career, from retail to the charity sector. He has also served as a Pastor and is passionate about helping others develop their relationship with Jesus.

In his free time, he loves nothing more than enjoying great company over a good meal. He is an avid fan of super stories shared either through print or on the screen. He is most excited when Manchester United play an attractive style of attacking football.


                
Ellen Knight, Creative Enterprises Manager

Our Creative Enterprises Manager, Ellen, is responsible for managing Creative Enterprise Services and all our staff training. Ellen ensures that individuals at The Lodge Trust are supported in a person-centred way, giving everyone the opportunity to realise their potential and achieve their goals. Ellen sees our Christian ethos as a central part of all we do and helping everyone to develop their relationship with God as an essential part of our caring.

Ellen came to the Lodge in 2017 as a Support Worker in the Blue Team. Prior to The Lodge Ellen trained as a chef and worked in restaurants in Canada and Scotland as well a number of tea rooms and cafes. Ellen really enjoys cooking and feeding people food.




Steve Gavey, Facilities Manager

Steve is our Facilities Manager and joined the Lodge in the summer of 2025, taking on the role of ensuring our site is kept functional, safe and compliant throughout. Prior to joining Steve was a time-served Graphic Designer and Photo Editor within the print industry. Having worked with a broad and globally renown client list for over 30 years, gaining vast experience and progressing into Technical, Account and Studio Management he began to seek a new direction that was both more active and ultimately more rewarding after moving to Rutland in 2019.

Outside of the Lodge Steve enjoys DIY and is often found in his home workshop. He also enjoys boating, rowing and coaching having competed for many years in the sport. After that, European travel and spending time camping with his family make sure he is always busy.

                 
Colin Oswald, Pastoral Lead

Colin joined the Lodge in 2024 as our Site Manager and now takes the Pastoral Lead.

In an extensive management career, Colin has been involved in manufacturing, distribution and 
most recently soft facilities for Mitie Ltd on behalf of North West Anglian NHS Trust at Stamford
and Rutland Hospital.

A keen Christian, Colin enjoys reading good Christian books, particularly about his two favourite
preachers, Spurgeon and George Whitefield. He is also a self-confessed apprentice gardener and
supports Newcastle United Football Club.