Our Team

Each member of our team brings unique gifts and experiences, yet we are united in purpose—seeking to serve God and encourage others to walk in His calling

Clare Cleave 

Leader

At 14, Clare found faith after growing up in a church-going family. She studied at Cliffe Bible College and met her husband, Dave. In 1996, Clare and Dave joined the Good News Crusades ministry. Together they travelled the world, leading Bible schools and churches, supporting leaders and their families, and ministering to those in need. Now based in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, Clare continues to live by faith and follow God’s calling.

Clare has a heart for teaching God’s Word in a way that is relatable to our everyday lives and leads the teaching at our charity conferences. She loves seeing people released into all that God has called them to and supporting those who are on that journey.

Gill Bough

Leader & Worship Team

Gill grew up in South Chard, Somerset, during the early years of the charismatic movement with parents in full-time service for the Lord. She was saved and filled with the Spirit at an early age and has always been involved in whatever He was doing. From childhood, music was a gift from the Lord.

After returning to England from living abroad, Gill found herself in the depths after losing her dad and with her marriage collapsing. Good friends, Don and Heather Double, invited her to play at the Good News Crusades ladies’ conference, and this was the start of her Rise Up journey.

Gill has travelled across nations helping people praise God and advance His Kingdom by destroying the enemy’s influence on their lives.

At Rise Up meetings, Gill is always on the go! She can be found mingling with those attending, providing words of encouragement and prayer, in addition to following the Spirit when leading praise and worship.

Gill Trevor

Trustee

Based in Axminster, East Devon, Gill has been a Christian for many years and she is one of Rise Up UK’s Trustees. Her background and experience have enabled her to witness God at work outside of the mainstream church environment.

Gill loves to see people set free to fulfil God’s purpose in their lives. At Rise Up meetings, she is often seen encouraging people, praying with them and facilitating breakout teaching sessions.

Jo Pearse

Leader & Trustee

o was saved as a teenager at a Youth for Christ meeting and never looked back! Now living in Swindon with husband Will, the couple are members of Highworth Community Church.

In 2000, Jo became aware of Heather Double’s mission work, which laid the foundation for the ministry now known as Rise Up UK. She was invited to join Gill Bough and Clare Cleave on the team in 2017, before becoming a Trustee when the charity was first registered. 

Lou Ray

Prayer & Worship Team

Lou has a family heritage of leaders, missionaries, and Jewish believers. Now living in Hampshire with her husband and two children, Lou formerly led worship in a multicultural church in London. The Lord consistently positioned Lou in challenging environments: serving as Chair of Governors for an inner-city primary school; working within special needs; genetic counselling in an antenatal clinic (which meant walking with parents on journeys they didn’t want to go on); taking worship to the streets to change the spiritual atmosphere. 

At Rise Up UK conferences, Lou can be found drumming, singing and leading early morning prayer meetings.

Ruth Watkins

Ruth is based in Wellington, Shropshire and has been attending Rise Up conferences since their inception as part of Good News Crusades over 30 years ago and she is now a Trustee.

For many years, Ruth has been equipping teenagers to develop their own relationship with Jesus and not be misled by the world. She is a teacher and a prophet. At Rise Up events, Ruth enjoys the sense of unity and power of us all being together in the Spirit.

Trustee

Sarah Canning

Trustee

Based in Northamptonshire, Sarah attended a Rise Up conference in 2017 when the theme of the meeting was commissioning for God’s purpose. New to faith, the meeting had a lasting impact.

With a legal and business background, Sarah provides administrative support to the team and during the Rise Up conferences will often be found helping with the organisation and providing prayer support.