Charles moved to New Mills in 2020 to live closer to family members. He was a Councillor in Gateshead for 14 years as well as 2 ½ years as a Parish Councillor in Northumberland.

Previously he worked as a Senior Manager in a number of NHS & Social Care organisations and for the last 14 years with an international humanitarian charity based in the UK, most recently managing Patient Transport Services. He remains an active Emergency Response volunteer in the UK.

Earlier this year he was co-opted as an Independent Councillor representing Whitle Ward.