Working with us
If you’re not sure who to contact for advice and support at Community First Yorkshire, take a look at our team.
The VCSE Support team works with community groups and charities across North Yorkshire providing advice and support on anything from funding to finance, volunteering to governance.
We also arrange bespoke training and connect you with peer support networks to to help your organisation or group to thrive.
Andy Ryland
Development Officer
Contact Andy for: Men’s Sheds, funding, training and governance.
Andy Shield
Development Officer
Contact Andy for: advice on governance, funding, training and skills audits.
Carole Roberts
Head of VCSE Support
Contact Carole for: information about our VCSE Support service.
Claire Smith
Community Support Assistant
Contact Claire for: information on how to get in touch with the VCSE Support team.
Emma Brown
Support Officer
The VCSE Support team are the behind the scenes hub of the organisation. We ensure the smooth day-to-day running of Community First Yorkshire’s operations, including facilities, stock control, administrative support across the organisation, DBS processing, membership subscriptions, mail outs and working closely with the Marketing and Communications team to organise events. If you need something organising or ordering, we are the go to team.
Hilary Ashton
Development Officer
Contact Hilary for: advice on choosing a charitable structure, constitutions, trustee issues, community buildings, funding, strategic and/or financial planning, volunteering.
Jeanette Lilley
Senior Support Officer
The VCSE Support team are the behind the scenes hub of the organisation. We ensure the smooth day-to-day running of Community First Yorkshire’s operations, including facilities, stock control, administrative support across the organisation, DBS processing, membership subscriptions, mail outs and working closely with the Marketing and Communications team to organise events. If you need something organising or ordering, we are the go to team.
Jo Shakespeare
Support Manager
The VCSE Support team are the behind the scenes hub of the organisation. We ensure the smooth day-to-day running of Community First Yorkshire’s operations, including facilities, stock control, administrative support across the organisation, DBS processing, membership subscriptions, mail outs and working closely with the Marketing and Communications team to organise events. If you need something organising or ordering, we are the go to team.
Lara Wilcox
Support Officer
The VCSE Support team are the behind the scenes hub of the organisation. We ensure the smooth day-to-day running of Community First Yorkshire’s operations, including facilities, stock control, administrative support across the organisation, DBS processing, membership subscriptions, mail outs and working closely with the Marketing and Communications team to organise events. If you need something organising or ordering, we are the go to team.
Mike Hickman
Leadership Development and Training Manager
Contact Mike for: Leadership Development and Training programmes.
Nicky Ruddick
Development Officer
Contact Nicky for: advice on governance including registering as a charity, community buildings, children and young people’s projects and tap into her vast experience of grant funding.
Silvia de Sousa
Healthy Outcomes Delivery Lead
Contact Silvia for: any information about the Health Outcomes project.
Simona Gorin
Leadership Development and Operational Assistant
Contact Simona for: information about our training, and joining our Leadership Mentoring programme.
Su Morgan
Development Officer
Contact Su for: support for your voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations.
Vicki Sharp
Development Officer
Contact Vicki for: support with developing your community group or voluntary sector organisation from funding to finance, volunteering to charity governance.
Our Employment Advice Service (EAS) with qualified HR professionals has a long-established reputation.
We can help you with advice on recruitment, disciplinary procedures and much more. To find out more about our support and pricing click here. To contact the service, click on the profile below.
Jane Hudson
HR Advisor
Contact Jane for: all aspects of employment guidance and advice, from employment documentation to employment law and problem solving.
At the heart of our organisation is our Finance team, dedicated to our financial stability and ensuring our organisation runs smoothly and efficiently in compliance with financial regulations.
The team can help you with any enquiries you may have about invoicing and payments to and from Community First Yorkshire.
Sue Bancroft
Head of Finance
Contact Sue for: all things finance for Community First Yorkshire.
Jeanette Lilley
Finance Assistant
Contact Jeanette for: enquiries about invoicing and payments to and from Community First Yorkshire.
The health collaboration team makes important connections between health and the VCSE sector.
Dena Dalton
Head of Health Collaboration
Contact Dena for: information on building equitable and impactful partnerships between voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations and the NHS, Local Authority and Public Health teams.
Marion Tweed-Rycroft
Craven Health Connector Coordinator
Contact Marion for: information on making connections between health and VCSE organisations in Craven.
Silvia de Sousa
Healthy Outcomes Delivery Lead
Contact Silvia for: any information about the Health Outcomes project.
The marketing and communications team manages our website, social media, newsletters and much more.
Cat Giggal
Information Officer
Contact Cat for: information to be included in our weekly enewsletter, Community First Yorkshire News and for funds for our monthly Funding Bulletin.
Jo Fox
Marketing & Communications Manager
Contact Jo for: media enquiries, publicity, website, communications and marketing.
Rachael Gillbanks
Marketing & Communications Officer
Contact Rachael for: marketing information about the website, enews, social media and all aspects of marketing with Community First Yorkshire.
The projects team run a variety of projects including Asset Based Community Development and Community-Led Housing.
Contact the team to find out more.
Helen Hunter
Age Friendly Network Coordinator
Contact Helen for: advice about the Age Friendly Network – how to join and work towards an age friendly community in North Yorkshire.
Michael Fletcher
Digital Project Lead
Contact Michael for: all queries about our Digital Inclusion Programme.
Sarah Hart
Rothwell Assets Based Community Development Officer / Nidderdale Community Led Housing Officer
Contact Sarah for: any information about the Rothwell Assets Based Community Development project and our Nidderdale Community Led Housing project.
Victoria Russell
Projects Manager
Contact Victoria for: information and collaborative working on the wide range of projects delivered at Community First Yorkshire.
The senior management team are responsible for the running of the organisation.
Carole Roberts
Head of VCSE Support
Contact Carole for: information about our VCSE Support service.
Deb Carey
Chief Executive Support Officer
Contact Deb for: getting in touch with our Chief Executive. Deb acts as a liaison for key communications with our Chief Executive and stakeholders and partners.
Dena Dalton
Head of Health Collaboration
Contact Dena for: information on building equitable and impactful partnerships between voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations and the NHS, Local Authority and Public Health teams.
Jane Colthup
Chief Executive
Contact Jane for: anything you think she needs to be aware of in her role as Chief Executive of the organisation.
Jo Fox
Marketing & Communications Manager
Contact Jo for: media enquiries, publicity, website, communications and marketing.
Mike Hickman
Leadership Development and Training Manager
Contact Mike for: Leadership Development and Training programmes.
Victoria Russell
Projects Manager
Contact Victoria for: information and collaborative working on the wide range of projects delivered at Community First Yorkshire.
