Working with us

closeup of a group of volunteers joining hands together

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.

Meet the VCSE Support team
Andy Ryland
Andy Ryland

Development Officer

Contact Andy for: Men’s Sheds, funding, training and governance.

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Andy Shield

Development Officer

Contact Andy for: advice on governance, funding, training and skills audits.

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Carole Roberts
Carole Roberts

Head of VCSE Support

Contact Carole for: information about our VCSE Support service.

Read more about Carole
Claire Smith
Claire Smith

Community Support Assistant

Contact Claire for: information on how to get in touch with the VCSE Support team.

Read more about Claire
Emma Brown
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.

Read more about Emma
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.

Read more about Hilary
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.

Read more about Jeanette
Jo Shakespeare
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.

Read more about Jo
Lara Wilcox
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.

Read more about Lara
Mike Hickman

Leadership Development and Training Manager

Contact Mike for: Leadership Development and Training programmes.

Read more about Mike
Nicky ruddick
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.

Read more about Nicky
Silvia de Sousa
Silvia de Sousa

Healthy Outcomes Delivery Lead

Contact Silvia for: any information about the Health Outcomes project.

Read more about Silvia de
Simona Gorin
Simona Gorin

Leadership Development and Operational Assistant

Contact Simona for: information about our training, and joining our Leadership Mentoring programme.

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Su Morgan
Su Morgan

Development Officer

Contact Su for: support for your voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations.

Read more about Su
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.

Read more about Vicki
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.

Meet our Employment Advice team
Jane Hudson
Jane Hudson

HR Advisor

Contact Jane for: all aspects of employment guidance and advice, from employment documentation to employment law and problem solving.

Read more about Jane
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.

Meet our finance team
Sue Bancroft, Head of Finance
Sue Bancroft

Head of Finance

Contact Sue for: all things finance for Community First Yorkshire.

Read more about Sue
Jeanette Lilley

Finance Assistant

Contact Jeanette for: enquiries about invoicing and payments to and from Community First Yorkshire.

Read more about Jeanette
The health collaboration team makes important connections between health and the VCSE sector.
Meet our health collaboration team
Dena Dalton
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.

Read more about Dena
Marion Tweed-Rycroft
Marion Tweed-Rycroft

Craven Health Connector Coordinator

Contact Marion for: information on making connections between health and VCSE organisations in Craven.

Read more about Marion
Silvia de Sousa
Silvia de Sousa

Healthy Outcomes Delivery Lead

Contact Silvia for: any information about the Health Outcomes project.

Read more about Silvia de
The marketing and communications team manages our website, social media, newsletters and much more.
Meet our marketing and communications team
Cat Giggal, Information Officer
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.

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Jo Fox

Marketing & Communications Manager

Contact Jo for: media enquiries, publicity, website, communications and marketing.

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Rachael Gillbanks
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.

Read more about Rachael
The projects team run a variety of projects including Asset Based Community Development and Community-Led Housing.

Contact the team to find out more.

Meet our projects team
Helen Hunter, Age Friendly Network Coordinator
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.

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Michael Fletcher

Digital Project Lead

Contact Michael for: all queries about our Digital Inclusion Programme.

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Sarah Hart
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.

 

Read more about Sarah
Victoria Russell
Victoria Russell

Projects Manager

Contact Victoria for: information and collaborative working on the wide range of projects delivered at Community First Yorkshire.

Read more about Victoria
The senior management team are responsible for the running of the organisation.
Meet our senior management team
Carole Roberts
Carole Roberts

Head of VCSE Support

Contact Carole for: information about our VCSE Support service.

Read more about Carole
Deb Carey, Chief Executive Support Officer
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.

Read more about Deb
Dena Dalton
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.

Read more about Dena
Jane Colthup
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.

Read more about Jane
Jo Fox

Marketing & Communications Manager

Contact Jo for: media enquiries, publicity, website, communications and marketing.

Read more about Jo
Mike Hickman

Leadership Development and Training Manager

Contact Mike for: Leadership Development and Training programmes.

Read more about Mike
Victoria Russell
Victoria Russell

Projects Manager

Contact Victoria for: information and collaborative working on the wide range of projects delivered at Community First Yorkshire.

Read more about Victoria