Trustees

Tracy Saunders

I have been married to Robert for 32 years we have two grown up children, Lucy and Joshua. The majority of my career has been as a senior leader in IT, 22 years in the financial sector and the last 6 years in Managed Services, working for Civica in Leeds. I’m a qualified Programme Manager and a professional coach and trainer.

I became a trustee so that I could use my experience gained in the corporate world to support VAC. As I’m a new trustee I’ll also learn lots about the charity sector and being part of a board.

John Needell

I worked at a multinational leaving a senior regional management role after 30 years in order to focus more time on voluntary work in Calderdale and running a small consultancy business. I have worked with Threeways, Home-Start Calderdale and Happydays amongst others over the subsequent time, the last two as a board member. I have also had some experience in working with a couple of national charities too.

The experience I have had with the local charities showed me both the positive impact that the voluntary sector can make to individuals and the community but also that all small charities can and potentially must seek to benefit significantly from having a broader network to gain support and collaborations. Funding is getting harder and the demand for voluntary services increasing, the only way to sustainability is by being smarter and adapting, collaborating and sharing across multiple organisations.

VAC has the potential to facilitate and help this to happen successfully and I wanted to try to help this and support charities throughout Calderdale achieve their potentials.

Annette Armstrong-Sam

I am Business / Care Manager for Oasis Care Support Services a Domestic Support Services providing support to Adults within the community. I help to run a food bank from my local church to support members of our community, through difficult periods in their lives. Previously I worked for over 20yrs with the Local Authority as a Team Manager in Adult Social Care.

I have found working with VAC inspiring and rewarding and totally embrace their ethos of “improving local lives” which is inherent in every aspect of the work they do.

Caroline Jones

I am a retired police officer who now works at Citizens Advice and have significant experience of working in partnerships.

I got involved in VAC because I care about the voluntary and sector in Calderdale and know that this organisation is key in its sustainability and development.

Adam Roe

Adam joined VAC as a Trustee in 2019. He moved from the private sector in 2001 and has since built a career in the voluntary and community sector, specialising in helping charities to grow income and develop brand identity.

Having spent almost 14 years in adult and community working across the North of England, he returned to Calderdale in 2018 as Head of Development at the Piece Hall and Square Chapel.

His interest in arts and culture has seen him take up a new role at the pioneering contemporary arts centre, The Tetley in Leeds, as Head of Development and Stakeholder Management.

Dawn Whiteley MBE

I’ve worked for many years supporting those setting up and running their own businesses; as well as having worked with and for organisations locally, regionally and nationally who provide that support. I now work for a charity set up to run and manage an iconic community building following a community asset transfer from local authority ownership.

I have developed a wealth of experience working with small and micro business, social enterprises and community groups and bring that experience to my role at VAC where I hope to support their growth and development and long term sustainability.

Teresa Shaw

I was asked to become a trustee of VAC after taking advice from them when I started up a community group. Their help was invaluable and it was a way that I could repay them for the help and advice my group received. I am involved with other community groups as a trustee.

Samantha McCormick

I am a professional Dance Artist with over 13 years of experience working with people of all ages within communities, education settings and professional dance organisations. My work is focused on making a positive difference to the wellbeing of the people and communities I work with through inclusive and high quality experiences. I run my own social enterprise and also work for an inclusive dance charity.

I became a trustee because I’m passionate about supporting the local VCSE sector and would like to use my creative skills and knowledge around wellbeing in new ways, supporting VAC to ‘improve local lives’.

Julia Gray

I am the Vice Principal for Quality and People Services at Calderdale College and have lived and worked in Calderdale since 2017. I have been a VAC trustee since 2018 and joined to strengthen the College’s commitment to the community of Calderdale and to provide a clear link for our students to the voluntary and community work in the borough. I am honoured to be part of the fantastic work that VAC undertakes.

Kate Auker

I live in Calderdale and work at The Welcome Centre in Huddersfield; a food bank and support service.

I’ve always worked and volunteered in the VCSE sector; specialising in equality, diversity & inclusion within communities facing inequality and discrimination.

We have a sector to be proud of in Calderdale that has repeatedly shown its resilience, innovation and adaptability.

VAC is pivotal to this and their vision to promote positive social change to improve local lives, aligns very well with both my work and personal values.

I’m very proud to be part of the team.