Tracy is a qualified Programme Manager and professional Coach and Trainer, with a career spanning over 30 years in senior IT leadership. She spent 22 years in the financial sector and a further 8 years in managed services before retiring.
She became a trustee to utilise her corporate experience to benefit the local community, and what better way than by joining an infrastructure charity like VAC, which works with multiple organisations.
Outside of her trustee role, Tracy enjoys travelling across Europe with her husband Robert and spending time with their two grown-up children.
Jon has built a career in public service, working across health care, social care, and local government. He currently leads a community-focused digital rewards project in Wakefield that encourages volunteering and civic participation.
Originally from Bradford, and with experience in infrastructure organisations and the wider VCSE sector, he brings a valuable external perspective to VAC. After several years as a School Governor, he was keen to expand his knowledge of governance and make a broader impact by becoming a trustee. He is excited to support VAC in its mission to strengthen and champion the VCSE sector in Calderdale.
Outside of work and volunteering, Jon enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two children.
With over 14 years of experience in the charity sector, Ken also brings a professional background in accounting, as well as experience in both the commercial and public sectors. This combination enables him to contribute to decision-making that balances financial responsibility with long-term sustainability for the charity.
Beyond his trustee role, Ken and his wife Pam, whom he married in 2010 while living in Suffolk, now enjoy life in West Yorkshire and plan to make it their long-term home. He is a proud father to one son and stepfather to a daughter and son, who bring him lots of joy.
Having grown up in Calderdale and benefitted from third sector support, Lucy is delighted to now be in a position to give back to the community. After completing her studies in London and Durham, she returned home to support local families through her work as a funeral director.
As a trustee, Lucy looks forward to contributing to the continued strength and development of the VCSE sector in Calderdale.
Sam works in the arts, specialising in dance and health. Her experience spans facilitating sessions, choreographing and directing, filmmaking, project management, and team leadership. She is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director/CEO of Curious Motion, a Calderdale-based organisation that tackles loneliness with and for underrepresented communities. Alongside this, she also works on a freelance basis with other arts and VCSE organisations and can often be found dancing across the borough.
As a trustee of VAC, Sam enjoys using her skills in new ways to support the local VCSE sector, with a particular focus on wellbeing and inclusion. Outside of her professional life, she recently became a mum and loves exploring Calderdale with her family.
Dawn has many years of experience supporting people in setting up and running their own businesses, as well as working with organisations locally, regionally, and nationally that provide enterprise support. She now works for a charity established to run and manage an iconic community building following a community asset transfer from local authority ownership.
Alongside this, Dawn has been a long-standing school governor and has supported a range of charities. She brings a wealth of experience in working with small and micro businesses, social enterprises, charities, schools, and community groups. As a trustee of VAC, she is committed to supporting growth, development, and long-term sustainability across the VCSE sector.
Mandy has worked in the charity sector for many years, spending the last ten years with Community Transport Calderdale. She is passionate about supporting the vibrant voluntary sector in Calderdale and the many organisations delivering valuable work for local communities.
As a member trustee of VAC, Mandy is keen to help expand the portfolio of services offered to local voluntary sector organisations, enabling them to continue making a positive impact.
Emily has 15 years of experience across the bio-science, food, and textile manufacturing industries and has lived, studied, volunteered, and worked in Calderdale and Kirklees throughout her life.
She became a VAC trustee to contribute her expertise in governance, compliance, and risk management, and has a keen interest in how sustainability and ESG initiatives are implemented within the UK charity sector.
Chris grew up in Yorkshire and began his career as a business and data analyst for SMEs in the region before moving to Europe to work as a translator. He later returned to Yorkshire to complete an MA in International Politics and then spent seven years in Central America working with international development organisations.
He has recently returned to Yorkshire and now works for a small international development charity focused on community development in India and Nepal. Outside of his professional life, Chris enjoys spending time with his family and staying active, especially outdoors. When not outdoors, he enjoys watching sports, playing board and card games, or cooking.
Jennifer has over 20 years of leadership experience in talent, learning, and development, with a passion for empowering individuals and communities through education, skills development, and inclusive opportunities. She has worked across retail, logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare, leading initiatives that drive meaningful change.
As an Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) champion and qualified Mental Health First Aider, Jennifer is committed to creating supportive and inclusive environments. She also holds safeguarding qualifications focused on supporting young people and has expertise in personality profiling and neuro-linguistic programming, helping individuals and teams reach their full potential.
Outside of her professional life, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, especially her two children, and supporting initiatives that positively impact her local community.
Priya has spent her career in healthcare and academic publishing, working across both the private and public sectors. Her expertise lies in communications, policy, and government affairs. Having grown up in Halifax and recently returned, she is keen to be part of community-led work and to contribute her skills and experience locally.
She is also a trustee for Inclusive Volunteering Bradford & District Charities and serves as a School Governor.
Outside of work and volunteering, Priya enjoys spending quality time with her partner and two children.
You will receive a VAC Member welcome pack with useful information on getting the most out of your membership and a few extra treats!
Every member of VAC will be invited to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and has voting rights for resolutions and proposals either in person or by proxy.
When you sign up to be a VAC Member, you will be assigned a Go-To Contact from the VAC team.
They will be your main point of contact for your membership, helping to answer questions and signposting you to the right place within VAC and/or our partnerships.
We want the VAC membership offer to be responsive to the needs of our members. Member check ins keep us up to date on your organisation’s news and developments but also on any challenges or support gaps that may be affecting the VCSE sector.
The information we receive during our member check ins will highlight trends and challenges that we can then explore support and solutions for via our membership offer and partnerships with local providers and authorities.
To support VAC members to feel connected and informed, we have created a unique Member Area on the VAC Website.
The online dashboard will keep you and your colleagues up to date on the latest member opportunities, training and news.
The Member Area also has a forum function, allowing VAC Member organisations to interact and support each other.
A quarterly newsletter to keep our members up to date on not only VAC Membership updates and opportunities but also specifically created content on topics of interest to the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
The Bimonthly Member Network is for VAC Members to connect with other VAC Members!
A perfect opportunity to support one another, find out about other local services and explore new collaborative opportunities and partnerships with fellow VAC members.
40% Discount on VAC Room Hire – We offer a range of flexible rooms for hire located in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Our rooms include a fully equipped, large training room with SMART board and flipchart facilities seating up to 25 theatre style, two smaller meeting rooms seating up to 12 and a small office with computer facilities suitable for one-to-one meetings or rent-a-desk.
25% Discount on Virtual Office – Perfect for start ups or smaller organisations, our Virtual Office service offers a postal address, pigeonhole and reception facilities.
25% Discount on ID Badge Printing – Competitively priced to accommodate for smaller orders, our in-house ID Badge service supports both design and printing.
Based on feedback and insight we gain from our members, our training and events offer will complement local infrastructure support training programmes.
All sessions are cost effective and VCSE sector driven. As a VAC + Member, you will receive a considerable discount on all VAC Training and Events.
You will receive a VAC Member welcome pack with useful information on getting the most out of your membership and a few extra treats!
Every member of VAC will be invited to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and has voting rights for resolutions and proposals either in person or by proxy.
When you sign up to be a VAC Member, you will be assigned a Go-To Contact from the VAC team.
They will be your main point of contact for your membership, helping to answer questions and signposting you to the right place within VAC and/or our partnerships.
We want the VAC membership offer to be responsive to the needs of our members. Member check ins keep us up to date on your organisation’s news and developments but also on any challenges or support gaps that may be affecting the VCSE sector.
The information we receive during our member check ins will highlight trends and challenges that we can then explore support and solutions for via our membership offer and partnerships with local providers and authorities.
To support VAC members to feel connected and informed, we have created a unique Member Area on the VAC Website.
The online dashboard will keep you and your colleagues up to date on the latest member opportunities, training and news.
The Member Area also has a forum function, allowing VAC Member organisations to interact and support each other.
A quarterly newsletter to keep our members up to date on not only VAC Membership updates and opportunities but also specifically created content on topics of interest to the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
The Bimonthly Member Network is for VAC Members to connect with other VAC Members!
A perfect opportunity to support one another, find out about other local services and explore new collaborative opportunities and partnerships with fellow VAC members.
20% Discount on VAC Room Hire – We offer a range of flexible rooms for hire located in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Our rooms include a fully equipped, large training room with SMART board and flipchart facilities seating up to 25 theatre style, two smaller meeting rooms seating up to 12 and a small office with computer facilities suitable for one-to-one meetings or rent-a-desk.
Competitive rate on ID Badge Printing – Competitively priced to accommodate for smaller orders, our in-house ID Badge service supports both design and printing.
Based on feedback and insight we gain from our members, our training and events offer will complement local infrastructure support training programmes.
All sessions are cost effective and VCSE sector driven.