Who We Are

The Churn Project

I’m CEO of The Churn Project, a community charity based in Cirencester supporting people of all ages. I lead a small but growing organisation rooted in inclusion, accessibility and trusted relationships with both communities and statutory partners. I bring experience in strategic planning, partnership development and delivering responsive person-centred services. I'm passionate about the role of the VCSE sector in rural areas and committed to meaningful collaboration that drives long-term system-level change.

Forest Voluntary Action Forum

I am CEO of Forest Voluntary Action Forum (FVAF) where I advocate for volunteering and community action throughout the Forest of Dean and beyond. I have 13 years’ experience in leadership roles within the VCSE sector, from managing two Children’s Centres to acting as a Director of a Social Care organisation that helps people with disabilities and complex reputations to live better lives. I am a Safeguarding Trainer and regularly lecture at universities on Community Development and safeguarding within the VCSE sector. I am a Rising Leaders Fellow with the Aspen Institute, a Town Councillor, Music Festival Chair and passionate community organiser.

Gloucestershire Gateway Trust

I’m really proud to be the Chief Executive Officer of Gloucestershire Gateway Trust, the community development charity that co-created Gloucester Services. For 20 years I have worked with people and communities in Gloucestershire through projects that may have said “employment” and “skills” in their titles, but we understand that lives are complex, determinants of health, wealth and self are intertwined, and support is more impactful when we are liberated to work with the whole person and organisations work together in the spirit of partnership, sharing, and trust. This means that it’s important to me to nurture deep collaboration within the VCSE and with the Integrated Care System.

Mindsong

I’m a Music Therapist and Director of Music Therapy for Mindsong, a Gloucestershire charity that reaches people living with dementia and their families through music and song. I believe passionately in the power of creative interventions to support health and wellbeing and am proud of the many great charities and organisations with so much to offer in Gloucestershire. I’m keen to learn more, particularly about how we, as the VCSE Strategic Partnership, can best work to promote and support our VCSE sector. I’m looking forward to meeting new people, making new connections, and developing partnerships for meaningful change in Gloucestershire.

Active Impact

I’m CEO of Active Impact, a user-led development charity which helps increase inclusive practice in local community activities, and also a volunteer co-leader of two very small grassroots organisations. So many fantastic activities, services and assistance offered in Gloucestershire happen as a result of very small groups of people with a passion for making a difference. Yet their impact is often overlooked when strategic planning takes place, and they face barriers to being involved, valued and connected into the wider picture. Through being a member of the VCSE Strategic Partnership, I aim to support a more interconnected approach to improving wellbeing and access to services for people in Gloucestershire by gathering ideas from grassroots organisations to inform partnership working.

Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance

I am the Chief Executive Officer of the Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance. I attend the Integrated Care Partnership as a representative of the sector.  I am passionate about the work and value of the VCSE sector and am committed to ensuring that the sector is seen and treated as an equal partner within our county.  Outside of work I enjoy going for walks in our beautiful Gloucestershire countryside.

Inclusion Gloucestershire

I am a charity founder and CEO of Disabled People’s Organisation Inclusion Gloucestershire, working to ensure that people facing disabling barriers are valued, respected and included every day and in every way. I have worked in Gloucestershire’s voluntary sector for over 10 years and am also an Associate Non Executive Director of Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, working to represent the voice of communities and foster partnership working with the VCS. As a disabled woman, I am passionate about coproduction, partnership working to remove disabling barriers and working alongside groups who are seldom heard.

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust

I’m Lucy, and am delighted to have recently joined the VCSE Strategic Partnership. I have worked in Gloucestershire charities for the past ten years, beginning my career in Museums and Galleries before moving to Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust as Community Action Manager in 2023. My focus is on using a community organising approach to give people the tools and skills to make change on their doorstep. At home I enjoy geocaching and baking with my two children and running through the countryside near my house.

Gay Glos

I’m Michelle, though most people call me Shell, and I am passionate about ensuring that smaller charities have a strong voice. I co-chair Gay Glos, a small youth charity supporting LGBTQ+ teenagers in Gloucester, and I also serve as a trustee for The Spring Centre, which provides respite care for children and vulnerable young adults in Quedgeley. It’s important to me to truly understand the needs of grassroots charities and community groups, and to help ensure their perspectives shape the decisions that affect them.

GL11 Community Hub

I'm CEO at GL11 Community Hub in Cam. With a background in healthcare, I’m deeply committed to improving community wellbeing through genuine collaboration and co creation. For me the VCSE Strategic Partnership is about learning together, building stronger partnerships, and working together to create lasting, positive change, that keeps people at the heart.