Who we are

See below to find out more about the staff and trustees at Community Impact Bucks, and the work they do to support the charity.

Katie Higginson - CEO
Katie Higginson
Group Chief Executive

Katie leads the charity, ensuring that Community Impact Bucks has the resources, partnerships and services needed to help organisations and communities improve the lives of people in Bucks.

01844 873687
Helen Archer - Head of VCSE & Community Development
Helen Archer
Head of VCSE & Community Development.

Helen heads up the team which delivers our support for groups, volunteering and community services. She is responsible for the design, delivery, evaluation and resourcing of programmes of support and development to ensure thriving and resilient communities and VCSE organisations in Buckinghamshire.

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01844 617228
Rachel Fisher - Head of Communications
Rachel Fisher
Head of Communications

Rachel leads on the design, delivery and evaluation of the charity’s communications activity.

01844 617216
Image of Michael Curth, Trustee
Michael Curth
Head of Programme Management

Michael is responsible for IT and Operations infrastructure initiatives across the organisation with the aim to embed specialist disciplines and elevate standards of performance. He has over 30 years of experience in IT, Operations, and Analytics, predominantly in the Market Research Industry.

David Quinn - Head of Finance & Operations
David Quinn
Head of Finance & Operations

David is responsible for finance and operational support for the charity. A chartered accountant, he has held senior financial roles across a range of industrial sectors, including work with governments, companies, and civil society on assignments to improve governance and financial transparency.

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Stephanie Thompson - VCSE & Community Development Manager
Stephanie Thompson
VCSE & Community Development Manager

Stephanie leads on volunteer brokerage – the Volunteer Matching Service and Team Volunteering programme – ensuring volunteers are placed where they are most needed. She is also responsible for organisational monitoring and impact evaluation and using evidence to inform service development. 

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Frankie Hockham - VCSE & Community Development Officer
Frankie Hockham
VCSE & Community Development Officer

Frankie has over 10 years experience in the charity sector – having set up her own charity as well as working for both small local and larger national charities in senior fundraising roles.

If you would like advice on funding and governance or if you are interested in subscribing to the community buildings service, give her a call.

01844 617218
Lew Headley - VCSE & Community Development Officer
Lew Headley
VCSE & Community Development Officer

Lew’s background is in working with children & families and community projects. He also has experience leading volunteering programmes and working with volunteers in Buckinghamshire. If you would like advice on supporting volunteers or are interested in volunteering, do get in touch.

 

01844 617229
Darrian Cato - Handy Helpers Service Team Leader
Darrian Cato
Handy Helpers Service - Team Leader

Darrian supports the Handy Helpers Service in providing internal and external maintenance and practical tasks for vulnerable Buckinghamshire residents.

Tania Orlova - Ukrainian Community Support Project Manager
Tania Orlova
Ukraine Community Support Project Manager

Tania manages our work coordinating and enabling community action across Buckinghamshire to support Ukrainian refugees in the county.

01844 617308
Nosh Fiaz - VCSE & Community Development Officer
Nosh Fiaz
VCSE & Community Development Officer

Nosh supports local not-for-profit organisations on GDPR issues, and works on the Volunteer Matching Service and Community Transport Scheme.

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Cheryl Scott - VCSE & Community Development Officer
Cheryl Scott
VCSE & Community Development Officer

Cheryl was a founding volunteer team member of the Volunteer Matching Service (VMS). She has since then joined Community Impact Bucks as a member of staff, now providing advice and support to volunteers and volunteer managers in Buckinghamshire as well as helping to run the systems that underpin the Volunteer Matching Service.

01844 617230
Photo of Amanda Atkins - Finance & Operations Assistant
Amanda Atkins
Finance & Operations Assistant

Amanda is responsible for maintaining accurate financial data and she provides support to all members of the team to ensure the organisation functions efficiently.

01844 617 217
Karen Barnard - VCSE & Community Development Assistant
Karen Barnard
VCSE & Community Development Assistant

To provide administration and co-ordination support to the VCSE & Community Development Team enabling successful delivery of projects and services.  Also, provides first point of contact for enquiries and referrals to the Gardening & Well-being and Handy Helpers services.

01844 617231
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Chanel Smith - Communications & Marketing Officer
Chanel Smith
Communications & Marketing Officer

Chanel is responsible for managing the Community Impact Bucks social media channels, as well as creating & disseminating content through these channels, newsletters, website & blogs.

01844 617227
Abi Woolley - VCSE & Community Development Assistant
Abigail Woolley
VCSE & Community Development Assistant

Abi provides administrative support to help the team in the running and delivery of VCSE and Community Development projects. She also provides a friendly first point of contact for enquiries and referrals.

01494 924 425
Alisa Stef - VCSE & Community Development Assistant
Alisa Stef
VCSE & Community Development Assistant

Alisa provides administrative and analytical support for the VCSE and Community Development projects. She also supports the coordination of our Volunteer Matching Service (VMS).

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Our Trustees

Mike Schindler, Chair of Community Impact Bucks
Mike Schindler
Chair

Taking on the role of Chair in 2023, Mike first volunteered with Community Impact Bucks in 2016 advising charities on governance, compliance and risk, and became a Trustee in 2020. He has also been a Trustee at The Royal Air Force Museum, a School Governor and an ‘Independent Person’ at a local authority and an advisor to a military charity. His background is in defence and law enforcement having set up the UK National Fraud Authority as Chief Operating Officer.

Charlotte Sills - Trustee
Charlotte Sills
Trustee

Charlotte is a charity professional with expertise in fundraising and marketing. Charlotte has worked at charities including Arthritis Research UK, Breast Cancer Now and Ovarian Cancer Action. She is currently Head of Fundraising and Marketing at Cardiomyopathy UK, a charity based in Amersham supporting people affected by heart muscle disease.

Beth Knighton - Trustee
Beth Knighton
Trustee

Beth has 25 years of Leadership and Management experience in the not-for-profit sector developing programmes which tackle complex social issues in areas of youth, community, disability and family support. Currently running a consultancy working with a variety of charities, providing specialism in planning and implementing organisational change and restructure, fundraising, developing business plans and strategy and refreshing organisational culture.

Dominic Pinkney - Trustee
Dominic Pinkney
Trustee

Dominic is a volunteering expert who is the CEO of two London-based Volunteer Centre charities and a social enterprise. He has represented the UK at the United Nations on several occasions to lead and facilitate discussions on how volunteering can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He is a leader on ESV, enabling businesses to support the community through volunteering.

Lesley Davies - Trustee
Lesley Davies
Trustee

Lesley has been a trustee with CIB since 2017. She is an experienced People Director with a track record of achieving results at Board level in both a business and not-for-profit capacity.

Lianda O'Riordan - Trustee
Lianda O’Riordan
Trustee

Lianda joins the board with over 20 years’ experience in retail marketing across a range of industries, covering brand, customer campaigns and corporate communications. She is trained as an Executive Coach, and she volunteers both as a mentor to Neurodivergent people and as a Mental Health First Aider.

Murray Scott Trustee
Murray Scott
Treasurer

Murray is a Chartered Accountant with many years of experience in senior finance roles, including CFO of two national charities.

He now combines working as a part-time Finance Director, acting as Treasurer for Community Impact Bucks, volunteering for his cricket club and Chiltern Society Path Maintenance Volunteers, and enjoying various sporting activities.

Owen Hughes - Trustee
Owen Hughes
Trustee

An experienced MD and management consultant, he is also involved in running a global social responsibility accreditation and training company, CSR-A, helping transform businesses and focused to become socially responsible and sustainable.  Owen has worked with charities and not-for-profit organisations over the last 15 years holding non-executive and trustee roles.

Our Ambassadors

Our ambassadors represent Community Impact Bucks in their local communities. They help charities and community groups by making sure they know of and can access our support, by raising the profile of volunteering and by being a first point of contact for local organisations.

Mimi Harker - Ambassador
Mimi Harker OBE
Ambassador

Mimi was awarded an OBE in 2012 for her work for women and her local community. She currently serves on Buckinghamshire Council and is involved in a wide range of voluntary roles across Buckinghamshire.