Meet the team - Community Impact Bucks

More about us

What we do

At Community Impact Bucks, we believe that strong, vibrant communities are built by people dedicated to making a difference. Our team is a diverse group of individuals committed to supporting and empowering charities, community groups and residents in Buckinghamshire.

With a shared vision of creating positive change, we work together to provide essential services, resources, and opportunities to help our community thrive.

Our staff

Acting CEO

Contact: 01844 617228

As the Acting CEO from 1^st January 2025, Helen leads Community Impact Bucks, ensuring the charity has the necessary resources, partnerships, and services to help organisations and communities enhance the lives of people in Buckinghamshire. She also leads the team delivering support for groups, volunteering, and community services.

Head of Finance & Operations

Contact: 01844 617215

David oversees finance and operational support for Community Impact Bucks. As a chartered accountant, he has held senior financial roles across various sectors, working with governments, companies, and civil society to improve governance and financial transparency.

Head of Communications

Contact: 01844 617216

Rachel leads the design, delivery, and evaluation of Community Impact Bucks’ communications activities. She advises and works alongside internal stakeholders and partners, and oversees the creation of content to ensure effective engagement.

Head of Programme Management & Business Development

Contact: 01296 841061

Stephanie is responsible for the charity’s IT and operations infrastructure initiatives, as well as monitoring and impact evaluation which informs service development and improve programme effectiveness. She also leads volunteer brokerage, including the Volunteer Bucks platform which connects volunteers with organisations across the county.

VCSE & Community Development Manager

Contact: 01844 617 233

Samantha manages the Handy Helpers service which helps Buckinghamshire residents who are at risk with small internal and external maintenance tasks so that they can continue to live at home safely and for longer.

VCSE & Community Development Officer

Contact: 01844 617300

Nosh supports local not-for-profit organisations on GDPR issues, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations. In addition, she plays a key role with the new Volunteer Bucks platform and Community Transport Scheme, facilitating connections between volunteers and organisations and addressing transportation needs in the community.

VCSE & Community Development Officer

Contact: 01844 617231 | 07821 133408

Karen provides administrative and coordination support to the VCSE & Community Development Team, ensuring successful delivery of projects and services. She is the first point of contact for enquiries and referrals to the Gardening and Handy Helpers services.

VCSE & Community Development Officer

Contact: 01844 617230

Cheryl was a founding volunteer team member of the Volunteer Matching Service, now Volunteer Bucks. She provides advice and support to volunteers and volunteer managers in Buckinghamshire and helps support Volunteer Bucks.

Rural Housing Enabler and Community Buildings Advisor

Contact: 01494 924458

Ashleigh is an independent specialist advisor on rural housing, dedicated to fostering collaboration between parish councils, landowners, housing associations, and local communities. She is also our Community Buildings Advisor, providing essential advice and support to Buckinghamshire community buildings and village halls.

Communications & Marketing Officer

Contact: 01844 617227

Chanel is responsible for managing Community Impact Bucks’ social media channels, ensuring consistent and engaging content across various platforms. She also creates and disseminates content through other channels including newsletters, the website, and blogs, communicating the charity’s mission and activities to a broad audience.

Handy Helpers Service Team Leader

Darrian leads the Handy Helpers Service, providing internal and external maintenance and practical tasks for vulnerable Buckinghamshire residents. With a focus on delivering high-quality service, Darrian coordinates the team of Handy Helpers, ensuring tasks are completed efficiently and to a high standard. He works closely with clients to understand their needs and coordinates with volunteers and other resources to provide timely assistance.

VCSE & Community Development Assistant

Alisa provides administrative and analytical support for VCSE and Community Development projects. She assists in the coordination Volunteer Bucks, ensuring smooth operation and efficient matching of volunteers with opportunities.

VCSE & Community Development Assistant

Rida provides administrative and analytical support for VCSE and Community Development projects. She assists in the coordination of the charity’s events, as well as provides administrative support to the Handy Helpers team.

Finance & Operations Assistant

Elize provides financial and operational support for Community Impact Bucks. She helps support effective financial and operational procedures by providing high-quality administrative support and co-ordination.

Our trustees

Chair

Mike initially joined the charity as a volunteer in 2016 providing advice on governance, compliance and risk, before becoming a Trustee in 2020. He has also served as a Trustee at The Royal Air Force Museum, a School Governor, an ‘Independent Person’ at a local authority, and an advisor to a military charity. His background is in defence and law enforcement, including his role as Chief Operating Officer in establishing the UK National Fraud Authority. Mike became Chair of Community Impact Bucks in 2023.

Deputy Chair

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

Trustee

Beth brings 25 years of leadership and management experience in the not-for-profit sector, developing programmes to address complex social issues in youth, community, disability and family support. She currently runs a consultancy that works with various charities, providing expertise in planning and implementing organisational change, fundraising, developing business plans and strategy, and refreshing organisational culture.

Trustee

Lianda joins the board with over 20 years of experience in retail marketing across various industries, including brand, customer campaigns, and corporate communications. She is trained as an Executive Coach and volunteers as a mentor to neurodivergent individuals and as a Mental Health First Aider.

Trustee

Owen is an experienced Managing Director and management consultant involved in running a global social responsibility accreditation and training company, CSR-A. He helps transform businesses to become socially responsible and sustainable. Over the past 15 years, Owen has worked with charities and not-for-profit organisations, holding non-executive and trustee roles.

Treasurer

Murray is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience in senior finance roles, including serving as CFO for two national charities. He now works part-time as a Finance Director, acts as Treasurer for Community Impact Bucks, volunteers for his cricket club and the Chiltern Society Path Maintenance Volunteers, and enjoys various sporting activities.

Trustee

Richard brings extensive experience from a distinguished career in commercial and investment banking, followed by over two decades as a commercial trustee with The Law Debenture Trust Corporation. As a Director focused on new business, he was instrumental in diverse initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions structuring, international capital market issuance, and securing syndicated loans for major infrastructure projects in developing nations.

Trustee

Lee joined the board with a decade of expertise in energy and sustainability across academia, consulting, and industry. Holding a PhD in Bioenergy from the University of Leeds, he has advised prominent companies on sustainability strategies and low-carbon energy solutions. Currently, Lee serves as Policy, Sustainability, and Funding Manager at Ryze Power, a leading supplier of low-carbon hydrogen in the UK and EU, where he furthers his commitment to environmental sustainability.

Trustee

Heather joined Community Impact Bucks as a Trustee and Environmental Sustainability Lead in 2023, following a 32-year career in environmental consultancy. Over her career, she led numerous consultancy projects for national governments and corporates, spending over a decade in senior leadership as Practice Director for Energy and Climate Change and as Operations Director.

Trustee

Malcom began volunteering with Community Impact Bucks in September 2022 as part of the Volunteer Matching Service, joining the board as a Trustee in March 2024. With a background in logistics and road transport compliance, Malcom also brings extensive experience from his 12 years as Chair of Governors at a secondary school in Aylesbury. He is dedicated to supporting Buckinghamshire’s community organisations through his role on the board.

Ambassador

Mimi was awarded an OBE in 2012 for her work supporting women and her local community. She currently serves as Chairman of Buckinghamshire Council and is actively involved in a wide range of voluntary roles across Buckinghamshire. As an Ambassador for Community Impact Bucks, Mimi represents the charity in her local community, helping charities and community groups access support, raising the profile of volunteering, and serving as a first point of contact for local organisations.