December 15, 2022

Cumbria CVS has welcomed more new members to the team over the last few months, all bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organisation.

We extend a warm welcome to:

Mary Biddle
Area Engagement Worker (South Cumbria)

Mary joins our new Community Connectors project, having previously worked in both education and the charity sector. She has always enjoyed developing new initiatives and looks forward to the possibilities of this new project. With significant experience of volunteering on projects with children and young people, as well as training and supporting volunteers, Mary is also a very active trustee of a local charity that makes a difference in the lives of the young.

 

Jordan McCulloch
HR Manager

Jordan has worked in HR since leaving school so brings more than a decade’s worth of experience to the organisation, where she hopes to improve and develop the employee experience. As a mental health first aider she is passionate about mental health and wellbeing and is already working closely with colleagues to develop the support the organisation offers in this area.

 

Lois Sparling
South Lakeland Poverty Truth Commission Coordinator

In recent years, Lois has recruited, trained and nurtured volunteers for Manna House in Kendal and Cumbria Alcohol & Drug Advisory service (CADAS). She has been a lifelong volunteer herself, with organisations including a credit union, soup bus, youth club, parish council, and as a school governor.

 

Cathy Hunter
Administration Officer, BBO My Future Project

With a varied background in Advice & Guidance (as Employment Advisor for TCV and Groundwork NE & Cumbria as well Skills & Development Advisor with Inspira and running her own business), Cathy has extensive knowledge of compliance & audit requirements. Her role will be to support the management and finance team to ensure that the project, which is in its final year, completes successfully.

 

Stella Sukram
South Lakeland Poverty Truth Commission Coordinator

Stella has a background in primary teaching, and prior to that worked with inner city children with emotional and behavioural problems, and families experiencing homelessness. On leaving mainstream teaching, she worked as a Family Learning Tutor for Cumbria County Council in Barrow-based schools, and has recently completed a postgraduate qualification in Business and Personal Coaching.

 

Kate Rees
Area Engagement Worker (North Cumbria)

Kate will be working on the Community Connectors project to support under-represented communities to be clearly heard when decisions are made about them. With a background in journalism, Kate has also been a support worker for people with learning disabilities, and an engagement officer with Healthwatch Cumbria. She also volunteers for English Heritage on Hadrian’s Wall.

 

Sarah Pearce
Step Forward Project Administrator

Sarah previously worked for the Centre for Leadership Performance as Marketing and Office Manager, and prior to that in the third sector and local council in roles from administration to project co-ordination. She will be providing administrative support to the team and helping link up with local businesses and charities to provide opportunities for adults with Severe Mental Health Experiences to get into volunteering or work experience.

 

We also welcome Zara Myers, Karen Dutton, Victoria Vyalikova and Joanne Bowmer to our Board of Trustees– you can find out more about them here

And we say farewell to Niall McNulty, District Manager (North), and from our Trustee team, Colin Ranshaw and Jenny Braithwaite, who have left us recently.

Our sincere thanks go to them all for all their hard work and support during their time with us, and we wish them all the best for the future.