Our Trustees
Emma Woolf MBE
“Currently I’m a volunteer and trustee for Cotteridge Park and Birmingham Open Spaces Forum. With 35 years of campaigning experience I’m a ‘give it a go’ kind of woman.”
Chris Bonnard
“I live in south Birmingham and was chairperson of Shenley Youth & Community Trust for nine years from 2010. Previously I was chief executive of two infrastructure voluntary organisations in the West Midlands, and deputy director of an organisation resettling refugees from Vietnam. I am able to offer management, business planning and governance skills and experience to the work of Birmingham Community Matters.”
Dipali Chandra
“Having worked in the community and voluntary sector for over 20 years, I am currently a freelance consultant who runs West Midlands Funders Network, and undertakes funding assessments, monitoring, organisational reviews, research, strategy and business development for the third sector.”
Helga Edström OBE
“I have been a civil servant for close to 42 years, always based in Birmingham and working in social and economic regeneration, latterly with the Office for Civil Society. I get involved in lots of things in Handsworth where I live – or, as a police inspector said to me once, ‘You are a bit annoying really’. I took it as a compliment.”
Emma MacPherson
“I have worked in the charity sector for nearly 30 years, originally in the arts as an orchestra manager and freelance project administrator. Currently working for a small sheltered housing charitable trust in Birmingham, I have over a decade’s experience in the housing sector. I’m a fervent advocate of local charities and organisations with extensive experience of serving as a trustee in the arts, education, housing and community sectors.”
Our Supporters
Karen Cheney
“I have been involved in local government and communities for over 30 years, with a specific experience in community asset transfer, community development, community planning and engagement.”
John Ellery
“I am the founder and director of Get Grants. After a decade working in the voluntary sector, I formed Get Grants to meet the unmet need around fundraising knowledge and skills. Get Grants provides practical support, advice and information through a range training courses, as well as resources and content on our website and regular newsletter.”
Nick Booth
“I’m a former BBC political reporter and television and radio documentary maker who now owns and runs Podnosh. In 2012 I was pleased to accept a Prime Minister’s Big Society award on behalf of the Social Media Surgery movement I helped to establish. This is the model upon which Birmingham Community Matters is based.”
Our Core Team
Jo Burrill
“I have worked in the not-for-profit sector since 2001. As Birmingham Community Matters’ Development Coordinator, my role is to further our charity’s work in supporting micro and emerging community groups across the city.”
Marie Kreft
“I’m a writer, supporting Birmingham Community Matters with marketing and communications through my copywriting business Good As Gold. Here are my 15 digital resources for community groups“.