Brighter Futures Board Members.

Mike Wolfe

Chairperson

Mike joined the board of Brighter Futures in 2007 and became Chair a year later. His role is to provide support to the Board in its strategic leadership and to be an ambassador for the organisation.

Mike was the first Elected Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent. He is a self-employed consultant developing people, places and policies, mainly for voluntary sector organisations. From 1980-2002 he was the chief executive of Stoke-on-Trent Citizens Advice Bureau.  Mike holds an honorary doctorate from Staffordshire University and is a visiting lecturer in regeneration studies there.

Colin Woodward

Honorary Treasurer

I am a Chartered Tax Advisor by profession, specialising in VAT, international trading, Customs and Excise duties. I have been a Board member of Brighter Futures for a little over two years. I first became aware of Brighter Futures having met Sarah Vernon on a course. As I got to know more about the organisation, I was impressed by its values, approach and leadership. A great many of the services which Brighter Futures provides are aimed towards the most vulnerable in society, and the organisation’s success and achievements are visible in the improvements made to people’s lives. I hope that I am able to contribute towards the ongoing success and growth of the organisation and that my commercial and financial knowledge, together with my fundamental belief in the outcomes which Brighter Futures seeks, will help in some measure towards its continued achievements and therefore lead to improvements in the lives of those whom Brighter Futures serves.

Lynn Kemp

Board Member

Born and bred in North Staffordshire I have spent most of my professional working life in London working at Senior Management level in what was then the Lord Chancellors department, now renamed as Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service.

I returned to Stoke on Trent in 1990 to take up the role of County Director with ADSIS and then moved into a Senior Management role with Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, Mental Health Directorate, where I remained for 5 years before moving back into the Voluntary Sector as Director of the Staffordshire Branch of the British Red Cross.

I am now ‘semi retired’ but continue to fulfil my role as a Justice of the Peace sitting in the Adult and Family Courts in Stafford and Cannock, and as a Non Executive Director of the Common Board for the Staffordshire Primary Care Trust Cluster.

In all of my various positions I have encountered people struggling with the issues and circumstances faced by the varying client groups which Brighter Futures seeks to support.
I welcome the opportunity to become a Board Member and to be able to positively contribute to the work of the organisation.

Rev Rod Clark

Board member

Rod is an Anglican priest working in the northern part of Stoke-on-Trent and based in Cobridge on the edge of the city centre. Prior to that he worked for Stoke City Council, initially for the housing service as a strategy officer and then for social services. He obtained the professional qualification of the Chartered Institute of Housing in 1992 and also has a first degree in Modern History and a Masters in Applied Theology. Rod is a passionate supporter of the third sector and believes in innovative partnership working to achieve positive outcomes for service customers. He believes that agencies exist for the people they serve and that the true health of a nation or city is defined by how the poor and the marginalised are cared for, and that the future lies in creative multi-dimensional services that meet needs holistically. Rod is proud to be associated with Brighter Futures and has respected the organisations’ work for many years – form his days liaising over housing strategies at the local authority – and looks forward to making an ongoing contribution.

Sara Jackson

Vice Chair

Coming soon

Mary Synnott

Board member

My job is Associate Specialist in Public Health Medicine.  I am employed by Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust.  My main role is to ensure the quality and effective local implementation of the national population screening programmes ranging from screening in pregnant women and newborn babies to adult programmes such as cancer screening.  Also I undertake special projects and contribute to training junior doctors. I joined the Board in July 2008.
Shortly after my appointment in 1995 to the NHS in North Staffordshire, I undertook a health needs assessment of the homeless.  Potteries Housing Association (PHA the predecessor of BF) was one of the key stakeholders.  I met Gill Brown and our paths crossed many times over the years, as I pursued my interest in the health of the homeless and disadvantaged people.

Being on the Board allows me to offer my expertise and a clinical perspective on the health and well-being of vulnerable people; up to date knowledge of the commissioning priorities of the local NHS and ability to influence (e.g. secure funding for the matron service for the homeless); advocacy to promote effective partnership working between NHS and Brighter Futures; interpretation of performance data; act as a “critical friend” on the Board.

David Wellings

Board member

David brings with him a wealth of experience from a career spanning 25 years, during which he has worked in diverse roles from general manager to a leading engineers merchants, project management of multi-million pound schemes for Central Government, to managing director to a successful sales consultancy business.

His interest in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initially attracted David to the North Staffs Chamber of Commerce when he joined January 2007.

As a SFEDI-trained business advisor and PRINCE2-trained project manager he works with business leaders and helps them to understand what issues they face and how they can utilise public and private support currently available to overcome any obstacles and problems.

David has the privilege of meeting hundreds of businesses from every sector every year, which enables him to share best practice with like-minded individuals, who can be linked and work together using years of experience and knowledge.

David has been on the Board for four years and joined Brighter Futures after meeting Gill Brown at a Chamber of Commerce business workshop.

Gill Brown

Chief Executive of Brighter Futures

Gill joined Brighter Futures in 1988. She received an honorary Doctorate from Staffordshire University in recognition of her leadership in tackling issues affecting the homeless and other socially excluded groups. Gill holds a degree in Economics and Social History from the University of East Anglia. She is a member of the Homeless Link National Advisory Council and the National Housing Federation’s Care and Support Committee.

Naomi Dobraszczyc

Director of Finance and Contracting

Naomi joined Brighter Futures in 2010. She is a member of Institute of Chartered Accounts in England and Wales. She also holds a first class BA (Honours) degree from Cambridge University in Natural Sciences

Naomi previously worked for Cambridge Housing Society as Finance Director. Prior to this she was employed by Deloitte of London where she worked with a variety of audit clients including FTSE 250 listed companies

Chris Herbert

Director of Business Development

Chris has worked for Brighter Futures since 1995. His role is to oversee the development of business across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. He is also responsible for asset management and maintenance.

Chris has an MSC in Project Management from Nottingham Trent University and is a member of RICS.

Chris has driven the development of our housing and support schemes for adults with mental ill health, and previously managed all schemes. Chris started as our private rented sector move-on development officer. Prior to this he worked in residential property management, valuation and sales.

Sarah Vernon

Director of Support and Community Services

Sarah joined Brighter Futures in 2000. She is qualified to NVQ level 4 in Management. She is currently studying a Masters in Management at Staffordshire University.

Sarah’s worked for Brighter Futures has previously involved managing our housing and also our day opportunities for adults with mental ill health. Previously she worked for Tesco Stores Limited as a departmental manager.

Emma Davis

Senior Manager of Hostels and Temporary Housing

Emma joined Brighter Futures in 1998. Her role is to oversee the operations management of our services for homeless people, sex workers, young people at risk of sexual exploitation, women offenders, and supported housing.
Emma holds a HND in Advice Work and Law from Staffordshire University. She is also qualified to NVQ level 4 in management. 
Emma’s previous roles in Brighter Futures include Rough Sleeper’s Outreach Worker, Support Worker and Manager of our direct access hostel.

Jane Turner

Senior Manager of Mental Health Partnerships

Jane joined Brighter Futures in 1998. Her role is to oversee the operations management of our services for adults with mental ill-health, adults with learning disabilities, and older people.

Jane holds a BA (Honours) degree in Modern Studies (Politics with Philosphy) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Women’s Studies both from Staffordshire University. She also holds a NEBS management certificate from Stoke-on-Trent College, and is qualified to NVQ level 4 in management.

Jane previously worked for Brighter Futures as manager of both our Safe Spaces Network and of our Clubhouse Network. She was also both support worker and night worker at our hostel. Prior to this Jane worked for Stafford Women’s Aid establishing their Outreach and Resettlement service.