Meet the Members

Community & Voluntary Services (CVS) Cheshire East work to see the local voluntary sector thriving together. They help charity organisations overcome challenges, achieve goals, and access their full potential with expert infrastructure support, providing support to those starting-up and organisations long-established. Their wide range of support services includes training, direct 1 to 1 guidance, and peer-to-peer networking and cover topics like governance, fundraising, and volunteer management.

cvsce.org.uk

CEO, CVS Cheshire East

Kate has 15 years' experience of working in and leading membership-focused charities in the higher education and students' union sector. She is passionate about the transformative potential of charitable organisations for both individuals and broader society. Kate has experience of strategic planning and implementation, service evaluation and reorientation, securing funding to enable organisations to grow, and local and national policy development. Kate is a member of the national Small Charities Advisory Panel, which champions the voices of small charities.

E: kate.little@cvsce.org.uk

Deputy CEO Sector Development, CVS Cheshire East

Aoife has worked for CVS since 2009, beginning her journey as a Group Development Officer and progressing to her current role as Deputy CEO. Over the years, she has amassed extensive experience in supporting VCFSE organisations, helping them grow both practically and strategically, and building meaningful connections across the sector. As Deputy CEO, Aoife works closely with the Chief Executive to shape organisational strategy, manage key partnerships, and ensure the effective delivery of services. She is a passionate advocate for the VCFSE sector, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure the sector’s vital contributions are acknowledged, supported, and championed at every level.

E: aoife.middlemass@cvsce.org.uk

ICS VCFSE Representative

Alison has worked in the sector for over 25 years, most recently as CEO for local infrastructure and now as the ICS VCFSE representative as part of the Transformation Programme. With her wide knowledge of the sector, Alison is an active member as the VCFSE representative on various strategic boards across the Cheshire and Merseyside health and care system.  Alison supports effective partnerships and helps to influence and shape polices and workstreams to strengthen the sector across the sub-region. In addition to representation, Alison leads on a number of workstream priorities within the transformation programme.

E: alison.cullen@vsnw.org.uk

Warrington Voluntary Action supports the development of a vibrant, thriving and sustainable VCSE to meet the diverse needs of local communities. To do this they:

Provide information, guidance and resources enabling local voluntary, community and faith organisations to deliver effective quality services.

Promote, support and develop social action and volunteering for individuals and local communities to make a positive difference. 

Initiate and nurture the development of new groups, schemes, enterprises or activities to meet identified needs.

Support local networks and forums to facilitate and encourage effective partnerships and strengthen cross-sector working. 

Enable effective representation and involvement in key strategic partnership bodies to ensure third sector organisations have a strong voice.

CEO, Warrington Voluntary Action

Naz has twenty years of experience championing social justice and system change in the voluntary sector with a track record of leadership in transforming policy, amplifying community voices, and driving collaborative solutions across health, social care, and public systems.

She is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Warrington Voluntary Action (WVA), providing strategic leadership across Warrington’s third sector, championing ethical engagement, sustainable funding, and systemic change.

At WVA, Naz leads cross-sector alliances, supports infrastructure development, and influences key decision-making bodies across health and social care. Naz continues to drive forward structural reform, equity, and resilience within communities and the wider VCSE landscape.

Cheshire Community Action (CCA) is the leading rural support charity working with people and communities across Cheshire, Halton and Warrington. It helps communities to improve the places and spaces that are important to them, and connect people with the support they need by providing services in community engagement, neighbourhood planning, enabling affordable housing delivery, developing and managing community buildings and assets, and health and wellbeing support.

CEO, Cheshire Community Action

Mark re-joined Cheshire Community Action in 2011 working in a variety of operational and management roles to support Cheshire and Warrington communities. He currently specialises in adult health, collaborative working, contract and project management. He also assists other team members in delivering engagement work across different strands of the business.

Community Housing Development Manager, Cheshire Community Action

John joined Cheshire Community Action in 2006 working in a variety of community development, policy influencing and management roles to support Cheshire and Warrington communities. He specialises in rural policy, community and neighbourhood planning, assessing housing needs and is now developing the Cheshire and Warrington community led housing hub to support communities to tackle local housing issues.

Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA)’s vision is championing the community sector – building trust, influencing, inspiring. CWVA has been supporting the local community since 1914 and actively works with around 500 community sector organisations in Cheshire West. As well as acting as a voice for the sector and playing an important strategic role through its alliances and partnerships, linking in with public sector partners, CWVA offers a wide range of development support to organisations, covering areas like starting up and governance, funding, training, lived experience, volunteer management and more.

CEO, Cheshire West Voluntary Action

Gary supports the Deputy CEO by providing advice and guidance on CWVA's strategic direction. CWVA has such a lot going on so Gary helps make sure the organisation is around the right tables engaging with all key stakeholders. With many important changes – for example, how health and social care is provided – in the near future, it is such an important time for CWVA to make sure the sector and its members’ voices are heard. Gary is passionate about championing the underdog and loves understanding the framework for how services are delivered to people who need support.

Social Impact & Policy Lead, Cheshire West Voluntary Action

Ryan takes a lead on communications, social impact and policy, helping make sure CWVA communicates with all its key stakeholders effectively through its various communication channels, measuring the social value and impact of both CWVA and the community sector, and monitoring the latest policy changes and upcoming developments so CWVA and the community sector can adapt and respond as effectively as possible. Ryan loves working in the community sector and is excited to see what opportunities might arise in the coming years.