Trustees 16/17

Alan has served on Greenbank’s Council of Management since 2008 and became Chair in 2009.

He has considerable experience in the education sector and was a secondary school head teacher for 16 years (11-18 years olds). He is also a former Director of Schools and Chief Education Officer – Inner City Schools. He’s chaired various committees, boards and meetings and has acquired considerable leadership and management experience.

“The local community is fortunate to have an organisation as unique and adventurous as Greenbank, always wanting the best for its students and service users and always trying to help people fulfil their dreams. It is a pleasure to serve as its Chair.”

Sandra has a disability and has volunteered at Greenbank for over 30 years and is motivated by a desire to encourage and help dispel some negative myths about employing people with disabilities.

She has worked in the private, voluntary and public sectors in a variety of roles including, administration, training, operational management, human resources and financial management during her career.

She took a number of qualifications as an adult starting with ‘A’ Levels in her late 30’s progressing to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) diploma in her late 40’s and culminating in achieving a Masters Degree in Executive Leadership in her late 50’s!

“I think that there have been massive improvements in how society now perceives disabled people in general but also feel there is still some way to go, especially in the job market, where I think there are still some organisations that are very reluctant to hire anyone with a disability be that physical or mental illness, as they think they will be off sick a lot and can’t contribute, but in my experience ‘reality’ is the complete opposite.”

Tim was appointed to Council of Management in 2011 and is the current Chairman of the Curriculum Sub Committee.

He has over 10 years’ experience in the FE sector in both teaching and management roles, plus 8 years’ experience in planning and funding of Post 16 Education with the Learning and Skills Agency.

He currently works with the Knowsley MBC on strategic level for 14-19 vocational provision.

Tim has extensive experience throughout his career of working with learners with learning difficulties.

Jim has been involved with Greenbank since it began in 1983, taking on many voluntary roles including decorator, floor sander and now Council of Management member.

He is now retired, having worked in planning, purchasing and operations in the plastics industry for almost fifty years.

“I went to a meeting about an organisation with a new approach towards education, training, sport and recreation for disabled and disadvantaged people saying that I’d go to the meeting, but wouldn’t get involved! That organisation became Greenbank and thirty two years later, I’m very proud of all that has been achieved.”

John has supported Greenbank for many years following a two year work secondment at the charity and is the current Chair of the Finance Sub-Committee.

Now retired, he formerly worked for the Riverside Housing Company managing building contracts and day to day repair services, for 27 years. He’s got various technical qualifications including HNC in Building Studies. He’s also got an Open University Diploma in The Effective Manager.

He was appointed as The Greenbank Project Secretary in 22/09/03.

Mark Swift is a qualified accountant currently working in the accountancy training sector, tutoring students in various aspects of accountancy from costing to business strategy across all of the major professional accountancy qualifications.

He trained as an auditor in a large firm before working as a management accountant in the international division of one of the UK’s biggest haulage companies.

Mark joined the Council of Management at Greenbank in 2014 and has a keen interest and awareness in disability issues since becoming a permanent wheelchair user following a sporting accident in 2012.

“I regularly use the facilities and participate in a range of the sporting activities at Greenbank Sports Academy and I am keen to get involved in helping to direct the future of the organisation in any way that I can.”

Mary has over thirty years’ experience working in the public and private sectors before taking up her current role as Charity Manager of an organisation based in Cheshire that supports young carers aged from 6 to 25.

Mary’s links to Greenbank College were formed when she worked as Further Education Manager within Greater Merseyside Learning and Skills Council. These links were further developed through her role as Partnership Manager in Liverpool Local Authority, where she led on the implementation of Liverpool’s Children and Families Act to commission services for learners with special educational needs aged 16-25.

Mary who is passionate about enabling people to reach their potential stated:

“I am fully supportive of the work that Greenbank does to increase confidence and attainment through encouragement and support. I am keen to utilise my skills and experience to ensure that as many disabled and disadvantaged people fulfil their potential educationally and in the work place via the services on offer at Greenbank.”

William joined Greenbank’s Council of Management in January 2015 and has extensive experience as a former small business owner and divisional board member of one of the UK’s largest housing associations and former chair of one of its community boards.

He is a family man, with interests in physical fitness, continuous educational improvement and social justice.

“I relished the opportunity to join Greenbank’s Council of Management.   I always appreciate the need to be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about running either a small or large business, especially one with a charitable heart and a fantastic mission statement, about helping disabled and disadvantaged people.

 

This is even more poignant, as I am a wheelchair user. As such I fully understand the need to offer services and activities, for people, who either through disability or social and economic hardship, need help with education, employment or sport, to improve life chances and health and well being.”

Jean Stephens is currently a Director of the Merseyside Sports Partnership (a position held for over sixteen years) and has worked in the sport and leisure industry for twenty five years. She is also a Trustee and secretary of Merseyside Sports Foundation and a Trustee of County Sports Partnership Network Board. Her interests include Yoga, travelling, music and watching various sporting activities. She became a Council of Management member at the AGM in February 2015.

“I wholeheartedly subscribe, personally and professionally to the organisation’s belief that sport and physical activity changes people’s lives.
I want to make a difference to people with disabilities in Merseyside – Greenbank is the place that makes this happen.”

Sue has extensive leadership and managerial experience in Health and Social Care in the public sector. Her experience is varied and includes working with children and vulnerable adults in the community and institutional settings. She is also a qualified coach and mentor.

She is committed to safeguarding policy and procedure underpinning all practice to ensure children, young people and adults are protected and kept safe.

Sue was appointed to Greenbank’s Council of Management in February 2017.

“Working alongside staff and young people at Greenbank, is a way to use my skills and achieve a sense of purpose, doing something that matters and makes a difference.”