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 Lucy Crayk -
Volunteer Centre Manager
Lucy is responsible for the promotion and co-ordination of local volunteering opportunities and the development of the Volunteer Centre to ensure we respond to the needs of potential volunteers and volunteer involving organisations. This includes increasing awareness of the range and diversity of local opportunities and promoting the benefits to be gained through volunteering. She provides information and advice to potential volunteers about appropriate opportunities and
offers training and support in volunteer management.
Lucy spent her first year at Voluntary and Community Action as the Improving Reach Project Officer. Lucy's primary responsibility was to undertake the research and mapping of local voluntary organisations and community groups. Prior to working as Improving Reach Project Officer she worked at Gossard for 6 ½ years in the Personnel Department and gained her Chartered Institute Personnel and Development Certificate in 2001.
lucy@action-centralbeds.org.uk
 John Gelder - Director
John works in partnership with the Trustee Board to provide for the strategic development of the organisation and enable members of the Board to meet their responsibilities as charity trustees. He also develops, and provides overall management of, the activities and resources of Voluntary and Community Action and ensure the delivery of its strategic and operational objectives. He takes a leading role within the voluntary and community sector and in a range of local strategic partnerships; liaising with, representing and advocating on issues affecting the sector in Central Bedfordshire.
John has over 30 years' experience of working and volunteering within the voluntary and community sector; supporting, managing and delivering a range of volunteering, capacity building, community development and training initiatives. He first worked for a large national voluntary youth organisation, dealing with liaison and representation, public policy, partnership working and community development. He then worked as National Youth Officer for the Council for Environmental Education before deciding to work with voluntary organisations and community groups through local Councils for Voluntary Service, first in Luton and now at Voluntary and Community Action. John is also a qualified Youth and Community Development Worker with an MA in Community Education, and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
john@action-centralbeds.org.uk
 Rebecca Gooch - Volunteering Adviser
Rebecca works in the Volunteer Centre and provides the day to day administration including dealing with enquiries and interviewing potential volunteers. Rebecca works with local volunteer-involving organisations to identify, expand and promote the range of volunteering opportunities on offer in the local area.
Previous to taking up the role of Volunteering Adviser Rebecca spent six months volunteering for our Improving Reach Project. During this time she gained a wide knowledge of the organisations operating within southern Bedfordshire, which makes her an invaluable asset to the team.
rebecca@action-centralbeds.org.uk
 Sara Greenwood - Funding Adviser
Sara’s role is to provide information, support and advice to voluntary organisations and community groups on appropriate funding sources, help with the completion of grant application, tendering and bidding processes. As the Funding Adviser she has to keep abreast of all developments regarding sources of funding. Sara develops and maintains relationships with funders, attends appropriate meetings and conferences on local funding sources and sustainable funding activities. She assesses and advises local grant panels on grant applications and also provides advice and training on fundraising events and strategies.
Sara has more than 20 years experience of working in the voluntary sector, for local, national and international charities, involved in environmental conservation, dowsing, health and social care agendas. She has experience in a range of roles from volunteering, being a Trustee, Management and offering advisory/consultancy work in areas including strategic development, project management, social enterprise, and programme planning. She co-founded and developed Sunnyside Rural Trust, a Hertfordshire charity for adults with learning difficulties in 1990. Her last role at Sunnyside was as Chief Executive.
sara@action-centralbeds.org.uk
 Maxine Hayes - Volunteering Adviser
Maxine works in the Volunteer Centre and provides day to day administration including dealing with enquiries and interviewing potential volunteers. She also works with local groups looking for volunteers and is involved in identifying, expanding and promoting the range of volunteer opportunities on offer in the local area.
Maxine has joined us from Community and Voluntary Service in Bedford where she worked for the last five years as a Senior Funding & Development Officer. Prior to this Maxine worked as a Grants Administrator for a local charity where she supervised the allocation of funds to local groups . Maxine has recently completed the Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning sector (PTLLS) qualification.
max@action-centralbeds.org.uk
 Kim Mead - Training and Information Co-ordinator
Kim's role on the training side is organising workshops and taking the bookings for each workshop, she also sets up rooms and does the prepartion leaflets / handouts for each workshop. On the information role it involves maintaining the contacts and resource library databases ensuring the right information is to hand and can be sent to the voluntary organisations and community groups that need it. She also keeps our information sheets, leaflets and website up to date.
Kim has over 30 years voluntary experience in Girlguiding UK and currently runs a local Brownie unit and also has a large role within the County's leadership scheme. In her past within Girlguiding UK she has been a district secretary, treasurer and Commissioner. Kim has recently completed a Diploma in Child Psychology.
kim@action-centralbeds.org.uk
 Sonia Moodey - Finance and Premises Manager
As Finance and Premises Manager Sonia is responsible for the financial management of all our income and expenditure, and for the management of our premises, equipment and facilities.
Sonia qualified in Commercial and Financial Accounting in South Africa before moving to the UK. She worked as the Financial Controller of a local envelope manufacturer before joining Voluntary and Community Action. Sonia helps a local charity with their Christmas fundraising and loves to get involved in the work of local animal charities.
sonia@action-centralbeds.org.uk
 Helen Nottingham – Partnerships Officer
Helen undertakes a variety of activities associated with our partnerships and public policy work. This includes taking a leading role within the voluntary and community sector to facilitate partnerships; liaise with statutory agencies; represent the sector and advocate on issues affecting it, including sustainable communities, community engagement; children, young people and families; sport, culture and lifelong learning; adult health and social care; and housing services.
Helen previously worked for the Department of Transport, working with a range of partners to develop and implement MOT testing. Helen has several years’ experience of volunteering in local sports clubs and is currently the Junior Tennis Coordinator and Press Officer for the Linslade Tennis Club.
helen@action-centralbeds.org.uk
 Ashleigh Webb- Administrator
As administrator Ashleigh is responsible for providing administrative, reception and resources management to Voluntary and Community Action. She is also responsible for managing the bookings for the variety of workshops run by Voluntary and Community Action.
Before Ashleigh joined Voluntary and Community Action she was working for a large fitness club company as a receptionist which involved an extensive range of administrative duties and good financial knowledge. Ashleigh has several years of experience volunteering in her local karate club and has recently received her A-Levels.
ashleigh@action-centralbeds.org.uk
Rizwana Zaman – Funding Adviser (On maternity Leave)
Rizwana’s role is to provide information, support and advice to voluntary organisations and community groups on appropriate funding sources, help with the completion of grant application, tendering and bidding processes. As the Funding Adviser she has to keep abreast of all developments regarding sources of funding. Rizwana develops and maintains relationships with funders, attends appropriate meetings and conferences on local funding sources and sustainable funding activities. She assesses and advises local grant panels on grant applications and also provides advice and training on fundraising events and strategies.
Rizwana completed her MBA in Marketing from the University of Luton before working for a local voluntary organisation in various capacities for over two years. She has experience in fundraising, project and event management and has taught Marketing, International Business and Business Communication in a local college for two years. Rizwana also has three credits at level three on an Open College Network programme entitled Advising Voluntary and Community Groups on Funding Issues.
rizwana@action-centralbeds.org.uk
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