Join the Action Together Board of Trustees

I am proud to be involved with Action Together both as a Trustee for many years and now as Chair of the Board of Trustees- a role I am keen to continue because Action Together is an organisation with strong values - which I apply to all aspects of my life and work within the charity and is an organisation striving to reduce poverty and inequality and advocating for the needs of the sector at a local and Greater Manchester level something I care passionately about. 

Alongside my Chair role and responsibilities I sit on the Finance sub group, Governance sub group and am the Boards representative at Healthwatch steering groups because of my background in health previously working as a NED for Pennine Acute Hospital Trust. 

My attendance record at meetings is excellent. 

Oldham Personal Advocacy Limited: 

Until my retirement 2 years ago I was employed for 15 years as Chief Executive of Oldham Personal Advocacy Limited (OPAL) a registered charity providing advocacy services and activities for people with learning disabilities and autism living in Oldham.  

I reported to the Board of Trustees and was responsible for ensuring that the organisation achieved its mission, vision and strategic plan within a sound governance framework. 

I continue to be involved with OPAL as a Trustee.  

Board Skills and experience 

• Development of values and strategy for YMCA Training, PAHT, Action Together and OPAL with focus on stakeholder involvement 
• Involvement in assessment of skills with the Board/ workforce to identify need and development of plans to address recruitment and support for skill development within existing members 
• Worked closely with the CEO in all organisations either as my line manager or as a Trustee to provide constructive support and challenge where necessary 
• I endeavour to attend any meeting well prepared having read and considered all information available in advance  

Hobbies and interests: 

I’m a keen but novice gardener and enjoy spending time watching birds and wildlife

Experience

Adrian has been a board member at VAO and Action Together for around 11 years and is currently Vice Chair of the Action Together Board.

Adrian started work at the Manchester Settlement Charity in February 2015 as Chief Executive.

He has also worked as a senior leader with charities working largely with young people in the fields of complementary education, youth work and youth justice. Adrian spent 20years in a variety of roles at Positive Steps Oldham and 1 year as Chief Executive of Voluntary Action Oldham, 1 year as a Director at Oldham College.

Adrian originally studied for an Economics degree at Manchester Polythenic before training to become a Careers Adviser, he completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Voluntary Sector Management in 2014

Interests and Aspirations

Adrian is committed to the role of voluntary sector organisation in creating sustainable change within communities and equally to the value that highly effective infrastructure support brings to that process.

Adrian is particularly interested in supporting the development of children and young people focused organisations.

Specific Skills

• Extensive experience managing in children and young people focused charities
• Experience of Charity Management
• Long term experience governance at VAO and Action together

Anne Parkes has been involved in the Voluntary and Community sector in Greater Manchester since 2004 in both paid and voluntary roles.

She joined the T3SC Board in 2011 and played an active role in the two mergers that led to the formation of ATCIO. Anne is now Treasurer of ATCIO, chairing the Finance Sub-Group.

Anne has significant senior management experience in the sector, gained through 7 years as Operations Director at Groundwork Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford.

She also brings cross sector experience from the private sector and public sector. She is currently a Social Value Consultant with Arup in Manchester, focused on building an outcomes-led approach into the design of infrastructure projects in the North West.

Anne is committed to supporting ATCIO through the current period of significant change and increased uncertainty, where the work of the voluntary and community sector is more important than ever.

Anne lives in Trafford with her family and plays an active role on the committee of her local cycling club.

All my working life has been spent supporting and developing work within the voluntary and community sector mostly in Rochdale and Manchester:

• as a resident community development worker
• managing a national research project exploring the issue of young homelessness from a youth work perspective
• managing several UK wide community education programmes for the Open University
• employed by Rochdale MBC, ultimately as Director and Executive Director responsible for community-based services: support of the voluntary/community sector and corporate responsibility for equalities and community cohesion
• as a consultant advising local authorities on their participation/area governance arrangements
• as a Trustee of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust. I chaired the Board for 7 years and am very aware of the duties and responsibilities of Trustees

I am now retired.

I have worked closely with elected Members and senior Executives; developed strategic policy; and managed significant resources - financial, staff and services.

I can bring all this experience to Action Together, as well as a knowledge of and a commitment to strengthening its work in Rochdale Borough in particular.

I am currently employed by Northern Care Alliance as Finance Director for Rochdale Care Organisation. I have held numerous roles across the NHS over the last 25 years and really relishes the opportunity to support clinical staff in developing their services to provide high-quality care to patients.   

In my personal life, I enjoy participating in a variety of sports. I am the National Ladies Representative for Masters Rugby League, a role of which I am particularly proud due to its inclusive and supportive environment.

I am a hard-working individual who enjoys a challenge. I like being part of a team and believe I am a good listener. In my current role, I lead with compassion and am always keen to understand someone else’s perspective. Something I feel is important when supporting people with lived experience. I am keen to develop and learn so appreciate feedback from all aspects of my role. I feel I am an effective communicator with the ability to adapt when required.

I am really keen to be involved with Action Together as I feel it will help me grow as an individual as well as support my passion for improving the well-being of others. I hope my professional and leadership skills make a positive contribution to the strategic direction of Action Together.

I have enjoyed being a board member of Action Together since its beginning, and prior to this, involved in its creation as a board member of Voluntary Action Oldham since 2007. I am a very active representative and champion of the voluntary sector in four Greater Manchester local authority areas. Currently the Chief Executive Officer of Pennine West Citizens Advice Bureau which includes Citizens Advice Oldham, Citizens Advice Rochdale and Citizens Advice Trafford and collaborating with Citizens Advice Stockport on advice service delivery and innovation.

I bring a broad spectrum of skills and experience to the board including HR, IT and Finance (VAO Treasurer for a number of years), mergers, and business development.

Naila is a solicitor Advocate and the owner of Platt’s Solicitors with over 20 years experience in the legal profession.  She enjoys dealing with complex criminal cases. 

She is a part-time member of the Valuation Tribunal Services.

Naila won the Criminal Defence Lawyer of the Year (Greater Manchester)–2020-SME, and High Sheriff Special Recognition Award – 2020.  She also won the Services to Law, British Muslim Awards in 2016.   

Naila speak 3 languages: English, Punjabi and Urdu. 

Naila demonstrates a strong commitment to social justice. Naila has been involved in volunteer work from the moment she left university after she completed her Legal Practice Course. Naila says, “It’s important for me to give something back to the community having been fortunate enough to qualify as a Solicitor”. Naila is a current committee member of the Oldham Law Association and was the President of the Oldham Law Association in 2014. Previously a member on Women’s Voices Management Committee and Citizens Advocacy (Rochdale branch) for 10 years. Naila was a governor for Oldham Sixth Form College from 2013-2016.

Naila’s hobbies pre lockdown included running Manchester 10k for charity.

I have been involved in the Voluntary Community Sector since 2003, where I have held various honorary roles – Vice Chair, Treasurer …

In January 2018, I set up my own Community group in order to assist and collaborate with smaller groups to develop and become structurally sound by  assisting them with my skills and knowledge of the VCSE sector.

Currently I have been a school governor for a local primary school for 3 years, and hold the role of co-vice chair. I do not have any children, this role was taken to assist the school from a poor rating and also expand my skill sets around the education sector.

I have over 10 years experience in the Asylum and Refugee sector.

Currently I am involved at GM level in regards to NHS devolution.

I see Action Together to be an upcoming and thriving third sector organization that helps grass root level groups and has impact on policy change on a local level – this aligns with my personal values. I would like to contribute my skill sets and also learn from Action Together.

I currently work at BAE Systems at Warton. I am a determined and self-motivated professional who has gained knowledge and experience from working in an international manufacturing environment, demonstrates a professional relationship with all levels within the organisation, customer and suppliers.

I bring will bring several years’ experience in working in the voluntary sector, I have been volunteering at Higginshaw ARLFC for 40 years in several roles, the last 21 years as Secretary of our Club and Company Secretary of the Charity, I have become more involved with community groups, due to Higginshaw ARLFC purchasing the facility at St Stephens Street, with a view of bringing the facility back into community use.

I am currently involved in the Funding and Development Strategy for the development project and we have just completed £121K refurbishment of our Rugby pitch on Oldham Edge and invested £25K in pitch maintenance equipment, funded through Sport England and RFL.

I have involved in networking with private, voluntary, and public sector partners to help strengthen partnerships, i.e. The Children’s Hub, Higginshaw Residents Association, and Physical Activity Network with a view of fully utilizing the community facility.

I have recently joined the Beever School as a School Governor, as finance Advisor, representing Higginshaw Community Project.

I am Chairman and Treasurer for Waterhead 501 Darts league and hold position of Treasurer for Crompton Lodge a Masonic Charity.

For 6 years until 2012 myself & my wife Linda have done Respite Fostering.