Chief Executive – Community Action Network

Karen brings her extensive experience of co-production and strategic working in the NHS and local authority, along with her knowledge and intelligence of the VCS through leading CAN.

Karen is an active member of:

• Health and Wellbeing Board (BCP Council)
• Local Resilience Forum
• Health Inequalities Steering Group (NHS)
• Place based steering group (NHS/Councils)
• Integrated Neighbourhood Team – Engagement Workstream (NHS/Councils)
• CAN Advisory Council
• Place Quality Improvement Groups
• Homewards BCP Strategic Steering Group
• Integrated Care Partnership

Head of Engagement – Community Action Network

Emma heads up our transformation and engagement team including our Networks and Wellbeing Collaborative. She has extensive experience working in the voluntary sector both at CAN and at Citizen’s Advice BCP.

Emma is an active member of:

• Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Early Help
  1. Partnership Board
  2. Communications and Community Workstream
  3. Workforce development
• Integrated Neighbourhood Teams – Engagement Workstream
• Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Domestic Abuse Strategy Group
• Integrated Care Partnership
• BCP Children & Young People Partnership Board
• BCP Place Based Partnership Board

CEO, Faithworks Wessex

Alistair has been CEO of local charity Faithworks Wessex since 2013, after 8 years as a head of service at Hull City Council, 5 years with KPMG, and 2 years trying to run a fair trade retail company.

Faithworks runs a family of practical yet personal projects focused on food, finance, homelessness, and lone parenting across towns in Dorset.

“We are passionate about not only helping people with practical hope when someone walks through the door in a crisis.  But we, and our 340 wonderful volunteers, also love the principle of continuing to walk “alongside” someone, helping them find resilience in all aspects of their lives, so that they never need go back into crisis.“

Outside of work, Alistair sings and runs – though not at the same time; indeed each year, he gets the Faithworks team to choose a fancy dress outfit in which to run the Bournemouth Half-marathon!

Alistair chairs:

• The BCP Homelessness Partnership Forum
• The Access to Food Partnership

He is actively involved in

• Gather BCP – a collaboration between local churches and Christian charities

Head of VCS Development – Community Action Network

Amy has worked for CAN for over 15 years having come from a corporate background. Amy heads up CAN’s VCS Development team, who provide advice, support and training to ensure a sustainable and well-governed sector.

Amy is an active member of:

• Prevent Partnership Group
• NAVCA and NCVO volunteering development groups at a national level

CEO of SEDCAT

SEDCAT is a local transport charity working with many different types of vulnerable adults in addition to this Natascha has over 10 years of experience dealing with vulnerable people with a disability. 

Natascha is an active member of:

• Dorset & BCP Joint Safeguarding Adult Board (BCP representative).

Charity Manager, West Howe Community Enterprises

Julie is passionate about representing charities and community groups as she believes it is important to have representation across all sectors when working in partnership. She has 18 years experience working in the Justice system for the Public Sector and much experience in the voluntary and community sector.

Julie is an active member of:

• Safeguarding Children & Young People Board (BCP Council).

CEO of Escapeline

Escapeline is a unique and specialist charity supporting and preventing young people being exploited by criminal gangs, known as county lines through training and education to professionals, young people, parents and the community. As well as 1-1 support to young people involved in county lines and support to parents whose children have been exploited by criminal gangs.

Lisa set up the charity in 2019, after identifying so many children were being exploited by county line gangs. Consequently, Lisa has a wealth of knowledge and experience that she is keen to share and support better partnership working to protect children and young people of BCP.

Lisa is an active member of:

• Missing, Exploited and Trafficked (MET) Panel (BCP)