Our Team

Jo Volpe joined Leeds Older People’s Forum as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in July 2022.

Jo brings years of experience and has a particular interest in working with third sector organisations to reduce inequalities amongst older people and communities.

Jo has worked on initiatives to encourage more community involvement in care homes; to establish social prescribing services; to establish groups to encourage physical activity and healthy eating amongst people in later life.

Jo is originally from West Cumbria and moved to Yorkshire in 1988.

Pip leads on many aspects of Forum Central’s work and on the organisation direction of Volition. Pip represents and advocates on behalf of the VCSE sector for health and care in Leeds in a number of senior meetings and boards including being the Integrated Care Board Third Sector place lead for Leeds – The Leeds Health and Care Partnership. She plays an active role in TSL – the policy body for the Third Sector in Leeds and works closely with VCSE infrastructure partners; VAL and Leeds Community Foundation, among others regionally and nationally.

Pip is committed to addressing health inequalities; building and developing relationships and asset-based approaches. She has extensive experience of partnership working, system change and third sector innovation and a strong understanding of funding, health outcomes and social value.

Claire joined the team in January 2023. She has worked in the third sector for over 10 years and brings a wealth of strategic and business development experience to the team.

Claire leads the development team, managing the development workers who deliver on the Volition specialisms: Mental Health, Learning Disability, Physical and Sensory Impairment, Communities of Interest and Representation.

Karl supports the ongoing development of the Local Care Partnerships (LCPs), promoting a strong and effective presence from the third sector in each area.

Karl brings a broad range of skills and experience to the role, gained many years working in Higher Education, and more recently working in the third sector.

Megan joined the team in January 2022. She oversees the administration support team and is the lead for our admin functions including our team meetings, CRM and boards.

With a background in administration and recruitment, Megan puts her organisational and communication skills to great use in this role.

Jenny oversees communications for Forum Central. This includes our brand identity, website, email bulletins and social media. Be sure to follow us! (on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn)

Jenny is passionate about highlighting the fantastic work that happens in the VCSE sector, and in turn, helping ensure it is valued. Jenny is keen to contribute to the work happening in Leeds to promote accessibility, diversity, inclusion and address inequalities. She has experience working at Voluntary Action Leeds and continues to work closely with them, and brings experience from the private sector to the role.

Gabi’s role is to strengthen the partnerships between members organisations and statutory services across the city. She collects intelligence on the strengths, assets and challenges faced by the third sector to ensure they are represented in strategic mental health development plans.

Gabriella brings experience from Public Health where she focused on prevention, data and commissioning. Gabriella is passionate about addressing health inequalities and has interests in politics, music and the environment.

Dominique is our Learning Disability Development Worker, employed by Volition,
Before this she worked for CHANGE, an international and national human rights organisation for people with learning disabilities and The Advonet Group, an independent advocacy organisation, for people in Leeds.

Helen joined the team in November 2022. She is employed by Volition to coordinate the Physical and Sensory Impairment network. Before starting at Forum Central she was a Leeds Wellbeing Coordinator for as part of Linking Leeds social prescribing.

Her earlier career has involved working with people with both physical impairments and learning difficulties. She is a strong advocate for inclusive wellbeing in Leeds.

Mary joined the team in July 2022. She has worked in the third sector for over 10 years, running networks linked with inequality and poverty, including the Leeds Food Aid Network, West Yorkshire Destitute Asylum Network and the Leeds Homeless Charter.

Mary has developed the citywide Communities of Interest Network, (COIN) that works to highlight and address the health needs and challenges faced by different communities, especially those at most significant risk of experiencing inequalities.

Damian coordinates Men’s Health Unlocked, a city-wide network that aims to connect, support, develop and celebrate the exciting work happening in Leeds to improve men’s health and wellbeing.

Damian has a wide range of experience in men’s health and community development, having worked for over 20 years for statutory and third sector organisations.

Sarah aims to ensure the health and care third sector is involved in strategic planning and development of mental health services.

Sarah brings extensive experience of early intervention work to this role and a passion for the transformative power of the arts on wellbeing, the importance of co-production and the power of community action.

Joanne takes care of the money and governance.

Sheri joined the team in October 2023 and oversees our memberships and admin functions.

Sheri has a varied background in both the public and 3rd sectors, bringing with her an interest in social justice and reducing inequalities.

Aila joined the team in May 2024.

As Development Team Administration Coordinator Aila supports the Development Team with admin for running the various health and care networks and key developing projects within Forum Central.

See who is on the team at Leeds Older People’s Forum