Boards

Adam is CEO at Meanwood Valley Urban Farm in Leeds, which provides opportunities for people who might not otherwise get the chance to experience the natural environment, as well as animal care and food production.

Previously, Adam was an elected Councillor on Leeds City Council in South Leeds for 19 years, a number of which were spent as an Executive Member for Adult Social Care, and prior to that Leisure and Skills. He had the chance to be Co-Chair of the Leeds Adult Learning Disability Partnership Board for five years and to learn and be guided by the lovely and amazing group of adults with learning disabilities in the city.

Adam became a member of Tenfold (now Volition) in 2014. Adam believes that together, the third sector organisations in Leeds are a real force to be reckoned with and hopes they can collectively continue to put people at the centre of their own health and care, as well as reduce the still too wide health inequalities that exist in the city.

In his spare time, Adam enjoys exploring the cultural offerings in Leeds, hiking in the hills and drinking gin – although not necessarily all at the same time!

Alison has worked for St. Anne’s Community Services in Leeds for many years, throughout that time managing mental health, substance misuse and learning disability services. Since 2014, she has held the role of Area Manager, responsible for accommodation based services for people with learning disabilities.

Alison was a Trustee of Tenfold, the Learning Disability Forum, from early 2016, and was excited to more recently become part of merged organisation, Volition. Alison is passionate about opportunity, involvement and inclusion for all, irrespective of strengths and needs, so believes having a single health and social care forum makes perfect sense.

As a Volition Trustee, Alison’s aim is to ensure the voice of Volition and Forum Central’s third sector member organisations is heard, and particularly that individual specialisms are well represented. There is such an array of third sector provision across the city, but we are stronger together, to support influencing and delivery of positive change.

In her spare time, Alison is often found outside, whatever the weather, with her children and dogs. When time permits, horse-riding is her ideal exercise and relaxation. If pushed for a favourite place in Leeds, Alison would go with Roundhay Park, where she has attended many concerts and sporting events, as well as just enjoying it as a fantastic green space over the years.

Andy has worked with and for people with learning disabilities in Leeds since the mid-1980s in both the voluntary and statutory sectors and loves the opportunity that this has provided him to meet some truly inspirational people. Alongside his day job as Chief Executive of Aspire Community Benefit Society, Andy has roles as Chair of Carers Leeds and Co-Chair of Volition.

Andy became a Trustee of Tenfold in 2016 and wanted to be involved as he believes we achieve more together. His key priorities are ensuring that Volition continues to represent the voice of the sector and working with partners with whom the organisation has common interests. Andy says his heart will always be in supporting people with learning disabilities and finding new ways to work collaboratively to make Leeds a great place for people with learning disabilities to live.

Andy is a son, brother, partner, dad, grandad and friend to the people most important to him and other than spending time with these people outside of work, he enjoys getting out for rambles in the Dales or the Lakes and listening to live music in small venues. If he had to choose his favourite place in Leeds, Andy would go with Brudenell Social Club – the best place to see live music in Leeds.

David is an experienced Manager working in both the Third Sector and Manufacturing Industry. Before moving to the Third Sector David’s career was in the design and manufacturing of electronic equipment where he developed a personal interest in how technology can be used to assist daily living.

After changing career in 2000, David is now the General Manager at the William Merritt Disabled Living Centre who provide clinical assessments for disable people and the elderly to identify the correct equipment so they can remain independently mobile for longer. David was influential in transferring the Centre from the NHS to be an independent Charity and Social Enterprise, in 2013. With his personal experience of living with a long term condition and career knowledge he is able to provide informed leadership to assist the team in providing an extensive range of assistive living services.

David became a Trustee of the PSI Network (now merged with Volition) in 2017 as he believed that the best way to provide services that people need, is to work together. Being part of Volition provides the opportunity to work across Leeds and help develop a thriving Third Sector.

David is passionate about independent living and Volunteers with University of Leeds as a Patient Mentor, informing future NHS Doctors what it can be like living and working with a long-term condition. In his spare time he likes to take on DIY projects and supports his local Rugby League team.

James is the Director of Pyramid, an arts organisation that has been supporting people with learning disabilities to discover the arts and to develop as artists, for over 30 years. James was a Trustee of Tenfold for three years before the organisations merged in 2020. He believes that many of the barriers and issues faced by people with learning disabilities arise out of different organisations not working as well together as they could, so the partnership working involved with Volition seems incredibly important to him.

James’ key priorities as a Trustee are to learn more about the other groups of people supported by Volition and to make the most of the opportunity to work across the sector. In terms of Health and Care in Leeds, he is passionate about overcoming the inequality of opportunity too often faced by people with learning disabilities.

In his spare time, James enjoys playing the guitar, writing music, and going walking. His favourite place is a The Cardigan Arms because it’s a beautiful building run by a local business, sells lovely beer, and welcomes kids and dogs.

After becoming ill in the 90s and enforced retirement, Phil decided to give back to those who have helped him. He has volunteered within many areas of the third sector for over 25 years, which has provided him with wealth of knowledge within health, social care and the NHS.

As a qualified Engineer, he feels he can greatly contribute to organisations through problem solving. He believes we need to ensure the less fortunate are given equal chance in whatever they wish to do.

Phil is also a trustee at Leeds Involving People, Touchstone, Advonet, Leep1 and Yorkshire Cancer Community. In order to support his role within the Board of Trustees, Phil is a member of Yorkshire and Humber National Institute for Health Research, Chair of the Better Lives Board for Adults and Health, and also a member of Yorkshire Ambulances Critical Friends Network. Through all this Phil is gaining invaluable information, views, and insight into the worries and fears of a wide-range of communities.

Phil became a Trustee of the PSI Network (now merged with Volition) in 2012, because he believes it is the place to be to be at the forefront of health not only in Leeds but Yorkshire, and through this we can ensure changes in services are the correct ones and will ensure true care for all in Leeds and Yorkshire. His key priorities as a Trustee are to ensure voices are being heard and to ensure that services in Leeds for mental health, physical disability and learning disability are the exemplar.

In terms of health and care, he is most passionate about caring for others. He believes we don’t do it enough and while changes won’t happen in his lifetime, that doesn’t stop him from ensuring it is better for others.

Phil’s spare time is mainly spent volunteering as it keeps him going and his mind active – his mantra is “if I can, I will, if I can’t, I’ll be in bed ill.” His favourite place in the city is wherever he is at the time. He loves Leeds and believes its people and passion for caring are second to none.

Taira is passionate about social justice, fairness and equity, and has worked in the not for profit sector for 35 years, leading Domestic Abuse and community based organisations across West Yorkshire. She has been a Trustee since 2015 and became involved to support the Governance of what she believes is an important local infrastructure organisation which aligns to her personal values.

Her key priorities are ensuring the voices of smaller organisations are heard and that staff are supported to represent the views and experiences of organisations working with clients directly. She is passionate about doing all she can to inform and influence Health and Care Leaders and practitioners, presenting lived experiences from her work and the people of Leeds.

In her spare time, Taira enjoys travelling, reading, going to gigs and the theatre. She also follows F1 and likes to spend time with family and friends. There are lots a places in the city that hold a place in her heart, but Taira’s favourite is Roundhay Park because of the precious memories of family time spent there since childhood.