About Representation and Advocacy

We put the third sector, and the people and communities of Leeds, at the heart of strategic conversations about health and care in the region.

One of the ways we do this is by supporting representatives from a wide range of third sector organisations to sit on the various health and care boards and strategic groups in Leeds and West Yorkshire.

Forum Central currently supports over 45 Third Sector Reps delivering a wide range of representative/advocacy roles all over Leeds.

Becoming a Forum Central Third Sector Representative is an exciting personal and professional development opportunity. Third Sector Reps use their knowledge and experience to feed into spaces of strategic decision making around health and care in Leeds. A third sector rep attends health and care board meetings, comprised of professionals from a range of backgrounds (e.g. clinical, local government) and contributes to the discussion as an advocate for and representative of the wider third sector, broadcasting its abilities and needs. A rep then feeds back key observations from board meetings to the Forum Central team, so we can circulate this information among target audiences and networks, ensuring key groups and individuals are involved in strategic developments.

Taking on a role as a third sector representative is a rewarding and stimulating experience. Reps make a difference to health and care in Leeds in that they work closely with and offer a unique insight into health inequalities among different populations in Leeds. Being a third sector rep puts you in direct contact with other professionals with a similar passion for improving health outcomes in Leeds. Being privy to the knowledge and skills shared in these spaces is not only professionally fulfilling, but also gives you the space to have input into health priorities which matter to both you and the third sector at large.

The Forum Central team has a dedicated, full time Third Sector Representatives Development Officer, to oversee and support the work of the reps community. Additionally, each Forum Central Specialist Worker (Physical and Sensory Impairment/Learning Disability/Mental Health) directly supports and feeds into the work of reps in fields aligning to their specialism. Other ways in which we support reps include:

  • Pre-briefs and de-briefs with Forum Central team members and reps for major board meetings, to ensure everyone is on the same page and updated on what the third sector needs/can offer to the strategic direction of the issue at hand.
  • A thorough induction and programme, and a commitment to address any training or development needs that may arise over time.
  • A clear, brief and direct process to feed back reflections on board level discussions to Forum Central, that overall takes no more than five minutes.
  • A commitment to circulate the useful insight of third sector reps among our vast and developing health and care networks.

There are varying levels of commitment within the Forum Central rep community. We have three main categories of Forum Central reps:

  • Formal Reps – recognised individuals who work closely with the Forum Central team in a sharp and focused manner, who advocate for the sector and its abilities and needs at health and care boards, and provide feedback through our direct and brief feedback system.
  • Informal Reps – recognised individuals who feed back to Forum Central in an informal way.
  • Allies – people we trust to speak on behalf of the third sector but there is no formal method of reporting back to us.

We recognise that it can be difficult to find and recruit a person or persons who can effectively represent the diverse third sector, particularly if you work outside of the sector.

Forum Central provides bespoke support to colleagues across the health and care sector to help identify and recruit third sector reps.

If you require a rep, please email [email protected] to discuss your options.

MeetingDescriptionThird Sector representative(s)
Better Lives BoardThe board brings together the Adults and Health Directorate within Leeds City Council with people using services and councillors and discuss issues of concern in line with the Better Lives Strategy. It feeds into the Health and Wellbeing Board.Paul Downes, Activity Alliance
Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise
Michaela Shaw, Leeds Survivor Led Crisis Centre
Tracy Lenihan, LOPF
Health and Wellbeing BoardThe board oversee the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, influences the commissioning of services and aims to improve the lives of people of Leeds.Corrina Lawrence, Feel Good Factor
Helen Hart, BARCA
Pip Goff, Forum Central
Harnessing the Power of Communities Steering GroupThis Forum Central group brings together Third Sector organisations to shape services and decision making across health and care to ensure greater inclusivity and accessibility in commissioning and service provision.Adrian Curtis, Volition Board
Jo Volpe/ Roger Harrington, LOPF
Rich Warrington, VAL
HATCH Local Care Partnership Executive BoardThe board is made up of organisations from Burmantofts, Chapeltown, Harehills and Richmond Hill that work together to deliver joined-up collaborative care that meets the identified needs of local people.Corrina Lawrence, Feel Good Factor
Dean Matheson, Calm and Centred
Rifhat Malik, Give a Gift
Leeds Community Healthcare (LCH) Third Sector strategy Steering GroupLCH aim to deliver outstanding care and improve health outcomes for the people they serve by developing productive and effective partnerships with the third sector. This group is responsible for directing the delivery of the LCH third sector strategy.Linda Glew/Jo Volpe, LOPF
Tracey Simspson-Laing, Homestart
Dominic Charkin, Zest
Julia Preston, GIPSIL
Vacancy
Leeds Everyone Moving More Partnership GroupThe group provides strategic support in pursuit of the city vision for Leeds to be a place where everyone moves more every day.Elissa Matley, People Matters
Leeds Faiths ForumThe Forum is an interfaith organisation that empowers religious communities to work together towards a better understanding, collaboration and good relations between faith communities and wider society.Simon Philips, Leeds Jewish Housing Association
Leeds Frailty PartnershipThe partnership is a cooperative and engaged network, working to improve the quality of life and outcomes for people in Leeds living with frailty.Ailsa Rhodes, Opal
David Smith, Cross Gates Good Neighbours Scheme
Leeds One Workforce programme boardThe board's aim is for Leeds to ‘be the best place to learn and work whatever your age’. The programme partners work together to ensure that Leeds has a diverse and skilled health and care workforce.Tina Turnbull, People Matters
Bill Owen, BARCA
Leeds Rehabilitation Steering GroupThis group is focussed on ensuring all people restore their health or accommodate their illness and that there are no barriers to rehabilitation as a result of inequalities.Sharon Brooks, Care and Repair Leeds
Leeds Safeguarding Adults BoardThe Board is a statutory body, made up of organisations that work together to safeguard adults from abuse and neglect.Philip Bramson, Advonet
Kieron Smith
Local Care Partnerships (LCP) Programme BoardThe board is a cross-sector, strategic forum informing the development of the LCP programme. It sits under the Partnership Executive Group and the Health and Wellbeing Board.Sharon Brown, Touchstone
Nahid Rasoon, Shantona
LYPFT Governor
(Also called Council of Governors Meeting)
LYPFT Council of Governors aims to bring the voice of the people in helping to shape LYPFT services and is part of the NHS Trust’s governance structure The role of a Governor is intended to provide a link between the local community and the Board of Directors.Vacancy
Gabriella Obeng Nyarko, Forum Central
Mental Health Partnership BoardThis board is made up of commissioners from health and social care, people with lived experience of mental health difficulties, and providers from statutory, third sector and public health services. It is the strategic board for mental health in Leeds.Sinead Cregan, Inspire North
Tessa Denham, Women’s Counselling and Therapy
Jenny Groves, Battle Scars
Hannah Davies (co-chair), Healthwatch
Jay Silver, Touchstone
Iain Anderson (Age UK)
Laura Whitaker, BARCA
Partnership Executive GroupThe group is tasked with delivering the Leeds health and Care plan and it is accountable to the Health and Wellbeing Board.Kerry Jackson, St Gemma’s Hospice
Pip Goff, Forum Central
Diabetes Stakeholder MeetingRebecca Riches, Integrated Care Board Leeds
Diabetes Steering GroupHelen Brand, Forum Central
Vacancy
Long Covid Health Inequalities Task And Finish GroupCarl Mackie, Public Health, Leeds City Council
Person Centred CareBushra Javed, Advonet
One Workforce Narrowing Inequalities Steering GroupEmma Holford, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Board/CommitteeDescriptionThird Sector Representative
Adults Mental Health Care Population BoardThis board is focused on improving the mental health of adults in Leeds.Vacancy
Pip Goff (Interim), Volition, Forum Central
Cancer Care Population BoardThe focus of this board is on people living with Cancer but it is also likely to include activity relating to diagnostics and screening.Vacancy
Claire Nixson (Interim), Forum Central
Children and Young People Population BoardThe focus is on improving the health outcomes for people under the age of 18.Louise Forrest, GIPSIL
End of Life Population BoardThe focus is on any adults with end of life/palliative care needs.Claire Turner, Carers Leeds
Kerry Jackson, St Gemma's Hospice
Frailty Population BoardThe scope of this board is focused on health outcomes for people living with frailty.Jo Volpe, LOPF
Healthy Adults Population BoardThe focus of this board is on increasing the overall proportion of the population who are 'healthy' and the length of time they are 'healthy'.John Preston, The Conservation Volunteers
(ICB subgroup) DeliveryJo Volpe, LOPF
(ICB subgroup) FinanceHelen Kemp
(ICB subgroup) Quality Patient ExperienceSarah Sturgeon, BARCA
Inclusion Health Strategic GroupSubgroup of Healthy Adults BoardMary Halsey, Forum Central
Long Term Conditions Population BoardThe board aims to ensure that people with long term conditions feel supported to manage their own condition and receive timely evidence based care when required.Iain Anderson, Age UK Leeds
Leeds Health and Care Partnership, Integrated Care Board CommitteeThe aim of this board is to oversee the work of the Population and Care Delivery Boards in order to enable closer working across the health and care sector.Pip Goff, Forum Central
Maternity Care Population BoardThe scope of this population includes all women and people at any point within the perinatal period to birth + 12 months.Rachel Kelly, Women's Health Matters
People With Learning Disabilities and Neurodiversity Population BoardThe scope of this board includes neurodiverse people and those with a learning disability.Dominique Burley, Forum Central
Planned Care Delivery BoardThis board looks at specific pathways and services, along with cross cutting issues across all planned care services.Dean Matheson, Calm and Centred
Same Day Response Care Delivery BoardThis board will focus on people requiring urgent, same day
response services in Leeds.
Steve Hoey - Turning Lives Around
West Yorkshire Mental Health Learning Disability & Autism (MHLDA) Partnership BoardEmma Holmes, Leeds Survivor-Led Crisis Centre
Meetings with Forum Central Third Sector Representation
Board/GroupCategory
Ageing Well Programme Board
Age Friendly Board
Age Friendly Partnership - Wider Workforce
Leeds Intermediate Care Board
Integrated Care Steering Group
West Yorkshire Dementia Ready Housing Taskforce
Housing and Health Breakthrough Project
Me and My Home
Older People

Aladdin - Autism and Learning Disability Digital Inclusion

Learning Disability

Autism Partnership BoardAutism
Autism Employment ForumAutism
Being Me Strategy Health Task GroupLearning Disability
Better Lives BoardPhysical and Sensory Impairment
BME (Culturally Diverse) HubHealth inequalities
Days Services Mutual Aid GroupLearning Disability
CEV Comms Group
City Wide Community Services Rehab Steering GroupHealth & Care
Citywide Anti Stigma Partnership (CLASP)Mental Health
COMHAD (Dual Diagnosis) Steering GroupMental Health
Community Mental Health Transformation Weekly Check-insMental Health
CMH Transformation Engagement & Involvement Workstream Crisis and Urgent Care Partnership Meeting
Being Employed Leeds Website advisory group
Employment Task Group
Mental Health
Mental Health
Learning Disability
Learning Disability
Cost of Living SilverHealth and Care
Employment Task Group - Subgroups
Gold health
Gold/Silver/Bronze
Learning Disability
Health & Care
Harnessing the Power of Communities WYHHealth & Care
Health and Wellbeing BoardHealth & Care
Inclusion for AllHealth inequalities
LCC adults and Health African and Asian Communities Listening ProjectHealth and Care - Adults and Health
LCH Voluntary Sector StrategyHeath and Care
LCP BoardLocal Care Partnerships
LCP meetingsLocal Care Partnerships
Learning Disability Partnership BoardLearning Disability
Learning Disability Partnership Board - Themed LeadsLearning Disability
Learning Disability Pop Up SessionsLearning Disability
Learning Disability Week Steering GroupLearning Disability
Leeds Community HealthcareHealth & Care
Leeds Frailty Partnership

Older People
Listening Project/Diversity BoardHealth inequalities
Local Care Partnership Programme BoardLocal Care Partnerships
LTHT Learning Disability and Autism Steering GroupLearning Disability
LYPFT Board of GovernorsHealth & Care
Mental Health Partnership BoardMental Health
Mental Health Strategy (Delivery Group)Mental Health
Mental Health Strategy workstreams Project GroupsMental Health
WY&H MHLDA Board TS Ref GroupMental Health
Mindful Employer Steering GroupMental Health
NPIC Patient Engagement Group - No longer attendingHealth & Care
One Workforce Board
One Workforce Inequalities Steering group
Partnership Executive Group (PEG)
Peoples Parliament
Health & Care
Health & Care
Health & Care
Learning Disability
Recovery College Steering Group
Seacroft/ Crossgates LCP
Self Management and Personalised Care
Mental Health
Local Care Partnerships
Health & Care
Silver - STaRHealth & Care
Social Prescribing Steer GroupMental Health
Street CharterPhysical and Sensory Impairment
Synergi Steering GroupMental Health
This is Me Steering GroupMental Health
Visible ProjectMental Health
WY-FI CPMB/West Yorkshire Multiple Needs ConsortiumMental Health
WY Housing & HealthHealth and Care
WY&H - MHLDAHeath and Care
WY&H HPoC Programme Boardhealth and care
WY&H Primary and Community Care Programme Boardhealth and care
WY&H Improving Pop Healthhealth and care
WY&H Health Inequalitieshealth and care
WY&H MH Reference GroupMental Health
Future In Mind Programme BoardHealth and Care
FRESCH (Forum for Racial Equality and Health)Quarterly

Structure of Leeds Health and Care Partnership Boards

This is a map of the different boards. It reads: Population Boards - Maternity, Children, Healthy Adults, Long Term Conditions, PWLD and Neurodiversity, Mental Health, Cancer, Frailty, End of Life. Care Delivery Boards - Planned Care, Same Day Responses.