CHAIR

My working life has been spent firstly in the NHS, and then in various charities, both nationally and locally. I was Chief Executive of Age Concern Bournemouth (now Age UK Bournemouth) until my retirement. I have always undertaken voluntary work, starting in my youth.

I have been Chair of sedcat since its inception in 2012. When I started working in the area, I became a Trustee of Bournemouth Helping Services, which then became Bournemouth CVS. Following a short break, I returned as a Trustee in 2007, becoming Chair in 2014.

VICE-CHAIR

Martin is currently Manager of the Information and Advice Team at AGE UK Lambeth, having previously worked in Bournemouth for 12 years: 6 of those years as CEO of Citizens Advice Bournemouth and subsequently as CEO of both the Bourne Spring Trust and the Boscombe Independent Advice Centre.

Immersed in the wider politics of the VCS, Martin has served on various Trustee Boards throughout his professional life.

Shailesh works as a Digital Product Owner for a multinational company in financial services industry, and brings those skills to support CAN’s digital innovation agenda. Being a Paul Harris Fellow (Rotary International), he has seen the importance and impact of community-based action and volunteering. He recently volunteered as a Covid Vaccine Marshall and saw the first-hand impact that Community Action Network could create. He is also involved with multiple business resource groups at work and is specifically passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion.

Shailesh holds a Meng Degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Southampton, where he was also elected as the International Student’s Officer to overlook the development and welfare of more than 5000 students from over 50 countries.

Outside of work, Shailesh loves travelling and has been to over 25 countries.

Debbie has been a trustee at Bournemouth CVS since 2012. She worked in local government for 28 years and set up a local charity called Bournemouth 2026 Trust which had close connections to Bournemouth CVS. She has extensive knowledge of partnership working across public, private and voluntary sector.

She is a passionate supporter of the voluntary sector and currently volunteers to support nursing students using her own experience as someone with chronic health conditions as part of the BU PIER group. Debbie is registered disabled and is unable to work but likes to use her experience and knowledge to support the organisation.

Sarah has worked in various areas of law both in the UK and abroad and is currently a Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer at Lester Aldridge.

Sarah and her young family live in Bournemouth and are keen supporters of the local voluntary and community sector.

Sarah was delighted to be asked to join the board as she has seen first-hand the positive impact CAN has on individuals and organisations BCP community.  She is looking forward to using her legal knowledge to support CAN’s mission.

Olivia has both volunteered and taken part in community organisations since a young age, and so is very excited to be part of the CAN board. She currently works with BCP and Dorset Council at Skills and Learning Adult Community Education as Marketing Officer following previous roles at a digital agency. Olivia is an advocate for bringing the community together for good and positive change.

Olivia is part of Bonkerz Dance Academy, a community dance group in Bourne Valley, Poole, where she both assists in running of the not-for-profit organisation and teaching of dance classes to disadvantaged students aged 4-18+. Bonkerz has been running for over 10 years and has worked with over 100 dancers throughout its life. Olivia has also worked with Community Action Network in the past as a Covid vaccination volunteer, and HealthWatch Dorset to assist with marketing work.

Laura recently returned to Dorset where she grew up, following a career in the UK civil service, international aid and community activism in the UK. She has more than 6 years of combined experience as a trustee of various charities including BOND which is the UK’s network of international development organisations.

She is an advocate for the importance of community based action and volunteering as well as for the membership networks that support these place based activities to learn from one another and have influence on decision makers. She is currently the Director of Change, Transformation and Growth at BCHA.

Pauline Sharp set up Sharp Care Consultancy in 2018, after previously working for over twenty-three years for an established Dorset care company within the Domiciliary Care sector and community, as their Director of Care and Registered Manager for three locations.

Pauline is committed to delivering person centred care by supporting staff (registered managers, care support workers), who need to feel confident about their ways of working and ensure their documentation complies with the CQC regulations.

Philip has been a trustee at Bournemouth CVS since the year 2015.

Philip is the Chief Executive of Bournemouth Blind Society, an independent local charity that was founded in 1911 to give dignity, hope and encouragement to those whose lives are affected by loss of vision.