COMPASS SUPPORT - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Vice - Chair
• Vice Chair of the Board

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board

I am currently the Chief Operating Officer at Digbeth based charity SIFA Fireside where we provide holistic support to vulnerable adults who may have experienced homelessness to help them lead more fulfilling lives. We build strong links with the community, other providers and local businesses to help deliver our services. I am AAT qualified and working towards becoming ACCA qualified. Prior to working in the not for profit sector, I had many years of experience as a self-employed accountant working with local businesses.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• Trustee
• Head of Independent Living at Orbit

Francis is the Head of Independent Living at Orbit, a large, national housing association. In this role Francis specialises in providing supported housing for older people, people with disabilities and services for homeless people and a range of long term physical and mental health conditions. In previous roles Francis has been Head of Care at Black Country Housing Group, with oversight for all the care and support services and responsible for regulatory compliance as the Nominated Individual. Previous experience also includes regulatory work at Care Quality Commission and delivering mental health and social care services for charities and the NHS.

Job Titles:

• Chairman
• Chairman of the Board
• Charity Leader
• Company Director at VISAV Limited

With over 20 years of experience in community engagement, participation, and co-design, Kate is a Company Director at VISAV Limited, that provides market-leading community messaging systems for public safety and social cohesion. Kate leads on strategic national partnerships, national events and conferences and account management for the flagship product, Neighbourhood Alert. The National CRM system enables effective communication and collaboration between the police, local authorities, community groups, and residents. Kate is also an experienced charity leader, with a strong background in policing, crime prevention, community safety, independent advice and guidance, housing and homelessness, poverty and social inequality. In 2010 Kate established the National charity for Neighbourhood Watch, working across all the police forces in England and Wales, the UK Home Office, and government ministers. By redeveloping the community lead movement and introducing a digital platform to create and join schemes, the decline in membership ceased and then in turned doubled. In 2018, Kate took on the CEO role for Coventry Citizens Advice, leading the charity through the Covid-19 pandemic and Cost of Living Crisis. Kate has a Post Graduate Diploma in Policing and Social Conflict and a BA (Hons) in Criminology and Social Policy and has co-authored a chapter in a book on burglary prevention. Her mission throughout her career has been to create positive social change and empower communities to have a voice. In her own time, Kate is a keen gardener and allotment holder, and loves travelling around the UK with her family and elderly pre-loved Collie dog, Blaze. Whist the rest of the family are away, Kate's two pre-loved cats, Simba and Kitty, take on the mantra of ruling the world (supported by the cat sitter of course).

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Community Hubs Manager
• Leadership Team

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• Trustee

Natalie has lived in Castle Vale for one year with her three young children. Having previously worked for a local charity, helping to deliver employment, housing and wellbeing support, Natalie moved into Healthcare and currently works as a healthcare assistant in the community. As a mother with roots in Castle Vale, Natalie has taken a keen interest in all aspects of community life and dedicates herself to supporting projects which enhance the quality of life for people on the estate. She said: "I am excited at the opportunity to help shape and develop provision which will create safe homes and thriving neighbourhoods and will work hard to ensure the voices of tenants and residents are heard, to help achieve positive sustainable outcomes which everyone can benefit from."

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• Trustee

Rebecca has held senior leadership roles in Local Government and currently works in the infrastructure sector. She has over 25 years' experience of working in the field of economic development and regeneration. She is passionate about bringing lasting change to local communities. Rebecca brings with her a wealth of experience working with employment and skills stakeholders, particularly in the West Midlands. Whilst at Coventry City Council she established the city centre-based Coventry Job Shop, which supports residents into work. In her current role, Rebecca is responsible for a highly successful Job Brokerage Service, which provides routes into employment for under-represented groups and those marginalised in the labour market. She is currently a volunteer Enterprise Advisor through the Careers and Enterprise Company, working with a secondary school in Coventry. Supporting them to develop a careers strategy and programme for all year groups. Rebecca is married with two daughters. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and occasionally gets to the gym!

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Health and Wellbeing Team Leader
• Leadership Team

Sarah is the Health and Wellbeing Team Leader at Compass Support where she started working in September 2017, following a successful career in event management and hospitality. Sarah has a varied role which includes the management of multiple projects aimed at reducing isolation and loneliness as well as a selection of programmes and activities aimed at improving mental and physical health. During her time within the Health and Wellbeing Team Sarah has worked closely with other departments in Compass Support, enhancing the range of services that are provided. This includes close working partnerships with the youth team and the creation of numerous intergenerational activities. Sarah enjoys running and has recently signed up for a 10k obstacle course race.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Family Support Team Leader
• Leadership Team
• Support Services Team Leader

Shamsa is a Family Support Team Leader with over a decade of experience in working with families and children. Having worked for Compass Support for over 4 years now, Shamsa has worked with a wide range of people to show no problem is impossible to solve and that with the right level of support, people can work to overcome any difficulties they may be experiencing in life. As a strong believer in positive energy, Shamsa encourages others to recognize their true potential so they can start to believe in themselves and achieve more. In her spare time, Shamsa enjoys spending time with her two children and sitting down in front of a good TV drama series.

Job Titles:

• Chief Operating Officer at Digbeth Based Charity

Job Titles:

• Head of Operations
• Member of the Leadership Team
• Leadership Team

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board

Wendy moved to Castle Vale in 1982 and worked in the city centre before finding local employment. She quickly became involved in the local community when the regeneration began. After being made redundant in 1998, and looking for a new career direction, Wendy began working for Merlin Venture, completing an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Diploma. After 15 years she was made redundant and moved to her current role as Spitfire Services Finance Manager. Wendy is very involved with the community, not only with her work, having worked for Spitfire Servies for 8 years, but also as a former Director of Tiggy Winkles Nurseries, Chair of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Community Forum and 2005 Group member for the life of the groups. Wendy joined the Compass Support Board in 2015 and over the last 40 years she has enjoyed working closely with lots of community groups and organisations.