Below is a list of nominations to the Voscur Board of Trustees - elections will take place at Voscur's AGM on 22 October 2014

Individual nominated: Jonathan Crutchlow

Organisation: Individual Member of Voscur/Lloyds Bank

Nominated by: Barton Hill Settlement

Personal Statement:

I have been a Voscur board member since April 2014 – having joined from Volunteer Bristol where I was Chair for a year prior to our merger. I am standing for a position on the board because I want to continue to be part of the vital work Voscur does supporting VCS organisations to deliver services to those in need in Bristol. I also believe I can offer skills which will help the board to support and develop Voscur. Previously I worked at the Charity Commission, in the Specialist Casework division, leading the case working team to provide advice and guidance to a range of charities on legal and best practice matters. I am currently an Analyst at Lloyds Bank, leading business strategy and organisation design projects, providing solutions to better ways of working.
I have really enjoyed being part of the Voscur board and would like continue to offer time and expertise to help this organisation.

Individual nominated: Marissa Ellis

Organisation: Individual Member of Voscur

Nominated by: Bristol Somali Resource Centre

Personal Statement:

Individual nominated: Sandy Hore-Ruthven

Organisation: Creative Youth Network

Nominated by: Creative Youth Network

Personal Statement:

I have worked in the Bristol Voluntary sector for the last 19 years. I have delivered direct youth work and run and grown organisations from the small to large. I started by running the small and entirely volunteer led Bristol Friends of the Earth, became a manager in Young Bristol running the Millennium Volunteers programme followed by becoming CEO of the Kingswood Foundation (Now Creative Youth Network). I had a brief sojourn working in peace building in East Africa in an international charity based in London. We worked closely with the Somalian Diaspora working at a community level to bring peace there. I have also served on the committees of Quartet Community Foundation and Chaired South Gloucestershire CVS and Youth Action Network. Through these experiences I have a deep understanding of the issues faced by the voluntary sector including fundraising, governance and management as well as long term experience of directly delivering services. I have a vision for the voluntary sector as a key provider of services in Bristol as an equal partner with business and local government.

Individual nominated: Philip Parry

Organisation: Independent Consultant

Nominated by: Happy City

Personal Statement:

I have been involved in Bristol’s voluntary, community and social enterprise sector for 20 years as an executive director, trustee, volunteer and consultant.
 
Since 2001 I have worked as a freelance management consultant and have had the opportunity to help a number of Bristol’s VCSE organisations develop their services and enhance their sustainability. In particular I have worked with a number of organisations providing services to young people.
 
I have been a trustee of Voscur since 2011 and have also been a trustee Bristol Citizens Advice Bureau since 2003 and Chair since 2004.  Prior to that I was a trustee and Chair of Bristol Foyer. I also currently volunteer with the Prince’s Trust providing marketing and sales training to young people setting up their own business.
 
I believe my broad-based experience and knowledge of the sector would be of benefit to the future development of Voscur and its support of its member organisations.

Individual nominated: Richard Pendlebury

Organisation: Emmaus Bristol

Nominated by: Windmill Hill City Farm

Personal Statement:

I have had over 25 years experience at trustee and senior management level within the charitable sector.  I have been a trustee of Voscur for 3 years, the latter 2 years as Chair.  Beyond Voscur I have been involved in founding a number of charities including prison charity Changing Tunes and am currently the Chief Executive of Emmaus Bristol. I am patron of three Bristol charities, trustee of the Temple Ecclesiastical Trust and am a Deputy Lieutenant for the County and City of Bristol.
 
With funding uncertainties and a changing economic and political landscape there has never been a greater need for thriving community organisations in Bristol to meet the needs of those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged.  At this time Voscur is playing a vital role in supporting, equipping and championing the voluntary sector within our city and for me it has been a privilege be part of the Board over the past three years.
 
There are some challenges ahead and because of this I would like to continue to serve our community through the Board of Voscur for a further period and would ask for your support to do this.

Individual nominated: Stacy Yelland

Organisation: Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management (Up Our Street)

Nominated by: Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management (Up Our Street)

Personal Statement:

Stacy has worked in the voluntary sector in Bristol for nearly ten years in a variety of roles. In her current role she manages a neighbourhood organisation in Easton and Lawrence Hill and has many contacts in this part of the city. She brings experience of communications, community development and working in diverse communities. She also has experience of being a trustee as well as managing a trustee board and good governance. Stacy wants to join the board of Voscur for a number of reasons. She is a passionate supporter of the voluntary sector and recognises the value it adds to our city. She feels that Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management can both offer a lot of knowledge and expertise to Voscur but also that the experience of being on the board can help strengthen and improve our organisation as well. As a neighbourhood organisation we have a good sense of what is happening locally and there are many fantastic VCS organisations based here. Being part of the Voscur board will help us share that but also to share the vital work that Voscur does with our networks. Voscur plays an important role in making sure Bristol has a thriving and diverse VCS and we'd like to play a part in delivering that good work.

To download a hard copy version of the nominations, click here