Responsibility for the day-to-day running of the charity is devolved by trustees to the Senior Leadership Team, who are supported in their work by specialist project staff and a team of dedicated volunteers.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Clive Emmett – Chief Executive Officer

Having served within the Metropolitan and Essex Police services as a Detective for 20 years, I then moved into the Voluntary Community Sector as County Manager of the Essex Home Office initiative Drugs Intervention Programme, I continued to manage similar substance misuse services moving more into the clinical approaches to addiction treatment in London, West Sussex and then again in Essex. I then acquired a position of Head of Operations with
a Youth service that worked with troubled youth in the outdoors.

I am currently Chief Officer of Uttlesford Community Action Network leading an infrastructure organisation
supporting the local Voluntary Community Sector. I was an appointed Governor of EPUT, and Director of a Social Enterprise Rainbow Rural. I am currently a Director of Uttlesford Health Ltd. I am passionate about the impact the Voluntary Sector has within our communities especially in the areas of Digital Inclusion and Population Health Management.

Richard Corby – Chief Finance Officer

Richard joined UCAN at the start of 2018. For the past five years he has been Operations Manager with oversight of the Community Response Team and Ticket Home service. In April 2023 Richard took up the newly created post of Chief Finance Officer.

Prior to joining UCAN, Richard worked for 10 years at the Wilderness Foundation UK, as Operations and Finance Manager, but also involved with delivering projects that support vulnerable young people. In his corporate life Richard was an Accounts Manager for 15 years before moving into the non-profit sector.

Outside of work, Richard is a trustee of two local charities, and in his spare time is a writer, blogger and author.

Sue Game – Operations Manager

Sue joined UCAN in May 2023 as the Operations Manager.  Prior to this Sue worked in Brighton for a local charity called Impact Initiatives as their Older Peoples Services Manager for seven years. Sue also has a strong background in mental health as a qualified Psychotherapist and a IAPT services Manager for Mind in Cambridgeshire.

Jacqui Davies – Business Manager

Jacqui joined UCAN in January 2006, so she is the longest serving member of staff. Joining as an Information Officer on a short term project, her role has changed across the years to fit the needs of the organisation. Her present role as Business Manager primarily encompasses HR responsibilities for both UCAN and WECAN, for a total of 21 staff.

Prior to joining UCAN she worked in the banking and public sectors, before moving to Germany for some years. Upon returning to the UK she set up her own Soft Furnishings business before deciding to move into the charity sector.

Linda Riley – Financial Administrator

Linda joined our core team in February 2023 in the new post of Financial Administrator. Linda brings to UCAN her many years of administrative and clerical experience, including time spent most-recently working with accountancy practices on personal tax matters. Linda will support Richard in managing the charity resources.

UCAN Volunteer Centre Team

Barry Chandler – Deputy Operations Manager (Volunteer Service)

Barry joined UCAN in April 2023 as deputy operations manager with responsibilities for the Volunteer Centre service, Jubilee Hub and plays a supporting role for the Essex Shed Network.

Prior to joining UCAN, Barry had a career in the NHS most recently as a health coach ,working with the South Uttlesford GP’s. His  management experience covers Acute Hospitals, Community Services,  General Practice and health service commissioning. In 2018 Barry spent 6 months doing voluntary work in Costa Rica and Mexico. In his spare time, Barry is a keen swimmer and a coach for his local swimming club.

Susan Dennison – Volunteer Coordinator

In 2009 looking for a change of career I approached Volunteer Uttlesford to look for a voluntary role to enhance my new office skills. This led to a volunteer position at the Volunteer Centre then
fortunate enough to secure a paid position. Working as part of the team with admin, finance, charity governance and volunteer coordination. Last year VU merged with UCAN and my role is now
Volunteer Programme Coordinator. I am responsible for sourcing volunteers and finding suitable voluntary roles, working with local Charities.

Tessa Deriziotis – Volunteering Development Coordinator

Tessa returned to the UK 6 years ago from Greece where she was involved with animal rescue and refugee charities, and registered with Volunteer Uttlesford (now merged with UCAN) in 2017 for voluntary work.  During this time she was offered a position running the Uttlesford Time Bank. Tessa consequently joined Volunteer Uttlesford part-time as Project Co-ordinator for Employer Supported Volunteering, Helping Hands (a neighbourhood ad hoc volunteering project) and the community response for the pandemic.  Now that Volunteer Uttlesford has become an integral part of UCAN, Tessa will continue with these roles, and anything else that is needed to promote and support volunteering in Uttlesford.

WECAN Digital Lead

Ali Firth – Digital Inclusion Lead

I am the Digital Lead for a new Digital Inclusion Project for WECAN, named Digital Share.  I am passionate about supporting vulnerable adults in West Essex who have suffered through COVID and have been found themselves excluded digitally and need help, guidance and support.  I have worked for the voluntary sector for the past 16 years and very much look forward to supporting the West Essex Community and helping individuals to become digitally included and enhance their health & wellbeing.  

COMMUNITY RESPONSE HUB

Andy Mitson – Uttlesford Community Responder

My role is a community responder for UCAN and have been in this role for the past 18 months. Previously I was a police officer for 28 years working for the most in front line policing.
My current role involves working with the community including such safety issues as fitting grab rails key safes  smoke detectors along with assisting people with restricted mobility by collecting prescription and shopping requests.

Gill Barker – Uttlesford Community Responder

Carol Butterworth – Mobile Community Hub Coordinator

TICKET HOME HOSPITAL DISCHARGE TEAM

Sophie Davis – Deputy Operations Manager (Community Response)

Yasmin Thurgood – Acute Social Prescribing Link Worker – PAH Harlow

Maddie Peck – Acute Social Prescribing Link Worker – PAH Harlow

Zoe Murray – Acute Social Prescribing Link Worker – PAH Harlow

Amanda Cameron – Acute Social Prescribing Link Worker – Addenbrooks

SOCIAL PRESCRIBERS (HOSTED BY UCAN)

Kim Clark – North Uttlesford PCN

I work for the North Uttlesford PCN and cover four surgeries, Newport, Thaxted, Gold Street and the Crocus Medical Practice.

I work alongside clinical, social care, mental health colleagues and the Voluntary Sector. Spending time in the surgery and becoming part of the wider network team, including outreach when required to help manage patient demand by supporting them with non-medical needs such as Debt, Poor Housing, Physical Inactivity, Loneliness, Isolation, Grief, Caring Responsibilities, Unemployment and other Wellbeing issues, this is not an exhaustive list.

Aaron Willis – South Uttlesford PCN

My name is Aaron and I am a Social Prescriber covering three GP surgeries in South Uttlesford. I help support service users with a range of issues which can affect their mental health & wellbeing, working to give them more control over their lives and allowing them to engage in the community through a variety of groups and services.

In my spare time I like going to the gym and keeping active, watching movies and listening to music.

LucyKate Newland – Child and Families Social Prescriber – South Uttlesford PCN

I am LucyKate and I am the Children and Young People’s Social Prescribing Link Worker.  I come from a background of working in social justice and advocating that people should be able to access what they are entitled to, even the naughty ones! 
 
I did a degree in Music and when I finished university I went to work in children’s residential homes for young people aged up to 18 who could not live at home for their safety or the safety of others. I worked with some incredible young people who had not received the best starts in life and I supported them to understand life skills needed to navigate the world. From there, I have worked in education for over 20 years, mainly with the “difficult to manage” young people (gaining a Masters Degree in Inclusive Education which looks at meeting the needs of different people)and have focused my work on helping young people to understand the importance of making informed decisions about their behaviour, attitude and lifestyle.
 
In 2020, I moved into the adult sector and worked in a homeless hostel in London. This was a real eye-opener and I learned so much about our society in the year I was there. I moved from there to housing with a local authority and from there to what I believe to be my most suited role – what I do now! There is a real need for family support across the UK and I feel I am very privileged to be able to meet and talk to local families to look at ways to support them. My referrals have ranged from a family fleeing domestic abuse to asylum seekers and loads in between and it is a real honour to be the person that people let into their lives to help them get back on track.

Rebecca Park – Social Prescriber – South Uttlesford PCN

I have a passion to enable people to have as fulfilling and satisfying a life as they can whilst managing difficulties with their health and well being. I have worked as an Occupational Therapist for the NHS, specialising in Mental health. I have also worked in Social care as a self employed carer supporting people with complex, multiple and/or life limiting conditions.  I enjoy walking, yoga and eating healthy food.

UKRAINE HUB COORDINATORS

  • Kate Atherton
  • Carol Butterworth
  • Anna Chamberlain
  • Emily Ferris
  • Yasmin Thurgood
  • Lesley Harvey
  • John Starr
  • Lena Slade
  • Robert Cinnamon
  • Mandy Ibrahim
  • Carol Wade

UCAN VOLUNTEERS

  • Sue Adams – Office Admin
  • Chris Noakes – Office Admin
  • Patrick Whittick – Digital Buddies
  • Sophie Wigan – Dunmow Dementia Cafe
  • Ann Backhouse – Dunmow Dementia Cafe
  • Val Wheatcroft – Dunmow Dementia Cafe
  • Pat Overy – Dunmow Dementia Cafe
  • Sarah Eley – Dunmow Dementia Cafe
  • Hayley Crow – Dunmow Community Fridge
  • Irene Grayson – Dunmow Community Fridge
  • Val Nicholas – Dunmow Community Fridge
  • Sophie Richards – Dunmow Community Fridge
  • Dawn Hicks – Dunmow Community Fridge

Plus the many hundreds of individuals who support the Uttlesford Community Response Hub by delivering shopping and prescriptions across the district and everyone at the Ukraine Welcome Hub in Stansted Airport.