Leading Charity Appoints New Vice-Chair and Trustees

One of the north’s leading charities, St. Anne’s Community Services (St. Anne’s), has appointed fours new Trustees including one to the position of Vice-Chair.

A not-for-profit organisation supporting over 1600 people across the north of England, St Anne’s has a leading reputation for developing and providing services for people with: complex care, learning disabilities, mental health problems, homelessness, and drug or alcohol misuse. St Anne’s also supports over 550 people in supported living and housing tenancies.

Wishing to expand its services and draw on the depth and wealth of knowledge and skills that Trustees bring from their careers, St Anne’s is very pleased to welcome; Oliver Laird, Alison Leech, Ian Currell and Anthea Sully.

Oliver Laird joins St Anne’s as a Trustee and Chair of the Audit and Risk Sub-Committee. Oliver has held variety of senior finance director roles in regulated financial services businesses. He is also an experienced Trustee having held roles within the British Council and Leeds Student Union. Oliver is eager to support the on-going development of St Anne’s.

Alison Leech is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and has been in the profession for over 25 years, working for Housing Associations and Local Authorities across Yorkshire in both front-line and strategic roles. With a strong belief in the importance of affordable, quality social housing and housing education, Alison joins St Anne’s as a Trustee and member of the Finance & Performance Sub-Committee.

Ian Currell has over 30-years NHS experience and has been a Director of Finance for 13 years, he has stated he is keen to support the charity sector and apply the skills and experience he has built up. Ian is to be a Trustee and member of the Audit & Risk Sub-Committee.

Joining St Anne’s as a Trustee and Vice-Chair, Anthea Sully is Chief Executive of White Ribbon UK, a charity that works to end male violence against women. In 1994 Anthea founded the ground-breaking Goldhay Arts, for artists and performers with learning disabilities. Anthea is an experienced Trustee and Chair and has worked for several charities and voluntary organisations. Anthea will also be a member of the Remuneration, Nominations & Governance Sub-Committee.

Anthea Sully said:

“I am tremendously excited to be joining St Anne’s at this time. I am committed to ensuring people have the support and housing they need to live their best life, and as Vice Chair I want to ensure that I play my part in enabling St Anne’s to do just that. As we emerge from the pandemic, and the challenges that everyone has faced, I am looking forward to meeting the people we support and our staff to find out their aspirations for the future.”

Chief Officer of St Anne’s Azra Kirkby said:

“I wholeheartedly welcome our new Trustees to St Anne’s, who I am sure will bring their expertise and knowledge in abundance as we continue to lead the way in person-centred care.

“It is important for charity organisations to continually refresh as society and care needs change. Reaching out for new Trustees ensures St Anne’s continues to evolve and build on the collective wealth of experience our new Trustees bring.”

Notes to Editors:

St. Anne’s Community Services (St. Anne’s) is a not-for-profit organisation which has been developing and providing services for people with learning disabilities, people with mental health problems, homeless people, and people with drug or alcohol misuse since 1971.

St. Anne’s believes in making a difference, to provided quality care and support to enable people to lead fulfilled lives.

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For further information please email:

Antony.Rider@st-annes.org.uk