Trustees

We are currently looking for Trustees. If you are interested in joining our Board of Trustees, please click here.

Kate Carroll

Chair

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Kate works for Nisa Retail, a wholesalers owned by The Co-op Group, and is responsible for their colleague and stakeholder charity and community activity across the UK.

As a colleague Wellbeing Champion herself, Kate is a strong advocate of normalising conversations about mental ill-health, particularly with employers.

A former Chair of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, Kate brings experience of corporate partnerships and community fundraising to the Board.

In her spare time, Kate walks miles with the family lockdown purchases – two boisterous puppies and is never happier than spending time with them in the Lake District.

Mike Gill

Vice Chair

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Following an extensive career in the NHS, Mike has now retired. His various posts within the NHS included roles in nursing, clinical and operational management and finally working in the training team. Mike has qualifications in nursing, counselling and a Certificate from the Institute of Health Services Management.

Mike is passionate about ensuring we all look after our mental health and wellbeing and being on the Board at Hull and East Yorkshire Mind is an excellent way of contributing to the mental health and wellbeing agenda locally. He is also a Director of Wellington Care and currently has a link role across both Boards.

Mike also tries to commit time to help out the fundraising team. Either being part of planning activities or using his running / walking activities to raise funds for Hull and East Yorkshire Mind. These are really enjoyable parts of being a Trustee and gives an opportunity to be actively involved in charitable endeavours.

In his spare time, Mike is a keen runner and walker, and runs a small Antiques and Collectables business with his wife.

Alex Denholm

Honorary Treasurer

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Alex is a retired Bank Manager and has been actively involved with charity work for a significant number of years. He is presently the Chair of Hull and East Riding HSBC Pensioners Association, HSBC Pensioners Council Rep, Humber Rep, Regional AOC Committee, Audit Committee, East Riding College, Hull & East Riding Amateur Athletic Association, Hull Zingari Cricket Club, and advises members of the House of Lords.

Justina Oraka

Trustee

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Justina is a teacher by profession, a Fellow for Society for Education & Training and has a background is in Education, Training and Development with more than 35 years teaching experience and over 25 years’ experience in the voluntary, community sector and private sector organisations. Justina has been involved in three Women’s Centre’s in Hull as trustee/directors, Northern Hull Development Trust, Hull & East Riding Race Equality Council.  Justina was a Mental Health Commissioner for 4 years and director for Humberside probation service for 6 years.

She now has her own Training and Consultancy a not for profit Social Enterprise since 2009 dedicated to imparting knowledge, building capacity and improving life through education, training and development, mentoring, advocacy and Information Advice and Guidance (IAG).  TJ Training & Consultancy provides Activities and Services to BAME, Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrant workers communities in Hull and surroundings which includes ESOL with personal development/Literacy/functional Skills, Life in the UK, Citizenship, Managing Diversity, Cultural Awareness and works in partnership with Trinity College London, English Speaking Board (ESB) and NOCN enabling accreditation and progression into employment and further education. We work with volunteers and other partners locally and nationally.

In addition, Justina is a founder member and Chair of Africa Forum and was  Trustee and Chair of Humber All Nations Alliance (HANA). We are the only licenced Trinity College London Centre in Humber preparing people for SELT/ISE for Citizenship/settlement/Tier 1, 2, & 4 Visas. TJ Training is Matrix Accredited

Donna Blank

Trustee

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Donna retired from her role as Partner and Head of Employment at a Regional Law Firm in June 2017. Donna specialised in employment law for in excess of 20 years advising both local and national businesses in relation to a range of employment law issues including, Employment Tribunal claims, dismissal, grievance, business re-organisation and the implementation of HR Policies and Procedures. Donna continues to have a particular interest in staff training and development.

Donna’s work included advising a number of local Charities and gaining a valuable insight into the organisation and workings of charitable organisations. Donna’s experience as an employment lawyer will enable her to contribute to human resource and employment law issues as a member of the Governance, HR and Performance Committee.

Donna is also a Trustee of the Sailors Children’s Society and a Director of Hull Golf.

Rod Chambers

Trustee

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From leaving school, Rod has had an exciting career with lead roles in sales, branch management, training and supply chain, eventually being appointed Divisional Director for Logistics in August 2000, and then Divisional Director for UK Sales in March 2003. From 2008, Rod moved over to the public sector, and initially was appointed as Head of Operations for Learndirect careers advice, soon transferring this function into the Learning and Skills Council within central government as part of the Machinery of Government changes. Rod has been active on a number of programme boards overseeing national procurement, business change and the turning of government policy into delivery within Business Innovation and Skills and more recently the Department for Education as Head of Outsourced Services.

Since taking early retirement in 2021, Rod continues to put his time and experience to good use in the local community including recently becoming a non executive director with Hull University Students Union Commercial board.

Leisure interests and hobbies include guitar, painting, geology, running and motorcycling, and committee member for North Ferriby FC Supporters Club.

Peter Archer

Trustee

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Peter retired in November 2013 after 38 years in the banking industry. The bulk of his career was spent working with commercial businesses and the last 5 years were spent helping businesses with a turnover between £1m and £25m which were struggling and needed support to get back to good health. He has qualifications in sales and marketing and training. He also has some experience of internal audit work.