Martin Brookes
Chief Executive
Martin Brookes
Chief Executive
During my career, I have worked in major organisations in all three sectors - public, private and charitable sectors; initially as a professional economist, then as an analyst and chief executive in charities. During 20 years working in and with charities, I have played a leading role in articulating the importance of strategy and impact. I built the market-leading New Philanthropy Capital and co-founded the influential Pro Bono Economics. In these and other roles, I have helped change thinking and practice across the charitable sector, drawing on my understanding of markets and finance. I have advised many charities, boards, and funders during this time; and have sat on a range of boards of trustees.
I have a particular interest in ideas that help the charitable sector be more effective - the flow of information to connect organisations, such as through networks; the importance of intelligent strategies; different models of funding including philanthropy; and the importance and value of data and impact.
Menisha Gela
Deputy Chief Executive
Menisha Gela
Deputy Chief Executive
Menisha has over 20-years' experience of working in the voluntary sector in a range of programme and development roles. Prior to joining VONNE she worked as Director of Development and has a particular interest in policy work to bring about social change, good governance as well as mentoring and coaching.
Her role at VONNE comprises of the oversight of the projects and partnership's function including the development of new areas of work. She works with the Board, CEO and staff to represent the sector at a local, regional and national level and to deliver VONNE’s strategic aims.
Menisha specialist areas of interest include effective financial support for the VCSE sector, sustainable development, equality and social justice in particular, race and women in society and leadership roles.
Operations Team
Angela Goodfellow
Operations Manager
Angela Goodfellow
Operations Manager
Angela recently celebrated 10 years at VONNE as the Operations Manager. Her role is hugely varied managing the operations of VONNE including HR, Governance, Finance, IT, Premises and VONNE’s Enhanced Recruitment Service. She has worked in the charity sector for around 14 years and her role prior to VONNE was at the British Red Cross. Her charity connection started with volunteering roles at St Oswald’s Hospice and Oxfam.
Angela is also a Trustee on the Board of Newcastle Vision Support.
Diarmuid MacGiollagain
Finance Manager
Allison Madine
HR & Administration Support Officer
Allison Madine
HR & Administration Support Officer
As well as being part of the team providing support to VONNE Members and the VONNE team for several years, Allison joined the NEECCo project team in October 2019, supporting both NEECCo and the VONNE Climate Action Alliance. She has over 30 years' PA/administration experience in many different sectors, including defence and aerospace, the NHS, local government, and the private sector. This is her first role within the VCSE sector. She also works part-time for Generation Rent, which campaigns for the rights of private housing tenants in the UK. Allison was born and raised in the North East, but moved away after marrying a Scot. Having lived in many parts of the UK and beyond, they've returned to live in Northumberland with their rescue dog Ellie.
Kath Redpath
Finance and Admin Support Officer
Kath Redpath
Finance and Admin Support Officer
Kath joined VONNE in August 2022 as our Finance and Admin Support Officer. She brings a wealth of customer experience to the role having previously worked within the charity sector for over 15 years in various roles within Finance and Administration.
Her most recent role was within a thriving Newcastle based Creative Marketing Company as Office and Finance Manager.
Kath is excited to be part of the VONNE team, providing support to the Operations Manager and supporting both staff and our members with all things finance and admin.
Mandeep Chohan
Operations and Member Services Assistant
Mandeep Chohan
Operations and Member Services Assistant
Mandeep joined VONNE in June 2023 to provide administrative support for VONNE's operations, member services and communications work. Speaking about her position, Mandeep said 'I am relatively new to the charity sector, and I am passionate about bringing the skills and experience that I have gained from working in the private sector to VONNE. I have worked in various roles from customer service, sales, administration, and team leadership. I enjoy working with multiple workstreams as it gives me a deeper understanding of how different people and processes work.
Outside of work, I studied BA (Hons) Fine Art at Teesside University and I have continued my practice, which focuses on my identity as a British Asian woman from the North East.'
Paula Rosenberg
Management and Governance Administration Support Officer
Paula joined VONNE in November 2023, and provides administrative support to the CEO and Management Team as well as support in areas of governance. Paula has worked in the voluntary sector for the majority of her working life, starting here in the North East and then moving to London for 8 years, before returning back to County Durham. Her main roles have been in senior leadership support, trustee board and committee support, HR management, customer service management and facilities including health and safety. Paula hopes that her experience will be of benefit to VONNE as it continues to grow.
Paula is the voluntary secretary of a local grassroots football team and has recently joined the governors of a local secondary school. In her spare time Paula enjoys reading, swimming and walking the family dog Reggie.
Member Services Team
Laura Elliot
Member Services Manager
Laura Elliot
Member Services Manager
Laura leads on Member Services. She’s passionate about bringing member voices into our work and providing high quality, meaningful services to the North East VCSE sector.
From previous roles, Laura brings charity experience in marketing and commercial management plus experience of local government and employment rights advice.
Away from work, Laura volunteers at Whitley Bay Big Local and is a regular volunteer on creative projects in the North East.
Amy Coates
Communications and Marketing Manager
Amy Coates
Communications and Marketing Manager
Amy joined the VONNE team in July 2021 as NEECCo Comms and Events Officer, then became VONNE Communications Officer in April 2022 and Manager in May 2024. Amy is responsible for all things communications, including our website, social feeds and VONNE News eBulletin. She is responsible for our fortnightly funding bulletin and online Funding Directory, both of which are benefits of VONNE Membership+ support at silver or gold level. Amy is particularly interested in recruitment in the VCSE sector and engaging with members of VONNE to bring their voice into our future comms.
Amy enjoys working on a variety of projects and events to learn new skills, and is a trustee at Projects4Change, a charity that supports young people in Newcastle.
Gemma Broadhead
Membership and Communications Support Officer
Gemma Broadhead
Membership and Communications Support Officer
Gemma joined the VONNE team in April 2022, bringing with her 15 years’ experience of working in the VCSE sector in a variety of support roles. She has extensive experience in customer service, data collection and reporting, and administration. Gemma studied History at the University of Sunderland, graduating with an MA in 2009, and has retained a keen interest in learning and knowledge and a love of reading ever since.
Gemma provides administrative support for our Member Services, including Membership and Jobs processing, supporting with communications and social media, and she is also responsible for our weekly VONNE Jobs bulletin. Gemma enjoys supporting our members and promoting the value of the VCSE sector.
Projects Team
Nicola Wylde
LARCH Programme Manager
Nicola Wylde
LARCH Programme Manager
Nicola Joined VONNE in January 2025 as LARCH (Local Access Redcar, Cleveland and Hartlepool) Programme Manager.
The LARCH programme is a £4 million investment and is one of only six areas in the UK to be chosen by Access Foundation for Social Investment and Big Society Capital, who are the main funders of LARCH, with support of two other partners – The Key Fund and Tees Foundation. The vision of LARCH is to develop and promote a culture of Social Enterprise across Redcar & Cleveland and Hartlepool by nurturing and encouraging the creation and growth of social enterprises.
Nicola spent 14 years of her career working in community development, member services and governance at Co-op in addition to programme and partnerships management in the charitable sector.
In her spare time, Nicola runs a book club with her neighbours as we as well as serving on the committee of her local community organisation.
Eilidh Skinner
Going Green Together Project Officer
Eilidh Skinner
Going Green Together Project Officer
Eilidh joined VONNE in early 2025 as part of the Going Green Together Project. Her role involves collaborating with VCSE organisations in the North East to find ways to become more environmentally sustainable and take action on the climate emergency within their communities. Through this she provides support to groups with training, one to one advice, facilitation of events and workshops and contributing to the Going Green Together Toolkit.
Eilidh brings experience from her Masters in Environment and Development with a focus on environmental justice; background in food sustainability and hospitality and years volunteering with environmental charities in the North East. Eilidh is passionate about collaborating with local organisations to find hopeful environmental solutions that can be integrated into every day experiences.
In her spare time, Eilidh loves getting into the sea to surf and fitting in some pottery when she can!
Health and Wellbeing Team
Lisa Taylor
Health and Wellbeing Programme Director
Lisa Taylor
Health and Wellbeing Programme Director
Lisa has spent many years working in health and social care, moving from the private sector to the voluntary sector in 2014 to manage the integration of charity services within the NHS. This involved working with both primary and secondary care as well as with vulnerable groups, including older people experiencing frailty, people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
Lisa specialises in cross-sector working and is passionate about partnership working and supporting the development of systems that truly meet the needs of the people that use them. She joined VONNE as the VCSE Partnership Programme Deputy Manager, spending a year in that role before becoming our Health & Wellbeing Programme Director.
Lisa is the lead for the VCSE Partnership Programme, which brings together the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector across the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Integrated Care System (ICS), working with NHS England to support the development of the programme in partnership with the NHS. Lisa also sits on the NENC Integrated Care Board as the VCSE representative, ensuring the VCSE sector’s input into the NENC ICS at a strategic level.
Richard Boggie
North East and North Cumbria VCSE Health Partnerships Strategic Manager
Richard Boggie
North East and North Cumbria VCSE Health Partnerships Strategic Manager
Richard joined our Health and Wellbeing team in February 2023. His role involves oversight of a range of programmes including Healthy Communities and Social Prescribing, Health Champions and representing VONNE at various groups within the health inequalities workstream of the ICB’s structures. He will be a key link for VCSE involvement in tackling health priorities in our region. Richard brings experience and expertise in disability rights, access and inclusion, and HR management. He is active in the community – as Chair of Newcastle Vision Support and a Trustee of Northern Stage. He is also a spoken word artist and playwright.
Siobhan Flynn
North East and North Cumbria VCSE Engagement Manager
Siobhan Flynn
North East and North Cumbria VCSE Engagement Manager
Siobhan joined VONNE in January 2022. Her role focuses on supporting meaningful engagement, involvement and collaboration between VCSE organisations involved in health and wellbeing across the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) and the NENC Integrated Care System (ICS). This includes facilitating many of the VCSE Partnership Programme sub-groups and the VCSE Partnership Forum. Siobhan is passionate about collaboration and ensuring the needs of the VCSE sector are heard and addressed. She brings experience from her previous job roles which have focused on the development of VCSE networks and increasing partnerships within the sector.
In her spare time Siobhan volunteers for Rape Crisis, crochets and is a keen runner.
Jen Hewitt
Health and Wellbeing Engagement Coordinator
Jen Hewitt
Health and Wellbeing Engagement Coordinator
Jen joined the Health and Wellbeing team in September 2024 coordinating the NEAS engagement project and supporting all the organisations who are participating. Jen has worked on several collaborative projects across the North East including financial wellbeing, reducing loneliness and maintaining independence at home for older and/or disabled residents.
“I'm excited to be part of this chance to shape NEAS’s new strategy on behalf of those who use the service. It's a fantastic opportunity to gather as many voices as possible, particularly those that aren't usually captured or represented, to shape NEAS' services for the future and ensure it is fit for purpose for all."
Jen is Co-Chair of TimbaDash, a theatre company producing immersive sensory experiences for children with complex and additional needs. In her spare time, Jen enjoys being part of a book club, theatre trips with friends, playing the harp and being involved with kids work at her local church
Beth Reeves
Health and Wellbeing Coordinator
Beth Reeves
Health and Wellbeing Coordinator
Beth joined the Health and Wellbeing team in July 2024, supporting the development and delivery of our exciting and innovative VCSE partnership programme and research partnership projects, both of which are held in high regard nationally.
Having previously held the position of Support and Development Officer at Connected Voice, Beth is experienced in the charity sector and infrastructure support. Speaking about her new role at VONNE, Beth said, ‘I am really excited to work with the Health and Wellbeing team on the partnerships and research programmes. In my previous role, I saw first-hand the incredible work that VCSE organisations do in the region, and the valuable insights they have into communities. I am passionate about ensuring VCSE organisations can be involved in shaping the ICS into a system that works for everyone.’
Victoria Nunn
Development Coordinator
Victoria Nunn
Development Coordinator
Victoria joined VONNE in March 2025, bringing years of experience in communications and marketing across VCSE organisations in the arts, health, and wellbeing sectors. She is also a Senior Research Assistant at Northumbria University and an expert by experience in multiple academic research projects focused on mental health. Passionate about equality, awareness, and meaningful service user involvement, she works to ensure mental health research is inclusive, impactful, and driven by lived experience.
Her Development Coordinator role sits within the NENC VCSE Partnership Programme and she will be working to develop a shared approach to measuring the impact of VCSE services in health and care pathways. By gathering and analysing data, she will help identify gaps and contribute to a standardised impact measurement framework, ensuring VCSE contributions are recognised in commissioning decisions. She'll also facilitate co-design groups and workshops to shape more effective ways of measuring impact.
Speaking about the role, Victoria said, "Ultimately, it’s about ensuring VCSE organisations have a stronger voice in health and care commissioning and that their vital contributions to community wellbeing are properly recognised."
Francesca Morland
Research Partnerships Coordinator
Francesca Morland
Research Partnerships Coordinator
Before joining VONNE in April 2025, Fran worked for an LIO (Connected Voice) for almost 3 years as Support and Development Officer, working alongside many VCSE organisations and learning new skills within the sector.
As Research Partnerships Coordinator, a role which sits within the Health and Wellbeing Team, Fran will be building on existing work to strengthen the relationships between researchers and VCSE organisations with the aim of forming positive and mutually beneficial partnerships. This will involve fostering collaboration, sharing resources, and delivering training.
Speaking about her role, Fran said "I am really looking forward to working across sectors to ensure that VCSE organisations feels empowered to contribute meaningfully to research, as well as sharing the immense value of the voluntary sector with researchers. VONNE has already completed excellent work in this area, and I hope I can continue with this."
Sara Toal
Health and Wellbeing Project & Communications Officer
Sara Toal
Health and Wellbeing Project & Communications Officer
Sara joined VONNE in 2021 and leads the communications and project support for our Health and Wellbeing Team. She works across the North East and North Cumbria supporting the VCSE Partnership Programme, VCSE Research Partnerships and Healthy Communities and Social Prescribing programme. Her work involves the management of our Health and Wellbeing team Twitter @vonnehwb, our various health and wellbeing network bulletins, partner communications and events support.
Georgia Morris
Health and Wellbeing Project Support Officer
Georgia Morris
Project Support Officer
Georgia joined VONNE in December 2023, after graduating from a Masters in Biomedical Sciences that July. As Project Support Officer, Georgia delivers communications and project support across the Health and Wellbeing projects and programmes. Within her role, Georgia supports the VONNE LinkedIn webpage, providing content from the Health and Wellbeing team.
In her spare time, Georgia enjoys walking and swimming, and spending time at the beach.
Amy Langdown
Support Worker
Amy Langdown joined VONNE in September of 2023 as support worker for Richard Boggie (North East and North Cumbria VCSE Health Partnerships Strategic Manager).
About her role, Amy said 'in my creative practice, I work with various charities, as well as working solo. In my work, I am always looking for ways to boost the voices of those from marginalised, underrepresented and underprivileged backgrounds, and my work with VONNE facilitates this in a different way.’
Outside of VONNE, Amy is a creative practitioner, she has a poetry night called Out of Your Head! And works as a writer, facilitator, producer and artist.
Get in touch with Amy if you’re interested in working with Richard or you’d like to know more about the NENC VCSE Health Partnerships programme.