Stephen Craker - Chief Executive
With a strong commitment to community development, I lead Communities 1st and its associated projects. Guided by a passion for local voluntary and not-for-profit organisations, I'm dedicated to strengthening the sector's resilience and fostering partnerships. Passionate about supporting our vibrant community, I'm thrilled to collaborate with like-minded organisations for lasting positive change.
Helen Ives-Rose - Deputy Chief Executive (Services)
Helen manages the Making a Difference Team who organise volunteers to deliver a wide range of projects including Travel Link, our Community Transport team, shopping and prescription delivery, befriending, finding buddies and organising trips for international NHS recruits to help them settle in and many more. She is responsible for overseeing practical support for member and associated organisations such as disclosure and barring service checks, bookkeeping and ID badges. She also manages the team looking after the community centres and community bowls green in Borehamwood and Handyperson Service for small repairs, gardening and housekeeping.
In life outside Communities 1st, she enjoys spending time at the allotment, cooking and reading.
Christine Halpin - Head of Partnerships and Capacity Building
Contact Christine to enquire about advice on all issues related to developing your group. As our Partnerships Manager, her team can help new community groups set up and help more established groups to meet challenges as they grow. This can include reviewing governing documents, developing the management committee, funding advice and other issues.
Juli Riley - Head of Employment and Skills
Juli is the Head of Employment and Skills for Communities 1st. Juli joined the team in October 2021, when Volunteer Centre Broxbourne and East Herts merged with Communities 1st. Her role is to manage the engagement and training teams. Juli is our lead for Multiply project. Juli also ensure internal staff and volunteers training needs are met.
Outside of work, Juli likes cooking and spending time with her family,
Tom Watkins - Head of Wellbeing and Inclusion
Tom provides the strategic leadership for our many wellbeing initiatives at Communities 1st. This includes our involvement with healthy hubs, information, advice and guidance pop-ups, welfare support and our programme of help for migrants. Tom says "Our team's work is focussed on keeping people fit and well physically, mentally, financially and socially. In these difficult times, we're helping our communities address health inequality and enabling them to live a thriving, happy life." Outside of Communities 1st, Tom has been a lifelong active volunteer, a presenter on local radio and is a trained actor.
