Helen leads Voluntary Action Sheffield with great pride, working alongside a diverse range of voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise organisations throughout the city.
With 18 years of experience in the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector—including roles with local and national charities as well as a social housing provider—Helen is dedicated to making a meaningful impact.
As a trained facilitator, she excels at building trust and rapport with others. Known for asking insightful questions, Helen creates brave spaces where collaboration thrives, enabling teams to challenge one another and develop shared solutions. Deeply committed to tackling inequality in Sheffield, Helen believes that strong, diverse leadership and effective collaboration are essential for shaping the future city we all aspire to see.
She champions the power of people and communities, embodying the spirit of Voluntary Action Sheffield: social action by people, with people, for people.
Helen has been leading Health and Wellbeing activities across the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in Sheffield since July 2019.
With years of experience in developing national policy and strategy within government, she has recently shifted her focus to democratic inclusion and understanding the real-world needs of policymaking through her work in academia, volunteering, and everyday interactions with people throughout the city.
Helen is known for engaging conversations about these topics in all sorts of places, from bus stops to supermarkets. Her goal is to leverage her experiences and insights to support the VCS in ensuring that Sheffield communities receive the right health and social care when they need it most, enabling residents to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
In her role, Helen adds value to the wide range of health and wellbeing activities provided by VCS organisations. She facilitates connections with funders and service planners, offers development support to organisations so they can thrive in their communities, and works to understand the diverse needs of those engaging with VCS services.
Mike joined the non-profit sector in an administrative role in 2013, more by accident than design. From the outset, it was clear that working in the voluntary and community sector (VCS) was the right fit. Since then, he has held operational and business management roles in charities of various sizes and focus areas, including substance misuse, mental health, and children and young people. This experience has given him a strong understanding of the local VCS and how different organisations operate.
Mike’s strengths lie in systems, processes, and compliance, as well as areas such as workplace wellbeing, staff development, and environmental responsibility.
He has long held respect for the work of Voluntary Action Sheffield and has benefitted personally from its advice, support, and services. Joining the team in April 2025 felt like a natural alignment with his values, goals, and working style. He feels privileged to contribute to the organisation’s next chapter.
Lucy’s previous role was Advocacy Manager at Disability Sheffield – she worked in advocacy for 14 years, supporting individuals to have a voice about health and social care services.
Healthwatch has been a key place to take the issues that kept arising for the people she supported, and one route for group voice to be heard. She is excited to join the Healthwatch Sheffield team to continue this work.
Natasha builds strong, meaningful partnerships that connect ideas, people and resources to drive positive change. She leads the VCFSE Partnerships and Development Team, working with people and organisations to strengthen and develop the sector by managing a range of networks, providing development support services for organisations and promoting learning and development through initiatives such as the Frontline Worker Wellbeing
With a background in research focused on issues of social exclusion, Natasha has dedicated her career to working alongside people and communities to ensure their voices are heard. She’s committed to using participatory approaches that empower individuals and support real action.
Get in touch if you’ve got an idea or just fancy a chat about making things happen, she’s always up for a conversation!
Paul is motivated by a passion for challenging inequalities and is dedicated to fostering strong communities across Sheffield. With a background in direct support for refugees and asylum seekers, his focus has now shifted to strategic volunteering development that enhances the wellbeing of individuals and enriches communities throughout the city.
As the Volunteering & Partnerships Manager at VAS, Paul oversees the Volunteer Centre, the New Beginnings project, the SPRING Partnership, and Sheffield Business Together.
In addition to these roles, he is a founding member and Trustee of ASSIST Sheffield, actively engages with a local community church, and enjoys exploring the beautiful peaks on a bike, all while cherishing time spent with family.
Adam works on creating opportunities for communities to contribute to positive change in health and wellbeing. He leads the Sheffield Type 2 Diabetes Action Hub, collaborating with local organisations and communities to develop solutions for preventing and managing Type 2 Diabetes. His work focuses on equity, participation, and ensuring that those most affected by health inequalities have a voice in shaping decisions that impact their lives.
He also supports Move More Empowered Communities, using participatory approaches to promote active lifestyles and community-led action. In addition, he contributes to the development of more inclusive project management practices, aiming to make project delivery more collaborative and equitable.
By helping to create spaces where people, communities, and organisations can work together, Adam supports the voluntary and community sector in leading change that reflects local needs and strengths. Through participatory and collaborative approaches, he works to address inequalities and contribute to community-driven impact.
Liz moved around the UK when she was younger, but after settling in Sheffield in 2000, it quickly felt like home. She has spent most of her career in the charity sector and can’t imagine working anywhere else. Liz focuses on keeping finances clear and manageable so that staff can get on with delivering services. She enjoys connecting with colleagues, understanding their work, and knowing she has contributed, even in a small way.
Rachel serves as the Facilities and Building Manager, overseeing the operations at The Circle. With extensive experience in facility management, she excels at creating an organised environment that prioritises safety and ensures everything runs seamlessly.
Rachel takes great pride in making The Circle a welcoming hub for the voluntary sector and the wider community, where a diverse range of individuals come together to connect and collaborate. The greatest reward for her is knowing that visitors leave with positive experiences and a desire to return.
Kerry joined VAS in 2019 and have enjoyed working in various roles before moving to my current position earlier this year.
In this role, Kerry is involved in everything from recruitment and employee wellbeing, to keeping the office running smoothly and efficiently.
Kerry loves being part of a team that makes a real difference, and is keen to improve internal processes and help maintain a supportive and positive workplace environment, in line with VAS’ priorities.
When Kerry is not juggling tasks at work, she likes to keep active, travel, and socialise with friends and family.
Stephanie has been Payroll Manager at VAS since 2021, supporting charities and community groups to meet payroll and pension legislation requirements and stay up to date with any changes.
Before joining VAS, Stephanie spent over 12 years working in commercial payroll departments, handling a wide range of payroll sizes and types. She later started her own small business (outside of payroll), which gave her valuable insight into the challenges faced by the groups and charities VAS now supports.
Stephanie enjoys working in the charity sector and values knowing that the support offered by the VAS payroll service, however small, helps those making a real difference navigate the complexities of payroll.
Since joining VAS in 2019, Annalisa has taken the lead on effective voice work, engaging with over 150 voluntary and community organisations across Sheffield, alongside key stakeholders like Sheffield City Council and Sheffield CCG. Driven by a strong sense of purpose, she is passionate about economic justice, international development, and addressing inequality.
Annalisa is also a proud member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and a Doctoral Researcher in Journalism, continually striving to enhance her skills and knowledge in her field.
Anastasiia recently joined the team as Circle Business Service and Development Manager. In this role, Anastasiia manages the reception staff, including bank staff and the Business Support Administrator, and is responsible for organising events, conferences, and meetings in Circle spaces. A key part of the role involves building and maintaining strong relationships with tenants, ensuring they receive excellent customer service. Anastasiia is excited to be part of the VAS team and contribute to its growth and success.
Inspired by the projects led by both VAS and its tenants, Anastasiia values the positive change they bring to the community.
Outside of work, Anastasiia is a licensed Zumba instructor and runs three classes per week. She enjoys travelling, spending time in nature, and exploring new experiences.