About us
Our Board is a passionate team dedicated to driving positive change in communities across Sheffield.
At Voluntary Action Sheffield, we believe in doing things a bit differently. Our Board is made up of passionate individuals who are committed to making a real impact in our city.
We’re all about collaboration and innovation, ensuring that we stay connected to what matters most to the people of Sheffield. With a focus on flexibility and support, we’re here to empower local organisations and help everyone thrive. We work together to create a vibrant, inclusive community.
Our Board
Peter Wozencroft
About Peter
Peter has been a proud Sheffielder for over 25 years, deeply passionate about the city and its people. With a strong background in NHS leadership and management, he currently serves as a Director at Sherwood Forest Hospitals in Nottinghamshire.
Peter has previously volunteered as a school governor and was a Trustee of Sheffield Futures, demonstrating his commitment to community engagement.His family also provides foster care on behalf of Sheffield City Council, further highlighting his dedication to supporting others.
In his professional role, Peter focuses on building partnerships and uses his skills and experience to contribute to the work of VAS, helping to strengthen communities throughout Sheffield.
Ahmed Mohamed
About Ahmed
Ahmed Mohamed is a passionate advocate for education and community empowerment, with a strong focus on supporting underrepresented and marginalized groups. As the CEO and co-founder of Infinite Skills CIC, Ahmed has led the organization in delivering learner-centered education and training programs that improve social mobility, employment opportunities, and quality of life for individuals from diverse backgrounds. These include black and minority ethnic communities, refugees, and individuals facing mental health challenges. Ahmed also serves as a director at First Support Care, a Sheffield-based home care provider committed to delivering personalized care. This role has further deepened his dedication to addressing health inequalities, inspiring initiatives to ensure underserved communities have access to culturally sensitive and inclusive care. Under his leadership, First Support Care actively collaborates with local organizations to advocate for equitable healthcare access and improve outcomes for marginalized groups. Drawing on his personal journey of overcoming adversity, Ahmed is committed to breaking barriers through learner-centered approaches and innovative community projects. His leadership at Infinite Skills has enabled countless individuals to gain qualifications, secure meaningful employment, and thrive in their personal and professional lives.
Ahmed is thrilled to join VAS as a trustee and looks forward to leveraging his expertise in education, project management, and social entrepreneurship to benefit Sheffield’s communities.
Kay Dickinson
About Kay
As a proud Sheffielder, Kay is committed to making our city a fantastic place to live and work. Since stepping away from full-time employment in 2013, she has thrown herself into various local organisations and initiatives. Kay has successfully leveraged her expertise as Vice-Chair of South Yorkshire Housing Association and is now a Trustee of NOCN Job Cards.
With a rich background that includes 10 years in the health service and 11 years as Executive Director in skills-related public bodies, Kay brings a wealth of experience to the table. Although she’s an accountant by trade, her skills extend far beyond finance. Kay excels in strategy development, organisational performance management, change management, corporate governance, and risk management. Her diverse expertise plays a vital role in helping VAS continue its success and support our community effectively.
Siobhan Laird
About Siobhan
Siobhan spent her early career as a social worker, collaborating with voluntary and community organisations to assist families struggling in difficult circumstances, often worsened by poverty, poor health and inequality. As the climate crisis has multiplied the risks of flooding, drought, rising food prices and increased inequalities, she has turned her attention to reducing our greenhouse gases and improving our resilience. Siobhan has held policy and governance positions as a Commissioner for the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission and on the Environmental Sustainability Committee of the Executive Board of her university. She is also a carbon literacy trainer and looks forward to supporting VAS to develop knowledge and skills in this area.
Safiya Saeed
About Safiya
Saffiya is a passionate community activist dedicated to empowering individuals from underrepresented communities in schools and colleges. She works tirelessly with women to help them find their voices against discrimination, tackling issues like isolation and mental health, breaking down language barriers, and supporting their children’s education.
As the Founder of the Sisterhood Basketball Group, a self-defence initiative for women, Saffiya also established Big Brother Burgreave—a mentoring scheme “Led by the youth, for the youth.”
This innovative programme pairs 17- and 18-year-olds with younger peers aged 11 to 16 for valuable support and guidance.
Saffiya is eager to use her skills and experience to benefit the community, fostering connections and creating positive change for all.
David Bussue
About David
David is the Service Director for SACMHA Health & Social Care, an African Caribbean-led social care provider in the third sector.
With a rich professional history in personal social care and service development, David has chaired numerous boards and panels within third sector organisations, bringing valuable insights to the table. His extensive experience in the public sector includes roles as a Trainer and Facilitator, where he has delivered engaging training on various important topics, such as:
- The experiences of Black people in mental health services
- Refresher courses for Approved Social Workers (ASWs)
- Referral thresholds for accessing children’s social care services
- Action-based strategic planning for third sector organisations
- Mental capacity
- Cultural competence
David continues to leverage his skills and experience at VAS to enhance community services and promote well-being across Sheffield.
John Hudson
About John
John is the Operations Director at Arches Housing Association, a local organisation based in Burngreave that provides affordable homes across Sheffield, Rotherham, and North East Derbyshire.
With a strong commitment to supporting the community, John is pleased to be on the VAS Board, where he aims to apply his skills to enhance the voluntary sector throughout Sheffield. His experience in operations and community engagement positions him well to contribute to the mission of creating vibrant and sustainable communities. John is dedicated to making a positive impact and helping ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable housing.
Amy Thornton
About Amy
Amy has lived in Sheffield for 15 years and grew up in Birmingham. She is the Head of Volunteering at Breast Cancer Now, and is a passionate champion of the value and power of volunteering.
With a keen interest in organisational development and strategy, Amy gained an MBA from the University of Sheffield in January 2024 in which she completed a research project on enactment of strategic values within third sector organisations and this remains a key area of interest to her.
She has previously been on the Board of Directors of Sheffield based LGBTQ+ arts and culture organisation Andro and Eve. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Amy is interested in supporting voluntary sector organisations to improving their inclusion of marginalised communities.
Joanne Arch
About Joanne
Joanne has been a valued member of the VAS board for a year, bringing her expertise as an award-winning CIM-qualified marketeer and brand consultant with 25 years of experience in internal and external communications.
She is passionate about supporting organisations that make a difference in the community. Recently, Joanne worked with Capita to ensure that pension communications are clear, engaging, and memorable for everyone involved. Her insight-driven approach to strategy development is something she brings to VAS, helping to enhance our outreach and impact within the community.
About Jess
Jess is an experienced fundraiser and community organiser who has spent the past 7 years working in Sheffield’s voluntary sector. Jess started her career by volunteering with the New Beginnings Project at VAS where she supported the employment ad visor to set up a job club, based at the City of Sanctuary, to act as a drop-in support service for refugees seeking employment.
Since then, she has worked in various fundraising and community engagement roles across Sheffield and is currently the project coordinator for Change Lab at Sheffield Students’ Union – a social action programme which connects engaged and passionate students with local voluntary organisations to take action on key local issues. She can’t wait to bring her passion, enthusiasm and energy to the VAS board and continue to uplift and support the local Sheffield community.
