About Your VCSE Sector Locality Leads
In 2025, you voted for your VCSE Sector Locality Leads.
These Locality Leads are playing a vital part in strengthening the connection between the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector and local health systems. Each Locality Lead represents the sector within their locality’s Integrated Neighbourhood Health Team, acting as a key contact point for VCSE organisations.
Their role will:
- Bring insight from the VCSE sector into neighbourhood working.
- Raise issues and highlight opportunities on behalf of the sector.
- Work with VCSE Community Partnership Anchor networks, forums and other advocates to align the VCSE voice and demonstrate collective impact.
- Contribute to shaping strategic commissioning within their locality.
Read more about Integrated Neighbourhood working in this presentation.
Below is an overview of who the Locality Leads are, and how you can reach them!
Please contact them if you have any information to share that would help them achieve the above.
Please note that the VCSE sector Locality Lead role is part time (one day per week), so you may not receive an immediate response. If your message is urgent please contact info@thevcsalliance.org.uk or call us on 01274 306624
Meet Becca, Craven and Wharfedale VCSE Locality Lead
Becca Hewitt is the VCSE Sector Locality Lead for the new Integrated Neighbourhood Team areas of Craven and Wharfedale.
Becca has worked in various roles alongside the VCSE sector in Craven and Wharfedale for over 15 years, both in VCSE infrastructure support and as a freelance VCSE service evaluator and community researcher. She also has lots of experience managing VCSE led services involving partners from across multiple parts of our health systems. Prior to working in the VCSE sector Becca was an information professional in the NHS supporting people to find and use evidence and training clinicians in evidence-based practice. She is passionate about public funded services being designed to fit what communities and people who use services say they want and need, and in making that possible through true collaboration between services and communities. Becca is also a trained guide in Asset Based Community Development and a Charity Trustee in Skipton.
If you work in the VCSE in Craven or Wharfedale and would like to speak with Becca about issues you think matter to communities and should be addressed by our local health and care systems, or if you work with other partners in the system and want to collaborate with VCSE colleagues more please feel free to contact Becca. She will either be able to help directly or will be happy to connect you with the appropriate colleagues. Please get in touch by emailing cravenlocalitylead@thevcsalliance.org.uk.
Meet Saadiqah, Bradford East VCSE Locality Lead
Saadiqah Begum is the VCSE Sector Locality Lead for the new Integrated Neighbourhood Team area of Bradford East.
“My name is Saadiqah Begum and I am the Bradford East Locality Lead. I have been working in Bradford East as part of Inspired Neighbourhoods anchored in CP2 Five Lane Ends and CP5. I have a keen interest in the social determinants of health and working to address intersectionality. I am a part of the Bradford East Wellbeing Hub and passionate about supporting individuals and organisations in the community.”
Saadiqah can be contacted at at bradfordeastlocalitylead@thevcsalliance.org.uk for all matters regarding her role as Locality Lead.
Meet Mark, Bradford West VCSE Locality Co-Lead
Mark Nicholson is a co-lead, sharing the role of VCSE Locality Lead for the new Integrated Neighbourhood Team area of Bradford West.
Mark currently is employed as the CEO of Equality Together, a disabled peoples user led organisation that provides a diverse range of services to people facing disabling barriers and health inequalities across Bradford, District & Craven. Equality Together via Manningham Mills Community Hub is the home of Bradford West Wellbeing Hub as well as being the joint Community Anchor within Community Partnership 4 “Together for Health”. In his spare time, he sits as a trustee on a number of charities including Community Action Bradford & District, Northern Academy of the Performing Arts, Marching & Performing Arts United Kingdom in which he is Chair of Winter Guard United Kingdom.
“As a Co-Locality Lead for Bradford West, I am committed to collaborative working that will co-design and produce innovative approaches and solutions for the challenges that face voluntary and community organisations.“
Contact: BradfordWestLocalityLead@thevcsalliance.org.uk
Meet Lukman, Bradford West VCSE Locality Co-Lead
Lukman Miah is a co-lead, sharing the role of VCSE Locality Lead for the new Integrated Neighbourhood Team area of Bradford West.
“I am the Locality Lead for Bradford West (Health), with over a decade of experience in community leadership, partnership development, and supporting ethnically diverse communities across Bradford. I work closely with grassroots organisations to ensure their voices are heard and their needs shape local health and wellbeing services, making them inclusive, accessible, and equitable for all.”
I am committed to:
· Collaboration – building strong partnerships across organisations and sectors.
· Equity and inclusion – ensuring services meet the real needs of diverse communities.
· Community empowerment – amplifying grassroots voices in planning, policy, and service delivery.
Through community consultation, mapping, partnership-building, and advocacy, I aim to strengthen connections between communities, services, and decision-makers, creating lasting improvements in health and wellbeing.
I welcome contact regarding:
· Collaboration opportunities
· Community initiatives
· Improving inclusion, access, and equity in local health and wellbeing services
You can reach me at my email below or 07868298615
Contact: BradfordWestLocalityLead@thevcsalliance.org.uk
Meet Sam, Bradford South VCSE Locality Co-Lead
Sam Kirkby is the VCSE Sector Locality Lead for the new Integrated Neighbourhood Team area of Bradford South.
“I’ve worked in Holmewood Bradford delivering youth and community development programs for the past 20 years. My journey started as an apprentice youth and community worker, leading to Youth work Hub Lead then Centre Manager, all whilst expanding my experience in Leadership and Governance: this being achieved by being on board of trustees of both local and district-wide charities, as well as over 10 years spent as a School Governor in three different school settings. Growing up in one of the UK’s most deprived areas has created lived experience where community, opportunity and education provided a means way to progress.
I’ve delivered a wide range of community programs which include leading international programs with young people, providing support for young people involved in serious organised crime and developing the Sutton Centre as a community organisation working on improving health, increasing wealth and building community. The centre is a community anchor organisation in the Holmewood area, serving in excess of 1400 residents with over 31,000 visits annually, also providing a wide range of co-located support for all ages. Away from work my time is spent with my wife and three daughters, also at Valley Parade as a Bradford City fan!”
Contact Sam by emailing BradfordSouthLocalityLead@thevcsalliance.org.uk
Meet Heather, Shipley VCSE Locality Lead
Heather Tattersall is the VCSE Sector Locality Lead for the new Integrated Neighbourhood team area of Bradford West.
“I am Heather (or Hev) Tattersall, I have worked in the VCSE for 20years and 16 of those years I have been at The Cellar Trust. I represent Shipley as the VCSE Locality Lead and am passionate about the sector and how our expertise can and should be used to guide decisions and support communities. You can contact me on the email provided about concerns, things you want to discuss or opportunities for your organisation or the sector. I have been out to a couple of organisations and I am keen to go out and see more of the amazing work that is going on in my locality…please get in touch!”
Contact: ShipleyLocalityLead@thevcsalliance.org.uk
Meet Melanie, Keighley VCSE Locality Co-Lead
Melanie Hey is the VCSE Sector Locality Lead for the new Integrated Neighbourhood team area of Keighley.
“I’ve worked in the voluntary and community sector for over 15 years and am passionate about creating healthier, fairer communities. I’m currently the CEO of Keighley Healthy Living and have experience working across the health sector and with local authorities.
I represent Keighley as the VCSE locality lead alongside Fazeela. We’re really committed to listening, connecting people, and working together to help our communities and neighbourhoods thrive.
Please feel free to get in touch via the email address provided—I’d love to hear from you and look forward to working together.”
Contact: KeighleyLocalityLead@thevcsalliance.org.uk
Meet Fazeela, Keighley VCSE Locality Co-Lead
Fazeela Hanif is the VCSE Sector Locality Lead for the new Integrated Neighbourhood team area of Keighley.
“I am Fazeela Hanif, I have worked in the VCS sector since year 2000 and have been at the Highfield Community Association for the last 18 years. I am one of the VCS sector Leads for Keighley. I am passionate about the sector, partnerships, young people and community. I am keen to bring about change to better health and well-being across Keighley and create long-lasting positive change. Born and bred in Keighley with lived experience, I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to support our local community and organisations. I am a huge advocate of collaborative working and helping overcome the barriers in participation. I sit on a number of Strategic board representing our sector and would love to hear from you of what other support I can offer or share what is happening locally
Please feel free to get in touch with me regarding any opportunities, concerns, positive news, etc on the following email and I will ensure to reach out. I have great links with many organisations across Keighley and am particularly keen to reach out to much more.”
Contact: KeighleyLocalityLead@thevcsalliance.org.uk
