Congratulations to the successful candidates who have been voted in as VCSE Sector Locality Leads.
These Locality Leads will play a vital role in strengthening the connection between the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector and local health systems. Each Locality Lead will represent 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.
And more…
You can contact them by email:
- CravenLocalityLead@thevcsalliance.org.uk
- KeighleyLocalityLead@thevcsalliance.org.uk
- ShipleyLocalityLead@thevcsalliance.org.uk
- BradfordWestLocalityLead@thevcsalliance.org.uk
- BradfordSouthLocalityLead@thevcsalliance.org.uk
- BradfordEastLocalityLead@thevcsalliance.org.uk
We are proud to introduce you to your new VCSE Sector Locality Leads:
Craven: Becca Hewitt
Becca is a longstanding Craven resident, Chair of Skipton Step into Action, and a freelance evaluator/project manager having worked with many local VCSE and statutory colleagues.
She spent 20 years in the NHS and public sector promoting evidence-based practice (Medical Librarian), and then a subsequent 15 years in strategic VCSE leadership roles including Charity CEO.
She has extensive experience co-designing VCSE-led statutory funded services, using data and insights to evidence collective impact, championing Craven voice in complex, often urban-focussed systems tackling health inequalities, especially for underserved communities.
For this role, she is focussed on trust building, identifying shared goals and positioning communities as equal partners, also ensuring services address roots of inequality.
You can watch Becca’s presentation for the Locality Lead role here: Building Bridges for a Stronger Craven Community 🌍
Keighley: Fazeela Hanif and Melanie Hey
Fazeela was born and bred in Keighley, and is passionate about making a difference to the community of Keighley.
At age 11 years she started helping out at youth clubs, became a volunteering ambassador, and now she has been working as a Manager (CEO) for Highfield Community Association, for the last 17 years.
Melanie has over over 30 years’ experience across the Voluntary Sector, Local Authority, and Health Sector, helping her to understand how collaborative, place-based approaches can positively impact communities.
Now as CEO of Keighley Healthy Living she has led innovative health projects like Rethinking Pain, Mental Health Connect, and Blood Pressure Connect, demonstrating how partnerships between clinical and community services improve outcomes.
Alongside the management of numerous partnership projects, she is also currently supporting a new Community and Family Hub in Airedale Shopping Centre that brings together VCSE partners, Modality, and the Children’s Trust under one roof.
Together, Fazeela and Melanie will share the role of Locality Lead for Keighley. You can read a copy of Fazeela’s Presentation and Melanie’s Presentation, or watch a video recording of them presenting.
Shipley: Heather Tattersall
Heather’s passion has always been helping people, especially through a lens of social justice.
In 2006, she began supporting young women in a mental health role and have remained in the field ever since.
For over 15 years, she has worked at The Cellar Trust in Shipley, serving the wider BDC area.
Over time, she has become increasingly aware of health inequalities across the District. The pandemic deepened her understanding of the value of local care—where grassroots organisations provide tailored support- and the importance of community-led organisations.
Read Heather’s presentation here or watch it on YouTube.
Bradford West: Lukman Miah and Mark Nicholson
Lukman and Mark received an equal number of votes and have agreed to share the Locality Lead role.
Lukman is an experienced community leader and manager of BEAP Community Partnership in Bradford, with over 20 years in local councils and the voluntary sector.
He also serves on the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which has strengthened his understanding of the challenges in integrating health and social care.
His work centres on building partnerships with local authorities, funders, and grassroots groups to tackle health inequalities and social issues such as housing, employment, and isolation. Overcoming fragmented services has been a key challenge, reinforcing his commitment to integrated neighbourhood health and creating inclusive, resilient communities.
Mark is the Chief Executive of Equality Together, based in Manningham Mills Community Hub.
He recognises the importance and value of sector voice, leading to collaborative working that will co-design produce innovative approaches and solutions for the challenges facing our communities with the VCSE being an integral part of the process.
You can read Mark’s presentation here or watch both Lukman and Mark present in this YouTube recording.
Bradford South: Sam Kirkby
Sam is a Holmewood resident who has worked within the VCS sector for 19 years, advocating and championing locality place based interventions. He currently works as Centre Manager for the Sutton Centre in BD4, where the centre is open 7 days a week aiming to improve health, increase wealth and build community.
You can watch Sam present here.
Bradford East: Saadiqah Begum
Saadiqah is a community leader rooted in Bradford East, anchored in the CP2 Five Lane Ends Community Partnership.
She has spent over 10 years in the VCSE sector (last 4 in the district, last 2 focused on Bradford East through the Wellbeing Network).
She has a Clinical Sciences background with a focus on social determinants of health. Her practice centers on mental health and health inequalities.
As Lead, she will build clear referral pathways, share insight and data, coordinate inclusive engagement, and report impact—turning neighbourhood priorities into practical action. She represents the VCSE voice in locality forums, support co-production, enable two-way comms, and escalate barriers.
Read Saadiqah’s presentation here or watch a recording of the presentation on YouTube.
