About Us
Community Resource is a charity that is committed to making life better for people and communities facing challenges in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin.
Our vision is for a county full of strong, local communities where everyone gets the support they need.
Our mission is to enable people to enjoy a good quality of life and empower people to help their communities thrive.
ACRE network
We are one of 38 charitable local development agencies that make up the ACRE network. Our national body ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) speaks up for rural communities on the national stage and delivers projects that enable our communities to find innovative solutions to the challenges they face.
We deliver our work across three main areas:
Wellbeing & Care
We support people to stay active and connected to their communities and to maintain their health and independence so they live life to the full. We do this through a range of community-based projects with the help of a team of local and committed volunteers.
Community & Support
We work with voluntary groups so they can help meet the need in their local area and support rural communities to access competitive heating prices through our Oil Buying Club.
Funding & Advice
We connect people who care with causes that need their help through our community fund, offer guidance to households to help them save energy and keep warm and provide advice to local meeting places and groups through our membership scheme.
Our Strategy
We are a resource to the community in many different forms, adapting and shaping our work to help meet the needs of those living in this county and deliver our mission of enabling people to enjoy a good quality of life and empower people to help their communities thrive.
Our 2023 – 28 strategy lays out our plans on how we can do this to the best of our ability over the next five years.
Our History
Community Resource is part of a national network of similar organisations with a long and proud history of supporting rural communities throughout England.
The first organisation of this kind was set up in Oxfordshire in 1920, in the days before the Welfare State operated. A booming economy led to a migration of agricultural workers and younger people to the cities in favour of better-paid factory work, and rural social life went into decline.
Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (RCC) provided support with projects around community cohesion, education, retraining and rehabilitation. On the strength of its success, a number of RCCs were established.
Community Resource held its inaugural meeting 4 November 1960 with the aim of bringing people in communities together and finding practical solutions to rural problems – functions we still carry out today.
Our Staff
Bev Baxter, CEO
Bev has a history of working with young people and communities in a variety of spaces, working in Wolverhampton for a children and young people’s charity prior to joining Community Resource.
Read MoreBev Baxter, CEO
Bev has a history of working with young people and communities in a variety of spaces, working in Wolverhampton for a children and young people’s charity prior to joining Community Resource.
She is also passionate about volunteering, and has had a variety of volunteer roles throughout her life, most recently at a youth organisation and as a school governor.
As CEO, her role is to work with the team to achieve the best for the communities of Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin. She oversees all the major functions of the organisation and leads in creating, implementing and achieving the charity’s strategy. She also ensures the charity is represented in a variety of spaces and networks so the needs of the communities Community Resource supports are known and heard.
Outside of work and her volunteer role Bev enjoys spending time with her family. They are avid film fans and often visit the cinema once a week. She also enjoys cooking, likes to knit (although nothing is produced fast) and loves to read.
Sue Chalk, Head of Service (Wellbeing and Care)
Sue worked in the voluntary sector in Shropshire for over 10 years before joining Community Resource in 2022.
Read MoreSue Chalk, Head of Service (Wellbeing and Care)
Sue worked in the voluntary sector in Shropshire for over 10 years before joining Community Resource in 2022.
She’s been involved in managing the delivery of a variety of projects over that time which have helped residents of Shropshire to either improve their health and wellbeing or assisted them in getting closer to or into employment. She has worked in partnership with many charitable organisations in Shropshire and Herefordshire.
Her work at Community Resource involves developing projects, initiatives and new areas of work which are in line with the charity’s strategic objectives and meet the changing needs of rural communities.
In her free time Sue is always reading and runs an online book club. She also enjoys gardening.
Sue Homden, Head of Finance
Sue joined Community Resource in 2002 and works as Head of Finance, with other responsibilities including premises management, Health and Safety and IT.
Read MoreSue Homden, Head of Finance
Sue joined Community Resource in 2002 and works as Head of Finance, with other responsibilities including premises management, Health and Safety and IT.
Before working at Community Resource Sue worked in the NHS for 16 years in a business support management role.
In her free time Sue enjoys cycling, walking, and going to the theatre and cinema.
Alli Richardson, Head of Service (Infrastructure and Rural Services)
This is Allison’s second time working for Community Resource! She came back to the organisation after a nine-year break where she was a regional service delivery manager at Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Read MoreAlli Richardson, Head of Service (Infrastructure and Rural Services)
This is Allison’s second time working for Community Resource! She came back to the organisation after a nine-year break where she was a regional service delivery manager at Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Allison is currently Head of Service (Infrastructure and Rural Services), overseeing Rural Services and managing the Voluntary & Community Support Team. The team offer infrastructure support to charitable community groups and organisations throughout Shropshire. They support with training, volunteer recruitment, funding and grant support and support and guidance on charity governance and legal structures.
Allison lives in the Shropshire countryside with her husband, daughters, horses, chickens and cat! She enjoys walking, riding, exploring the beautiful countryside in her caravan and socialising with family and friends.
Stacey Teece, Fundraising Manager
Stacey joined Community Resource at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
Read MoreStacey Teece, Fundraising Manager
She has over 15 years’ experience in fundraising, working as a Fundraiser at a large national charity. Stacey specialised in Major Donors and Trusts, as well as event management, organising events across the UK at venues like the House of Lords and Holyrood.
Stacey’s role as Fundraising Manager at Community Resource involves helping to build meaningful relationships between supporters and their local community, all while raising vital funds to continue our essential project work.
In her spare time, Stacey enjoys reading, going to the cinema and going for walks.
Sophie Eades, Community Development Officer
Sophie joined Community Resource as a Community Development Officer in November 2023.
Read More
Sophie Eades, Community Development Officer
Sophie joined Community Resource as a Community Development Officer in November 2023.
She was previously CEO of a community cinema/cafe and before that Centre Coordinator/Manager at Mayfair Community Centre in Church Stretton.
Prior to Mayfair, she ran her own marketing, PR and photography business for nine years. During that time she was also committee member of the commercial creative networking group ‘Creative Shropshire’ and chairwoman of both ‘Wyldwoods’ near Broseley and the Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft.
Sophie’s role includes implementing and delivering the Lets Talk Falls (LTF’s) events, Functional Fitness MOTs other health-related events.
In Sophie’s spare time she enjoys growing vegetables and plants in her one-acre garden. She is a keen photographer, particularly landscape and makro photography, and has exhibited her work at numerous solo exhibitions throughout Shropshire.
Sara Edwards, Community Development Officer
Sara has spent over 20 years working in the voluntary sector in south and west Wales, including 14 years at a CVC (County Voluntary Council).
Read MoreSara Edwards, Community Development Officer
Sara has spent over 20 years working in the voluntary sector in south and west Wales, including 14 years at a CVC (County Voluntary Council). She joined Community Resource as a Development Officer on the Wellbeing & Care Team at the beginning of 2021.
Sara’s remit includes organising events such as the Functional Fitness MOT Falls Prevention sessions, the development and support of Good Neighbour Schemes across the county and the recruitment of volunteers and clients to the Buddy System – an initiative that supports individuals who may be isolated, alone or lacking in confidence take that first step in getting involved in local activities.
In her spare time Sara enjoys reading, walking and yoga, although she admits she doesn’t do enough of either at the moment! She loves going to the cinema, especially the ‘posh’ ones where you can put your feet up and have pizza and cocktails delivered to your seat. And finally, she loves the sea, despite the closest one being a bit of a trek from Shrewsbury!
Susann Mitchell, Development Officer
Susann joined Community Resource in 2017, and is responsible for developing, managing and delivering services to improve the lives of people living with a sight and hearing loss.
Read MoreSusann Mitchell, Development Officer
Susann joined Community Resource in 2017, and is responsible for developing, managing and delivering services to improve the lives of people living with a sight and hearing loss.
Susann extensive background in the charity sector, having worked alongside volunteers for many years to provide support to people in the community, as well as helping to develop and deliver key initiatives.
In her spare time, Susann enjoys reading non-fiction books and exploring the outdoors with Walter, her cheeky Dachshund!
Julie Stedman, Project Administrator
Julie is the longest serving member of staff at Community Resource; she joined the organisation way back in 1991!
Read MoreJulie Stedman, Project Administrator
Julie is the longest serving member of staff at Community Resource; she joined the organisation way back in 1991!
After leaving school Julie worked at Shrewsbury Library before getting her first role at Community Resource. She has worked in a number of administrative roles at the organisation, including as PA for the CEO.
Julie is currently supporting our Wellbeing and Care projects, working mainly on the Sight and Hearing Loss Service.
Nickie Long, Affordable Fuel Project Officer
Nickie joined Community Resource in 2001, fresh from her apprenticeship in administration.
Read MoreNickie Long, Affordable Fuel Project Officer
Nickie joined Community Resource in 2001, fresh from her apprenticeship in administration. During her 20-plus years with the charity Nickie has worked in a variety of roles, starting as a part-time receptionist when she was 19 and the organisation was based at College Hill in Shrewsbury town centre.
Nickie’s other roles from then until now include working in the Voluntary Sector Support Unit, as a Volunteer Outreach officer and Project Officer for our Care and Share dementia support groups. She is now supporting people as our Affordable Fuel Project Officer, overseeing the running of the Oil Buying Club, providing energy saving advice and support and administrating grants to our Hardship Fund.
Nickie used to be a County swimmer and continues to enjoy the sport in her free time. She also enjoys crafting and has utilised this skill in a lot of her work for the charity. She also enjoys walking and binge-watching Netflix!
Carole Moreton, Funding and Grants Lead
Carole joined Community Resource in 2021 as the Funding and Grants Officer for the newly-formed Infrastructure Support Team.
Read MoreCarole Moreton, Funding and Grants Lead
Carole joined Community Resource in 2021 as the Funding and Grants Officer for the newly-formed Infrastructure Support Team.
She has worked in the Voluntary and Community sector for the last 14 years in a variety of roles across a spread of different projects including young peoples’ Study programmes and employment support. I have a a background in education and training, HR and administration.
Her role includes providing advice, guidance and support to community groups on funding and grants.
Carole is a very talented baker and runs her own baking business alongside her role at Community Resource. She also enjoys arts and crafts and music, is a keen reader and musical theatre fan.
Duncan Spilsbury, Volunteer and VCSE Infrastructure Team Lead
Duncan was an Economic Regeneration Consultant working in the Public and Private Sector.
Read MoreDuncan Spilsbury, Volunteer and VCSE Infrastructure Team Lead
Duncan was an Economic Regeneration Consultant working in the Public and Private Sector.
His path crossed with Community Resource when he worked as a Covid-19 vaccination volunteer for 10 months. He then joined the team as Volunteer and Infrastructure Support Officer in 2021, helping local charities and groups to develop and volunteering in Shropshire to flourish.
Duncan is a season ticket holder at Wolves and an avid cinema goer. His favourite film is Back to the Future, a true 80s classic!
Natalie Jackson, Social Prescribing Community Development Officer
Natalie joined Community Resource in 2022, her first role in the UK following a stint living in Las Vegas, USA.
Read MoreNatalie Jackson, Social Prescribing Community Development Officer
Natalie joined Community Resource in 2022, her first role in the UK following a stint living in Las Vegas, USA. She is responsible for sourcing, nurturing and growing the number of groups and activities in the community that can be used as a referral pathway into social prescribing.
Prior to her role at Community Resource, Natalie worked in corporate learning and development, where her passion for helping people really started! She also trained as a health and wellbeing coach.
Natalie is passionate about keeping fit, and particularly loves high energy spin classes and boxing, alongside mindful yoga classes and walks in nature. She is “obsessed” with dogs and often finds herself chatting to the dog before their owner when out on a walk! She also has a passion for interior design, architecture, furniture and making effective use of a space.
Lesley Jewell, Social Prescribing Community Development Officer
Lesley joined Community Resource in 2016, starting as a sessional worker supporting our dementia support group in Albrighton.
Read MoreLesley Jewell, Social Prescribing Community Development Officer
Lesley joined Community Resource in 2016, starting as a sessional worker supporting our dementia support group in Albrighton. In her role as Community Development Officer for Social Prescribing in Southeast Shropshire, Lesley finds new groups and activities that are suitable for S Prescribing, support the Healthy Lives Advisers and hold regular meetings to connect community and voluntary sector groups.
Lesley previously worked as a mortgage broker, and has volunteered at Age UK as a driver, and for Riding for the Disabled over the years.
Lesley enjoys walking her dogs Buddy and Lola, cooking, keeping fit, and adventures in her VW campervan Terence!
Janet Lee, Administrator
Janet joined Community Resource in 2021, and provides general office administration and support.
Read MoreJanet Lee, Administrator
Janet joined Community Resource in 2021, and provides general office administration and support. If you call the office, she is usually the friendly voice who helps you with your enquiry!
Prior to this, Janet gained in excess of 30 years’ experience working in different office roles such as technical secretary, PA to CEO, events management and membership management.
Kelly Walker, Finance Assistant
Kelly joined Community Resource in 2000, starting as an administrator before moving into the Finance team.
Read MoreKelly Walker, Finance Assistant
Kelly joined Community Resource in 2000, starting as an administrator before moving into the Finance team.
Kelly’s current role involves supporting the day-to-day Finance tasks including preparing statements, processing invoices and supporting colleagues with any queries.
In her free time Kelly enjoys meals out with her family, holidays and cycling.
Joy Simpson - Group Facilitator, Care and Share
Joy joined Community Resource as a Group Facilitator in summer 2023.
She previously held a variety of jobs across the NHS, charity and private sector, all working with people in some capacity.
Read More
Joy Simpson - Group Facilitator, Care and Share
Joy joined Community Resource as a Group Facilitator in summer 2023.
She previously held a variety of jobs across the NHS, charity and private sector, all working with people in some capacity. She currently teaches Dru Yoga alongside her Community Resource role.
Joy oversees the running of the Care and Share dementia support group in Albrighton, arranging and delivering a varied programme of suitable dementia-friendly activities.
In her spare time, unsurprisingly Joy loves yoga! She also enjoys reading, eating out and holidays.
Our Trustees
Hugh Strickland - Chair
Hugh is a Corporate Finance Partner at Aaron & Partners LLP, where he advises on all aspects of a company’s lifespan.
Read MoreHugh Strickland - Chair
Hugh is a Corporate Finance Partner at Aaron & Partners LLP, where he advises on all aspects of a company’s lifespan. He acts for start-up and early stage companies, assisting them as they grow. He also advises well-established businesses on management buy-outs, mergers and acquisition work and on general finance, and also on any ultimate sale / exit.
Hugh was previously a Trustee and Vice Chair of Nottinghamshire Community Foundation when he was based in the East Midlands, and is currently Trustee of Shropshire Youth Support Trust.
In his spare time, Hugh enjoys sailing, mountain walking and vegetable gardening.
Hugh has suffered from hereditary deafness all his life and is profoundly deaf in both ears.
Richard Amos
Richard has extensive experience in the Non-Profit Sector, volunteering in a number of trustee roles for charitable organisations providing services to people with disabilities.
Read MoreRichard Amos
Richard has extensive experience in the Non-Profit Sector, volunteering in a number of trustee roles for charitable organisations providing services to people with disabilities. He has also volunteered as an advisor for Gloucestershire charity Barnwood Trust, delivering workshops on legislative and human rights issues and advocating and championing for the rights of disabled people.
Richard moved to Shropshire in 2020 and is currently and using his passion to get involved with causes across the county. In his spare time he enjoys keeping active, and was a member of the England Boccia Squad for eight years.
Amy Bould
Amy is an experienced strategic communications consultant, advising public and private sector organisations on market engagement; stakeholder relations; marketing communications & public relations.
Read More
Amy Bould
Amy is an experienced strategic communications consultant, advising public and private sector organisations on market engagement; stakeholder relations; marketing communications & public relations.
She has successfully created and led local authority, community and public/private sector partnership campaigns aligned with Government priorities, as well as commercial campaigns for global businesses and a raft of UK scale-ups.
Amy is now managing director of Newport-based Be Bold Media, a strategic communications company founded with her husband in 2010.
In her free time, she can be found cooking up a storm for her big family, walking off the excess with her two dogs and cheering on Wolves FC from the Molineux stands.
Simon Broad
Simon joined the BBC as a trainee studio manager direct from music college and worked in radio production and new service development before moving into the Academy.
Read MoreSimon Broad
Simon joined the BBC as a trainee studio manager direct from music college and worked in radio production and new service development before moving into the Academy. There he headed up operations for the Talent and Leadership Development team and, amongst other things, developed and launched a range of apprenticeship programmes across engineering, journalism and production.
Since he took early retirement in 2020 he has been developing a number of interests including singing with the region’s premier barbershop chorus, the Telfordaires, watching sport and walking / litter-picking around his home, just by the Wrekin.
Nicky Cooper
Nicky studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University and is a Chartered Public Finance Accountant.
Read More
Nicky Cooper
Nicky studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University and is a Chartered Public Finance Accountant. She has worked in both Local Government and the National Health Service and is now retired.
For the final 15 years of her working life she held Board level positions in a diverse range of NHS organisations that both commissioned and provided services. As well as being accountable for financial management her remit has, at various points, included strategic planning, information and IT, estates and capital development, governance and risk management.
Nicky has also been an independent member of a large housing association’s Audit and Risk Management Committee. She is currently a school governor and treasurer of her local church.
Rachel Henley
Rachel has been involved in community development and funding throughout her working career.
Read MoreRachel Henley
Rachel has been involved in community development and funding throughout her working career. In her current role as External Funding Bid Writer at Walsall Council she leads on a range of funding bids to benefit residents in the Borough, and she has also worked across different areas related to funding including direct applications, assessing applications and advising other groups and individuals on making applications. She is also an experienced business development and project manager.
Rachel enjoys cycling in her free time and has raised thousands of pounds for good causes through completing cycling distance challenges. She is also an active musician, playing cello, piano and a range of recorders with a recorder orchestra, as well as singing in choirs.
Carl Johnson
Carl gained a Master of Arts degree in European Marketing Management at Brunel University.
Read More
Carl Johnson
Carl gained a Master of Arts degree in European Marketing Management at Brunel University. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and holds a L3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement, delivering end-point assessments for selected Apprenticeship Standards.
Carl is a highly experienced, professional businessman who has held leadership positions both within the manufacturing and retail sectors with a proven track record of generating growth, developing people, and delivering first-class customer services.
Carl is a governor at Oxon CE Primary school in Shrewsbury and a member of the 3-18 Education Trust, a multi-school academy based throughout Shropshire. He is also chairman of Shrewsbury Development Centre, which offers high quality football training and matches at Lilleshall National Sports Centre near Newport, Shropshire.
Carl’s other interests include triathlon, walking and visiting National Trust properties.
Lindsay Pearson
Lindsay is an experienced relationship banker that has worked in a number of management and leadership roles throughout her career.
Read MoreLindsay Pearson
Lindsay is an experienced relationship banker that has worked in a number of management and leadership roles throughout her career.
Lindsay is currently the branch manager for the Shrewsbury branch of Handelsbanken, where she is responsible for all aspects of operations including HR, premises credit quality and customer selection.
In her free time, Lindsay is a member of Brockton and District WI and also a committee member of Shrewsbury Flower Show.
Mark Thorn
Mark was a Director of Marches Care Limited, an independent nursing and dementia care business employing 140 staff and supporting 81 older people with challenging life conditions.
Read MoreMark Thorn
Mark was a Director of Marches Care Limited, an independent nursing and dementia care business employing 140 staff and supporting 81 older people with challenging life conditions. This follows a career as a geotechnical consultant, where he gained extensive international experience in ground engineering consultancy and construction management throughout the UK, Africa, Australasia and the Far East.
Mark is a Board member of Friends of Lord Hill’s Column and a professional reviewer for Institute of Civil Engineers. He is also chair of Leighton Village Hall, a community building member of Community Resource, as well as a parish councillor.
In his spare time Mark performs in the Shrewsbury Morris Dance group.