Meet our team
Our talented team is passionate about making a difference, building partnerships and sparking positive change in our communities.
Andy Ralston
CRM & Digital Executive
Andy oversees all things digital within the organisation, including our CRM system, the Spark a Change website, creating engaging video content, and using technology to measure the impact of our organisation.
Bryony Mounter
Marketing Administrator
We first met Bryony in 2017, when she volunteered for us whilst studying for a degree in Graphic Design. Now, as a full-time team member, she plays a crucial role in setting up and promoting our events, supporting the communications and marketing team, and designing our marketing materials.
Cindy Furse
Head of Partnerships
Cindy’s role focuses on partnerships and collaboration, creating opportunities to work collaboratively within the VCFSE sector and with our statutory partners. This includes facilitating the VCFSE Somerset Dementia Partnership, a network of voluntary sector organisations committed to supporting those living with dementia.
Emily Linham
Community Connector Coordinator
Emily’s role supports a community-wide approach to social prescribing, enhancing our collective understanding of community connectors’ work across the county. She is also involved in public health work around hypertension, particularly the 'Take The Pressure Off' campaign, delivered by NHS Somerset and Somerset Council.
Emily Rushton
Digital Development Assistant
As Digital Inclusion Project Officer for Spark iT, Emily plays a key role coordinating our Digital Champion volunteers, including our onboarding and management systems. She also supports the wider project with reporting and funding administration.
Hannah Snowdon
Development Worker, Somerset Youth Alliance
Hannah supports members of the Somerset Youth Alliance by helping them access training and development opportunities and amplifying their collective voice.
Jenny Hannis
Development Manager
Jenny’s role is all about empowering groups in the Taunton and West Somerset area. She provides practical advice to help these groups stay sustainable, from starting up and securing funding, to providing opportunities for networking and collaboration.
Joanna Bogunska
Community Organiser (Yeovil)
Working with our Community Organiser, Sarah, Joanna’s role focusses on connecting with residents in the Birchfield and Westfield areas of Yeovil, supporting grassroots initiatives and coordinating community events. Joanna is also working to increase volunteering, build skills and confidence, address local needs and drive positive change.
Karen Leafe
Development Manager
Karen offers advice, guidance and expertise to groups in the Mendip area. Whether they need help with governance, policy writing or developing a funding strategy. When the going gets tough, Karen is here to help!
Katherine Nolan
CEO
Supported by the board of trustees and senior leadership team, Katherine has strategic and operational oversight of our organisation. In addition, she represents the sector at a strategic level, championing charities, collaborating with key stakeholders, and influencing funders and decision makers.
Kerry Wills
Communications Officer
Kerry looks after our internal and external communications, including our website, social media and newsletter, helping to ensure that our messaging is consistent and on brand.
Laura Bazley
Development Coordinator
Laura plays a key role in our work to enhance volunteering and social action. She supports groups with volunteer management and recruitment, hosts events and helps them get the most out of our volunteering platform, Spark a Change.
Laura Bolter
Head of Finance & HR
Laura is our ‘go to’ for all thing HR and Finance! She provides advice and guidance across the organisation to ensure our team members feel valued and supported.
Leonie Cole
Development Manager
Leonie provides advice, guidance, and support to groups in the South Somerset area. As the Safeguarding Lead here at Spark Somerset, she can provide support related to this topic, as well as risk management and policy development.
Lindsey Brown
Communications and Marketing Lead
Lindsey leads on communications and marketing, shaping our strategy so that our activities are well planned and coordinated and that the voice of the VCFSE sector is at the heart of all we do.
Liz Tozer
Projects Administrator
Liz ensures that our skills development initiatives — made possible by Shared Prosperity Funding — run smoothly and are as accessible as possible to the groups we work with. She is also supporting the development of a range of ‘self-serve’ resources on our website which will be available soon!
Liz Loud
Development Worker (Children & Young People's Mental Health)
Liz is supporting the development of a countywide Children & Young People’s Mental Health Network. The Network aims to enhance collaboration across the VCFSE sector, ultimately leading to better outcomes for young people.
Nina Hurst-Jones
Head of Operations
Nina plays an important role in ensuring our organisation runs smoothly and efficiently. She oversees all operational activities which includes strategic planning and making sure our policies and procedures are effective and up to date.
Olly Clabburn
Research Manager
Olly worked with Spark Somerset on the Reflect Recover Renew Project in 2021. Now, he's back as Research Manager. Olly’s keen to explore opportunities for undertaking community research which plays a crucial role in shaping services, demonstrating our impact, and advocating for the people we support.
Sarah Moore
Community Organiser (Yeovil)
Sarah is a Community Organiser in the Birchfield and Westfield areas of Yeovil. Her role involves supporting local people to design and deliver exciting volunteer-led projects and initiatives which will benefit their communities.
Penny Schofield
Development Manager
Penny works in the South Somerset area, supporting groups to become more sustainable. She can provide a range of guidance to help organisations get started, develop and grow. In addition, Penny oversees our training programme.
Sally Holliday
Community Organiser (Highbridge)
Sally’s role is all about building a sense of belonging and community spirit in Highbridge. Working with local hubs and engaging in outreach with local people, she will encourage more people to volunteer and support them to deliver a range of community projects.
Sally Hill
Community Organiser (Highbridge)
As Community Organiser role for Highbridge, Sally is building on partnership working in the area. Based at the Morland Community Hub and working with ‘Our Highbridge’, her aim is to improve access to un-tapped resources and expertise whilst increasing opportunities for volunteering in new and creative ways.
Sharon Hale
Head of Voluntary Sector Development
In addition to overseeing our team of Development Managers, Sharon represents the organisation and the wider sector at key strategic meetings and is always on the lookout for opportunities to develop and enhance our offer.
Siobhan Wilson
Digital Development Manager
Siobhan leads the Spark iT digital inclusion project, helping ensure that Somerset residents have access to devices, data and support to get online.
Val Keeble
Open Mental Health Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator
Val engages with mental health organisations and the wider sector to understand the issues and barriers faced by people when trying to access support and helps find practical solutions.
Our associates
We also work with associates and freelancers who contribute their specialist skills and expertise to our projects and initiatives, helping us achieve our goals and deliver effective solutions.
Anira Khokar
EDI and Displaced Communities Consultant
Anira has over 23 years' experience of leadership in cultural change, driving transformative initiatives across sectors, advancing inclusion, social justice, and equity. She specialises in developing strategic frameworks through cross-sector collaboration and media engagement, dismantling harmful narratives to empower communities.
Helen Sworn
Displaced Communities Consultant
Working alongside our other consultant, Anira, Helen's goal is to increase capacity within the VCFSE sector to support Displaced People, namely asylum seekers and refugees in Somerset. She is largely focused on mapping services, assessing training needs and engaging with those who have lived experience on project design and delivery.
Jenny Hartnoll
Health and Wellbeing Consultant
Jenny leads work around community connectedness across the country and overseas. In the UK, her post is hosted by Spark Somerset and involves supporting organisations to enhance connectedness in their local areas with projects such as Community Connectors.
Liz Simmons
Independent Chair,of the Somerset VCFSE Collaborative
As Independent Chair of the Somerset VCFSE Collaborative, Liz works with our team and the wider sector to enhance communication and develop opportunities for partnerships and collaboration across the VCFSE and with our public sector partners.
Louise Treacher
Funding and Enterprise Consultant
Louise is working on the Funding and Enterprise element of our Shared Prosperity funded project, supporting local organisations to become more financially sustainable. She has worked in community and sports development for over 30 years, and run her own consultancy business for the profit for purpose sector since 2008.
Miranda Milan
Funding and Enterprise Consultant
Miranda supports the Funding and Enterprise strand of our Shared Prosperity funded project, delivering training, workshops, organisational health checks and communicating about all things funding. With a decade of experience in the third sector both internationally and nationally, she is passionate about supporting organisations in Somerset.
Will Palmer
Digital Coordinator, Spark iT
Will has been a Digital Champion in the Spark iT team, helping to set up Digital Cafés since 2023. Now, he assists in the recruitment of referral partners (such as town councils, libraries, the police and job centres) who will join our mission to support Somerset residents who are experiencing poverty.
Our Trustees
Our dedicated Board of Trustees have overall responsibility for the management of the charity. They bring a wide range of experience in a number of important areas including finance, strategy development, social work, health, and the voluntary sector.
Grahame Paine
Chair of Trustees
Grahame is a member of the Somerset Integrated Care Board and has a career spanning health and social care, education, consulting and financial services. He has experience of influencing high level strategies to drive change and helping Boards achieve their strategic goals.
Emily Taylor
Vice Chair
Emily is a Strategic Engagement Officer with the National Grid. Her previous experience in communications within the NHS, means she understands the vital role that the VCFSE sector plays in improving community health and wellbeing.
Tory Offord
Treasurer
Tory is a Chartered Accountant who enjoys working in roles with a commercial focus. She is passionate about bringing sense and simplicity to numbers, allowing for more effective and efficient decision making. She has her own coaching business and loves using her accountancy skills to support the VCFSE sector.
Mel Merrill
Trustee
Mel is Head of Volunteering at St Margaret's Hospice Care. She brings a wealth of experience in designing and improving volunteering practice. Mel is passionate about volunteering and ensuring people are welcomed, inspired and supported to make a positive difference in their communities.
Ian Bramley
Trustee
After moving to Somerset and qualifying as a nurse in 1985, Ian spent 33 years in the NHS working in various roles including leading and developing people and services, commissioning education, and as a senior leader. He is passionate about helping people to find their voice and, since retiring, has volunteered for several charities supporting vulnerable people in the local community.
Debra Drew
Trustee
Debra has worked in the private, public and voluntary sectors and had roles in the arts and digital marketing. She currently works as a Safeguarding Officer for Crispin School in Street. Debra is also a Trustee of Friends of Street Library and has served as a member of her local Parish Council. In addition, she holds a graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
Joe McGregor-Harper
Trustee
Joe has extensive experience in both local and national government, as well as in the voluntary sector, and is currently a Public Health Specialist with the UK Health Security Agency. Joe is passionate about community engagement and believes in incorporating lived experiences into decision-making processes to create more effective health solutions.