About Paddock Community Trust
Paddock Community Trust is an award-winning charity which delivers support services across Kirklees targeted at the most disadvantaged.
The Trust delivers an extensive range of services, specialising in employment support throughout Kirklees working with partners in the public and voluntary sectors.
Trust services include employment support programmes, specialist mentoring, advice and guidance services, English language training, well-being support and particular experience in delivering projects that successfully promote digital inclusion.
Current Trust services and facilities include:
- Learn English activities through the Talk English and New 2 English programmes
- The Trust Well-Being service supports people with low level mental health problems.
- Weekly Employment Support in community venues in Kirklees through Step by Step.
- The Trust operates a laptop recycling scheme donating unwanted devices to those experiencing digital poverty
Trustee Profiles: Backgrounds and Experience
The management committee of Paddock Community Trust consists of:
Richard Guthrie (Chair)
Richard works as a manager within the NHS and formerly worked at a senior level in the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service.
His key skills and experience include:
- ISO 2001 qualified Quality System Lead Assessor/Auditor
- Manager of risk management systems
- Manager of business continuity systems
- Manager of information management systems
- Expert in consumer law (qualified Trading Standards Officer)
- Experienced reviewer of processes/systems
- Project Management experience
- Experience of bid applications
- Experience of managing education project delivery
Richard is also chair of the Broomfield Road Allotment Association and chair of Friends of TP Woods.
Barbara Jones (Company Secretary)
Barbara is a former teacher and Kirklees Labour Councillor (from 2005 – 2010). Barbara is a Director of the Kirklees Music School.
Music has a positive effect on many aspects of learning and the development of young people. The importance of good music making and music education in school is underestimated and not understood. Barbara is the Chair of the Pay and Employment Rights Service, (PERS), West Yorkshire, Management Committee. PERS is service for workers who need advice and representation at their workplace. PERS also provides HR services for voluntary sector organisations and small businesses. Barbara is an active supporter of the Branch Street Community Allotments volunteer gardening group who meet weekly.
Dr Peter Woodcock
Pete Woodcock is Head of the Division of Criminology, Politics and Sociology and is strategic lead for technology enhanced learning in the school of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Huddersfield.
He studied for his degree in Government at the London School of Economics before obtaining a master’s degree and a PhD in political theory from the University of Southampton; Pete also holds an MBA from the Institute of Education and is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He has published on issues around politics, identity and pedagogy, and has been involved in numerous projects aimed at the use of IT and popular culture within teaching to better effect. He is a University council member, representing the academic members of staff, and a governor at Greenhead Sixth Form College. Outside of work, he enjoys basketball, rugby and listening to opera.
Simon Ashbee, Managing Director (Non- Executive)
Simon leads on the operational delivery of Paddock Community Trust projects and manages the Paddock Village Hall as the base of Trust activity which extends across all of Kirklees.
Responsible for managing budgets, fund-raising and income generation and strategic development, Simon leads a professional team of staff in delivering a diverse range of community services. He is a former journalist and teacher, with skills in bid-writing and developing innovative approaches. A chief professional specialism is digital technology and its use in community settings – having worked on implementing local strategic initiatives, product development, research and presenting findings and experiences at national conferences.
Peter Alexanda
Peter studied Chemical Engineering at Loughborough University and worked in various R&D and manufacturing positions as diverse as soft drinks, aerospace and motorsport with major roles in QC.
He ran his own retail petfoods and accessory business and own a boarding kennels. Peter is self taught in computing, both building personal computers and coding.
