Trustees & Advisors
Graham Stow retired after seven years as the CEO of the Britannia Building Society. He is also Chair of Governers of Staffordshire University, Chair of Trustees of the Staffordshire Yeomanry Musuem, a Trustee of Lichfield Cathedral, a member of the regional Council of the National Memorial Arboretum, Honorary Colonel of the Staffordshire Army Cadet Force and a former High Sheriff of Staffordshire
Jackie Farrell has recently retired after 40 years in the finance industry, latterly as a senior manager at HSBC. Jackie has been involved in the charity and community sector for many years supporting Douglas Macmillan, Potteries & Glass Trade and Benevolent Fund, Rotary and many others. She also takes an active role as a governor of Sandon High School, Meir. Jackie chairs the many Grant Committees at the Foundation.
Graham Stow CBE - Chairman
Jackie Farrell - Trustee
Presently a Trustee at Voluntary Action Stoke-on-Trent and the Burslem School of Art Neil is also a school governor at three different school. He actively supports many community groups and campaigns particularly those involving equality and the environment. Neil is a volunteer at a local charity, was a City Councillor a member of the Primary Care Trust and Police Authority Boards and was afoster parent for almost 20 years!
Mark is a Chartered Accountant. Until April 2009 he was a partner in the top seven accounting firm, Baker Tilly, having formerly been a Partner with KPMG. He’s been the Honorary Treasurer of VAST since 1990. Mark has active community involvement including being a Council Member of the North Staffs Chamber of Commerce up until April of 2009 and is a founder trustee of the Staffordshire Community Foundation and a trustee of The Dudson Centre.
Mark Barnish - Trustee
Neil Dawson - Trustee
Mike Maryon is the County Councillor for Cheadle and Checkley in the Staffordshire Moorlands. His formative years were spent in the Royal Navy where he saw active service in the first Gulf War, retiring as Lieutenant Commander in the Reserve. Mike is also Chairman of the Uttoxeter Canal Restoration Commitee, a governor at Cheadle High School and a member of the National Memorial Arboretum Communications Commitee.
Cllr. Mike Maryon - Trustee
Originally a PA to a chief executive in the manufacturing Industry, Patricia completely changed direction and now has her own computer training company specialising in bespoke commercial software. She’s also a semi-professional photographer specialising in portraiture and macro photography. Pat is very much committed to serving the community and is currently serving her third term as a District Councillor for South Staffordshire Council.
Cllr. Patricia Griffin - Trustee
Ben Robinson has worked in the Insurance business as a broker and also Financial Advisor for over 40 years, based in the High Street, Burton on Trent. Ben, who was born in the town has been Chairman of the town's football club, Burton Albion, for some 25 years and oversaw the building and the development of the clubs new home, The Pirelli Stadium.
Ben Robinson - Trustee
Dr Ram came to the UK from Mauritius in 1971 to study nursing at Staffordshire General Infirmary. In 1995 he transferred to Staffordshire University when medical training moved from the NHS to Higher Education. Dr Ram now works closely with the lead manager on the Stoke Community Engagement agenda and helps to deliver the Community section of the Executive Business Plan, as well as managing the Minority Business Association.
Dr. Teeranlall Ramgopal - Trustee
Prakash Samani arrived from Uganda as an 18 year old refugee and began working for the Leek Post & Times. 30 years later, when it was sold, he was its MD. He’s also had the privilege to be introduced to Her Majesty the Queen as a member of the Newspaper Society. An active member of the community, he’s served on various Chambers of Trade; he’s a magistrate on the North Staffordshire Bench; a governor in 3 local schools; and is a committee member of the Britannia Leek & District Show (Chairman 2006-2008).
Prakash Samani JP - Trustee
Sajid Hashmi - Advisor to the Board
Graham Hill - Legal Advisor
Sajid Hashmi is the Chief Executive of VAST. He has been working as a Chief Executive in the VCS for 10 years, and has extensive experience of the third sector. Sajid is an executive Board member and treasurer of the National Association of Voluntary and Community Action Council. Fiona McTarget MP appointed Sajid to the Community Cohesion Panel in 2004. He was also involved in the panel that produced the Funding Diversification Report in 2006 ‘Believing in Local Action’, commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Most recently he has been appointed by the minister of Local Government to the Stoke City Transition Board.
Graham Hill has been a solicitor for 30 years, now based in Stoke on Trent with Grindey' Solicitors, specialising in corporate and charitable law. A former director of Hanley Economic Building Society, Graham has been involved in many local charitable causes in Staffordshire, including The Dudson Centre and as a founder member of the Staffordshrie Community Foundation. He is also secretary of the North Staffordshire Risk Capital Fund PLC..