Meet the team

NICOLE HOPE

PROGRAMME MANAGER

Nicole is the Programme Manager at Step Up MCR. She works on growing our place based giving model to support great community-led ideas in our neighbourhoods.

In her previous role as Funding Officer at The National Lottery Community Fund, Nicole managed a portfolio of local grants and supported organisations across Manchester to access funding opportunities, with a focus on increasing investment in the North and East areas of the city. She has also worked at BBC Children in Need on both the fundraising and grant making teams. After completing her degree in English Literature at the University of Manchester, Nicole held several TV roles at the BBC and ITV before moving into the charity sector.

CIARA MARTIN

NEIGHBOURHOOD CONNECTOR

Ciara is our new Neighbourhood Connector funded by The National Lottery Community Fund to support resident-led community activity.

Ciara's role is to be a 'roving listener' in our communities, using her creativity from previous roles in marketing and communications to engage people in neighbourhoods and grow bright new ideas for community projects.

Ciara has previously worked as in Marketing Executive roles at The New World Trade Company, The Hut Group, Manchester's Finest and size?, working on high profile campaigns. Growing up in North Manchester, Ciara has long been passionate about our communities, volunteering her time at Manchester Cares to connect with elderly neighbours.

TOM WOODCOCK

CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

Tom has worked in the public and voluntary sector since the 1980s in various projects focussing on homelessness, substance misuse, mental health and community development. He has been both a commissioner and a service provider in NHS and Local Authorities in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

His role as Director of Treatment and Recovery with the Calico Group entails operational oversight of a diverse portfolio of substance misuse services in community and criminal justice settings. In addition to this he also volunteers as a trustee of Red Rose Recovery an award winning Lancashire based charity which supports people around complex issues.

Tom is a North Manchester resident and volunteers with a number of local organisations.

ANTON SCHULTZ

TRUSTEE

Anton is the Social Investment Manager for One Manchester, a local housing association that is the largest landlord in Step Up MCR’s area of operation. He is responsible for overseeing social investments and developing new projects and programmes that improve local communities.

He has a background in community and environmental regeneration with an interest in community enterprise. He has worked to support ambitious community projects across the country, as well as local authorities, funders and investors to help maximise the impact of social investment programmes. Anton has first-hand experience of enabling ambitious community enterprises, most recently serving as Treasurer for Stretford Public Hall. He brings extensive local connections and partnerships, as well as strategic support in relation to community investment and giving.

Dr PAULA TURNER

TRUSTEE

Paula lives in Manchester and serves on The Christie Council of Governors and Greater Manchester Young Enterprise Volunteer Board. She is Co-Founder of The Centre for Tendering, a masterclass speaker, academic and consultant.

Paula holds a PhD in Small Firms Tendering Capability and advises anchor institutions on inclusive procurement and growth companies to create successful firm-level public sector sales strategies. Paula brings extensive experience in working with and supporting corporate partners to support social and community initiatives through their CSR commitments and social value.

Dr JAMES SCOTT VANDEVENTER

TRUSTEE

Dr James Scott Vandeventer works to invigorate places across Manchester, and has been involved with Step Up MCR since its inception as a DCMS-funded pilot project. James is currently a Senior Lecturer in Sustainability at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School.

James brings to Step Up MCR a focus on ethics and socioecological sustainability, which are informed by both his research and a longstanding activism. James is a member of the Steady State Manchester collective and a co-founder of Management Educators Navigating Degrowth (MEND).

ANGELA MARTIN

TRUSTEE

Angela has worked in Manchester since 2010 on a range of health and physical activity programmes across the city, in more recent years focused in areas across North and East Manchester. Angela is employed as the Health and Wellbeing Manager at MCRactive, a not for profit organisation responsible for driving sport and physical activity across the city.

Angela supports a number of projects which focus on the environment (walking, cycling, active travel) and the Manchester Local Pilot. Angela brings support and expertise to locally grown projects which contribute to improving health and wellbeing and are generated by the community in Ancoats & Beswick and Clayton & Openshaw.

CHRIS JOHN

TRUSTEE

Chris is the co-founder and director of Envance Ltd an environmental and sustainability management consultancy based in Stockport.

He has previously worked as Business Development Director and Executive Director of both Ecus Ltd and it’s holding company. Prior to this he worked on a number of projects along the canal network in East Manchester. He has held a Trustee role at Manchester Citizens Advice Bureau Service.

YASMIN CLARKE

TRUSTEE

Yasmin Clarke is an Arts Educator, Workshop Facilitator and Creative Producer living in Clayton, Manchester. In 2022 Yasmin founded Circle Of CIC, a non-profit organisation working in community development designing projects aimed at enabling growth and self empowerment through arts engagement. 

Yasmin has worked in a variety of settings, including schools, community centres, and private institutions. She is passionate about creating engaging and enriching learning environments for people of all ages encouraging people to explore their creativity, develop their artistic skills, and express themselves through various mediums. As an elected governor in a local primary school Yasmin gains valuable insight into the needs, challenges and views of local stakeholders which enables her to better understand designated funding, lack of provision and life outcomes for people within East Manchester.