Team

Jonathan enjoyed a successful career in investment banking holding various executive positions in global financial institutions. As Vice President he had responsibility for managing key external commercial relationships. He was asked by the US tycoon Michael Bloomberg to establish his financial Information business in the Middle East resulting in multi million pound annual revenues across seven countries.

He voluntarily supported SSAFA the Armed Forces charity for over 23 years rising from a county branch to National Trustee and National Vice Chairman. He led the charity’s first ever strategic review in 130 years to shape it for the future. In 2019 he was awarded Honorary Life Membership and in 2012 was appointed MBE in Her Late Majesty’s Birthday Honours.

He was appointed by the Minister of State for Veterans as Chairman of the East of England Veterans Advisory & Pensions Committee, acting as an independent advisor influencing social policy to ensure non-discrimination of veterans and the sharing of best practice across the region in relation to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Jonathan was appointed to the Magistracy in 2006 and serves as a Presiding Justice in Peterborough. A Freeman of the City of London, he also sits on the board of the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation and is a voluntary mentor at the Allia Future Business Centre at Peterborough to support entrepreneur’s, starts ups and social enterprises. He is a Non-Executive Director and acting Chair of Healthwatch Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and a trustee of the Peterborough Cathedral Preservation Trust. He is also a board member of Peterborough City Council’s Towns Fund Board.

Jonathan joined the Board of PCVS in 2022.

Sheila Walsh was born in India. She came to England aged 5 and was determined to make her mark.  Having trained as a journalist, she learnt how to do Q/A in an effective and probing way.  She joined a London Employment Agency working with lawyers / accountants/ stockbrokers and travelled to Sydney Australia to open a new branch.

When she returned back to the UK, she became Governor of Godmanchester primary school and moved on to be the Governor of Huntingdon Technical College.  Later she became a member of Learning Schools Council.  She organised “Focus Groups” and seminars involving police/fire/education/councils as a freelance marketeer. Sheila joined the Board of PCVS in 2022.

In her spare time, Sheila enjoys travel, visiting art galleries and loves spending time walking her dog, Victor.

Sheila believes that good communication is the key to better and deeper understanding of people and the problems we face. Dialogue is vital in getting lasting solutions.  We are a wonderful diverse society that needs to understand our differing backgrounds and cultures.  Together we are stronger and it is vital we secure a better future for our families and partners, Sheila says “I  hope I can make a useful contribution. We face challenging times and  I am excited to be helping PCVS and all associated on our journey.”

Eva dedicates the majority of her time to her role as Member of Youth Parliament for Peterborough, representing those aged 11-18 in the city in local and national decision-making. Her role also involves directing projects and campaigns to address youth issues in Peterborough, from sexual harassment in schools to the promotion of young workers’ rights.

With a background in peer-led social research and community organising, Eva seeks to empower lived-experience experts to create change at a grassroots level, and guide decision makers to draw from the real knowledge embedded within communities.

Eva joined the Board of Trustees in 2023.

Ken Sheraton was born and grew up in London.  His first appointment was as sixer in the 1st Willesden cubs.  Progressing, he qualified as a solicitor, representing in criminal and family proceedings, persons largely from deprived areas under the Legal Aid schemes.  He was a committee member of two representative bodies during this time and was involved in training other solicitors.

Ken moved to the Peterborough area in 2006 when he was appointed as District Judge for Cambridgeshire.  He is a mentor judge, appraiser and member of a team of judges authorised to train his colleagues. He was recently appointed as a Diversity and Community Relations Judge, with a role of supporting a greater understanding of judicial roles amongst society at large and achieving greater diversity in the pool of applicants for judicial roles.

Outside of his work, he is vice chairman of a small local charity and secretary of the Burgh Society, a local organisation focussing on the social and educational.  He is keen on sport in general, and football in particular and enjoys opportunities to socialise with new people.

Ken joined the Board of PCVS in 2023. He intends to learn from the wealth of talent and experience of the more established PCVS trustees and bring his knowledge of a different background and understanding to assist where he can.

Rachel has worked in the Further Education college sector for over 20 years and currently is the Chief Executive Officer of the Inspire Education Group.  The Inspire Education Group consists of Peterborough College, Stamford College and University Centre Peterborough.  Rachel has worked in eight different colleges and started her career organising extra curricula activities, moving into teaching sport, public services and business and then into various management roles.  Rachel was pivotal to the merger of Stamford College and Peterborough College and the creation of the Inspire Education Group.  The Group employs over 1300 staff and has over 9000 students on a range of courses including higher education degree programmes, apprenticeships, full time and part time further education courses for example A Levels, BTECs and T Levels as well as provision for 14-16 year olds.  The group also has significant provision for students with special educational needs.  Rachel is also a Director of University Centre Peterborough and is passionate about widening participation.

Rachel sits on the Towns Fund Board in Peterborough as well as the Employment and Skills Board and the Chamber of Commerce.  Rachel is also Co-Chair of Peterborough Citizens, part of Citizens UK.  Peterborough Citizens uses the model of community organising as a way of bringing about change by developing leaders and leadership within civic organisations and communities to hold people in power to account.  There are 18 member institutions in Peterborough and all are committed civic organisations, working together for the common good.

Rachel strongly believes that education and training can improve life chances. She is passionate about removing barriers and tackling social injustices so that everyone can have the same fair and equal chance to access opportunities and get on in life.

Rachel became a Trustee of PCVS in 2023

As vice chairman of Alltech, Alric Blake chairs the executive committee. Prior to his current role, he served as chief operating officer and also spent four years as CEO, appointed by Alltech’s founder, Dr. Pearse Lyons. In this capacity, he was the highest-ranking officer outside of the Lyons family.

Upon joining Alltech in 1996, Alric had direct responsibility for the launch of the global ERP system as the associate director of finance. In 2003, he was promoted to director of finance for Europe and Asia, and, in 2007, he became responsible for the development of group financial and strategic planning. In 2011, Alric became vice president and CFO, with direct responsibility for Alltech’s global finance activities as well as managing directorship of the Alltech U.K. office. He was responsible for mergers and acquisitions globally until 2018.

Alric received a certificate for the completion of a Business and Technician Education Council (BTEC)-approved course in Business and Finance from the Peterborough Technical College in 1984, and  received a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Leicester in December 2005

Alric joined the Board of PCVS in 2022.

Kirsteen joined us in September 2024 from The Carers Centre Leicestershire & Rutland where she has been CEO since 2019. Over the past 30 years she has worked across a broad spectrum of both the public and voluntary sectors, working with young people and in roles across education, health, social care, family support, and participatory arts. Throughout all of her professional and voluntary roles, she has remained committed to supporting individuals and groups with a particular focus on those within communities who are most vulnerable to societal changes and have the greatest needs.

I’ve been working at PCVS since 2004. I started work here as an Admin support for a Countywide grant called Global Grant.

I joined the Direct Payment team in December 2007 and became the Coordinator for Direct Payment in June 2008 eventually becoming the Manager in March 2014.

Since leaving school I have always held jobs that involved supporting and helping people, previously being a fitness instructor and a dental nurse.

I am absolutely passionate about our Direct Payment Support Service being the best, to support people to have choice and control over their care packages and help them with any issues that arise.

None of what I do would be possible without the superb team I have.

My job role includes

• Responsible for management of the accounts function-Quarterly VAT return, Annual Company Confirmation, Key contact for Audit
• Manage day to day financial transactions for PCVS and each of its projects
• Responsible for the creation and maintenance of the PCVS annual budgets
• Provide financial information and analysis to enable the PCVS board to carry out their legal responsibilities and good governance
• Support the development of new projects and services
• Runs the PCVS staff payroll
• Responsible for the PCVS Group Payroll service
• Supplier Management for contracts

I am the Volunteer Centre Manager here at PCVS. I am passionate about the benefits that volunteering brings. Not only will you help people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. I am here to help you find the right match with an organisation that will encourage you to connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career if that is what you want to do.

Gill is temporary lead of the Communities Team.

I lead the Recovery Project at PCVS which is generously supported through the National Lottery Community Fund. The Recovery Projects facilitates voluntary and community sector forums which address various issues in Peterborough. These are Women’s Forum, Health and Wellbeing Forum, Food Poverty Forum, Domestic Abuse Forum and Disability Forum, as well as the Future Forum which pulls the sector together to discuss cross cutting and common needs and themes. The Project Recovery also facilitates Peterborough’s first Poverty Truth Commission.

Other members of the Recovery Project Team are Project Officer, John, and Poverty Truth Commission Facilitators Cheryl and James.

John supports Gill on the Recovery Project including co-ordinating the forum meetings and assisting with our comms.

He is a retired civil servant who lives in Peterborough.

I am retired Civil Servant and have lived in Peterborough since the late 1980s. I’ve previously been involved in the voluntary sector through roles in Westwood Residents Association and WRAG, NCT and parents associations at my children’s schools. At PCVS I’m currently splitting my time between website development/maintenance and membership engagement.

Cheryl is working on a pilot project with Connecting Cambridgeshire to establish digital hubs in Peterborough.

James’ role involves continuing to promote the Poverty Truth way of working, centering lived experience in policy and service development, as well as being involved in PCVS’ coordination of health research in the city.

He is also our resident photographer!

Jackie is our volunteer who organises meetings with potential volunteers to help advise and match them to organisations requiring volunteers. She’s our smiling, helpful face when you make an appointment with our volunteer centre.

Ana has an MA is English, and is well known locally for her support within the Indian community in Peterborough. She brings a wealth of skills and contacts to PCVS and we all love the treats she brings in to the share in the office!