Cllr. Joanna Midgley - Chairperson

I have been a local councillor for Chorlton Park ward since 2012 and built up many links and relationships within the community and across the city. I am Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council and have a wide-ranging portfolio including Anti-Poverty, Homelessness, Equalities and more.

As chair of BMCA my focus is to ensure that the organisation has good governance and to work with our board members to promote BMCA’s best interests. Positive relationships between BMCA and the community and partners are already in place, and it is essential that we maintain and build on these to make sure that BMCA continues to thrive and provide relevant and high-quality services for the local community. I love being involved with BMCA. It is a special place with brilliant staff and volunteers and the people who use it make it even better!

My name is Clover and have been living in South Manchester since 2011.

 I work in the IT team for a legal firm based in the city centre and have been involved with BMCA since 2015.

 I love spending time outdoors on my allotment and walking in the Yorkshire Dales I teach a yoga class each week at the centre.

 I am a huge fan of the theatre and creative arts. I've enjoyed my time on the board at BMCA because it has taught me so much more than any job can.

I have been a Board Member since 2021, having worked in Social Housing since 1996, I am Head of Communities at Southway Housing Trust, the registered provider of the housing estate where BMCA are based. I am passionate about the communities we serve and am always looking for new and innovative ways that we can serve our Communities better. My role at Southway sees me leading on Community Investment, Customer Involvement, Communications, Income Collection and Advice Services giving me a breadth of experience that brings value to the Board. The partnership work between Southway and BMCA is certainly an area I am keen to explore and develop further to maximise the opportunities we can provide for the communities we both serve. I also have 28 years of management experience so can bring advice and support to BMCA in that area too.

I am ordained as a priest in the Church of England and am currently based at Christ Church, West Didsbury and St Christopher, Withington as an Assistant Curate. I joined the BMCA Board in 2023 having got to know several of the staff and service users through my work in the Church. In my role in ministry, I am passionate about community work and pastoral care, and as such, I am delighted to be involved with BMCA and all it does. I am relatively new as a director, but I feel privileged to have the opportunity to be involved and look forward to seeing what the future holds for the organisation. I am married and have a son, and in my spare time enjoy weightlifting, reading, gaming and anything that involves food.