Cllr. Joanna Midgley - Chairperson
I have been a local councilor for Chorlton Park ward for nearly nine years and built up many links and relationships within the community and surrounding area. I am Mental Health Champion for the city council and chair the Manchester Suicide Prevention Partnership. I am also an assistant executive on the council.
As chair of BMCA my focus is to ensure that the organisation has good governance and to work with other board members to promote BMCA’s best interests. Positive relationships between the organisation and community, stakeholders and partners are already in place and it is essential that we maintain and build on these in order to make sure that BMCA continues to thrive and provide relevant and high quality services for the local community.
Clover Hudson - Deputy Chairperson
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.
Helen Sharples - Company Secretary
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.
Michelle Hodges - Treasurer
I moved to Merseybank area in 1999 and first became involved with Barlow Moor Community Centre as a service user, I did some short courses, and my older children attended the Junior club. I was also a member of the Methodist Church that worshiped in the old building for a while.
After having twins, I returned to college and completed a NVQ level 3 in Payroll and level 4 in Accounting, I began volunteering and attending board meetings at BMCA in 2007 and officially joined the board in 2008. During this time, I ran the local foodbank for 5 years until 2019, I work for the Co-op in a community-based role.
George Coombs - Director
I joined the board in late 2022, after working with the BMCA for 2 years through a community-focused role at Groundwork Greater Manchester. At the start of 2021, I led on the delivery of the Our Streets Chorlton project; a localised climate-action project, working with community groups and centres around Chorlton to take environmental and climate action for our wider neighbourhood. As someone not originally from Chorlton (although, Salford isn’t too far away), it was a great opportunity for me to get to know all corners of Chorlton, specifically the BMCA and the residents who access the centre.
I am passionate about the vital role community centres play, as lifelines to many members of our society. They offer vital services ranging from youth provision & childcare, to acting as warm-hubs for older residents, whilst simultaneously reducing isolation and providing a safe space for local people to socialise. After working with the BMCA and seeing first-hand the fantastic work they do, I knew I had to support in any way I could. I am currently a civil servant working in an environmental role. I hope to bring my experience of climate and environmental work to support the centre’s ambition for climate action.