Meet the Trustees
Since becoming a charity in November 2020, we simply cannot operate without our fantastic Trustees
Lidia Shinwell - Trustee and Chair
Lidia is a tour de force and brings a wealth of energy and experience to our board. She is the Director of Da Sandro Pizzeria Ristorante in Huddersfield and the former Restaurant Prego, in Brighouse.
Lidia has volunteered with Focus4Hope for several years in various capacities, feeding the homeless on the streets of Leeds, packing food parcels, making welfare calls, attending meetings, and recording cooking videos to help the recipients of our food parcels with easy and nutritious recipe ideas.
As Chair, Lidia remains totally hands on, supporting our volunteers on the ground as well as leading, listening to and advising the board where required. She has a passion for feeding people and truly believes that no one should go hungry.
Peter Cawdron - Trustee
Peter retired in 2018, following a career in banking, insurance and the Civil Service.
He and his wife had great plans to spend their retirement travelling the world, but were limited by the pandemic and their loss, became our gain.
Peter initially started volunteering with Focus4Hope as a delivery driver in April 2020, helping to provide direct support across our communities during the pandemic. He became a trustee in April 2021. As well as being involved with Focus4Hope, Peter is a Trustee and Treasurer with Calderdale Smartmove and also volunteers with St Augustine’s.
He and his wife have lived in Barkisland for over 20 years, prior to which, he’d lived in France, the US and Bermuda as well as spending a period of time in London. They have two grown-up sons, who both live in Calderdale.
Tracy Carpenter - Trustee
Tracy is the Founder and Director of Mint HR Ltd – a dedicated team providing friendly and straight-talking Human Resources support to SMEs across Yorkshire and beyond.
As well as bringing her people management and training skills to the charity, Tracy is a trained Mental Health First Aider, mentor and mediator.
She says “I’m chuffed to bits to be a Trustee for Focus4Hope and passionate about the amazing work they do.”
When Tracy’s not hiring, firing and inspiring people – she loves nothing more than going for a long walk with her dog, Ellie, tap dancing and watching live music and theatre.
Danny Thompson - Trustee
Danny Thompson is the proud owner of Danny Thompson Photography & Co-founder of Albion Street Studios and is an award-winning wedding photographer in Yorkshire who brings creativity and media support to the board.
After initially meeting Louise, volunteering at the homeless feed and delivering food parcels during Covid he was impressed by the work the charity does. Danny says ” I feel honoured to be a trustee of such an amazing charity, which continues to support so many people in the community.”
Outside of his business and charity roles, he takes care of his wife and 2 teenage children, coaches for Beacon Rangers FC, is a massive Leeds UTD fan and loves nothing more than meeting with friends for a good meal out and walking his dog Russell.
Laura Carr - Trustee
Laura has always wanted to be a dentist! She is eldest of four children and experienced a childhood living with a parent with psychiatric problems, ultimately she was brought up by her father.
As a child, Laura was curious and active and became a guide and a guide leader. Whilst at university studying dentistry at Newcastle, she worked with the elderly in a nursing home for seven years. After two years working in the Lakes, she came home to Elland where she has been since 2000.
Laura found Focus4Hope during the first lock down, when the dental practice was closed, and threw herself into helping and organising the food bank with absolute gusto!
Laura brings lived experience to our board of Trustees. In addition to a difficult childhood, she also lost a partner to cancer and has been a single, working parent though she has recently got married! Laura’s strength, empathy and personal experience makes her an invaluable member of the board.
Dave Kitson - Trustee
Dave was for 30 years, an operational Fire Officer and Training Officer in the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, this included practical experience of casualty handling and Advanced First Aid.
After retiring from the Fire & Rescue Service, Dave lectured in an educational capacity for thirteen years, training young people who had an interest in joining a public service. In 2019 he set up his own training business, DAK Training, providing training including: First Aid, Fire Awareness and Health & Safety to name but a few.
Dave originally got involved with Focus4Hope after meeting Lidia and Louise at a networking event. He feels that being a trustee of the charity enables him to share his knowledge and skills to benefit the charity and its work.
Away from the charity, Dave has a passion for the great outdoors, stemming from his childhood, when he held Duke of Edinburgh Awards in Bronze, Silver & Gold. Dave likes nothing better than spending his spare time out and about in the Dales and Lake District.
Sarah Helliwell - Treasurer
Sarah has worked in accountancy for over 30 years. Specialising in the SME sector, she has worked for several firms including a top twenty company and several small independent firms. In 2012, Sarah moved to Cresswells, becoming a director in 2016.
Sarah’s favourite part of her role is helping her clients achieve their goals and watching the junior members of staff achieving their full potential.
Sarah has been married now for over 25 years and has one grown up son. She is an avid reader of crime novels and the occasional romance novel.
