Meet the Team

CEO

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Lauren has worked and volunteered in the charity sector for over a decade. Beginning her work at HGDT in September 2021 originally as Community Engagement Manager she is passionate about creating an inclusive and supportive environment to allow the local community to reach its full potential. Beginning a new role leading the organisation as Operations Manager in April 2025 and then as Chief Executive in August 2025.

 

Lauren is looking forward to the challenge of taking HGDT through the next stages of its journey as a not for profit and further increasing its impact and benefit to High Green and the surrounding areas. In her spare time Lauren enjoys being out and about in nature regularly visiting Wentworth Castle Gardens and Clumber Park and also volunteers as Vice Chair of Trustees at Steps Community Nursery.

Site & Services Manager

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Gail joined the HGDT team in October 2021 tasked with transforming The Campus into a welcoming yet professional environment for the public and its occupants alike.

 

She is enjoying seeing HGDT expand community presence and initiatives. Gail is responsible for the day to day safety and operations of The Campus building.

 

Community Supervisor

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Helen joined the HGDT team in January 2023 to support, supervise, recruit and retain volunteers whilst highlighting the role volunteers play within the trust and also oversees the marketing and promotion of events and activities happening at The Campus.

 

She is continuing to work within the community sector after working at SWFC for 13 years. She is also mum to her little boy Bobby.

Site & Services Supervisor

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Ang joined The Campus 8 years ago as our Assistant Cook, quickly becoming a fixture in the kitchen before stepping up to manage the Cafe at The Campus.

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Two years ago, she then transitioned into her current role as Site & Services Supervisor, keeping our operations running smoothly every day. Today Ang splits her time between her Site & Services duties and working directly with the Community team.

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Beyond her daily duties, Ang brings people together by organising and running our monthly Village Get Together, creating a welcoming space for locals to connect.

Administration Supervisor

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Family Support Coordinator

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Jess has worked here at The Campus for 8 years first starting in the café where she worked serving the community and onsite occupants. She was there 6 years and loved every minute, Jess then started her new role on reception, while running classes Eg. Baby Group, Toddler Group and the Campus connection which is a group for 16+ with neurodiverse needs.

 

Jess also once a month helps with the Village get together offsite which allows the community to come together for a 2-course meal, Jess loves to get involved with the planning and involvement of our special events we host throughout the year, even when she dresses up like an elf to accompany Santa.

Facilities Assistant

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Facilities Assistant

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Chair of Trustees​

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Retiring from the role of Chief Nurse at Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group in September 2016, Kevin was a Registered Nurse from 1983 and had held a range of Nursing and General Management posts in the NHS in Sheffield spanning over 33 years. Kevin's contribution to nursing was recognised in the 2018 New Years Honours when he was awarded an OBE for his services. 

 

Since retiring Kevin has developed a portfolio of Non executive / Trustee roles including currently being a Non Executive Director at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Non Executive at Care Opinion CIC. Previous roles include Chair at Longley 6th Form College and a Trustee of Brigantia Learning Trust until 2020 as well as being Chair of Cavendish Cancer Care until 2019. 

 

Keving was keen to offer his experience closer to home and as a resident of Chapeltown and Burncross for the last 40 years and High Green Development Trust is a great opportunity to do that.

Vice Chair of Trustees​

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Gary has been an occupant of the building since 2010 firstly as part of Abbeycare and recently as the CEO of Blossom View which provides respite care and support.  He is in his second stint as trustee having re-joined in 2022.

 

The trust has made remarkable progress over recent years and he is excited to be part of a group that aims to improve the lives of both the local and wider community. His is really excited future holds for the building its occupants and more importantly the community.  

Trustee​

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Over 25 years later Karen is still involved with the Campus building which was originally High Green Secondary School.  She remembers walking into the abandoned classrooms all those years ago! 

 

Having retired from her role with the Paces Sheffield charity Karen was delighted to be involved with HGDT again as she was the original seconded worker that helped bring it into existence. So much has been achieved in that time and Karen tell us that she is proud to continue to play a part!

Trustee​

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Gill Ellis, one of our trustees, is now retired from her role of Director of Children’s services, prior to this Gill taught for 25 years, with a number of years as a secondary headteacher. In her spare time Gill is also a glass artist and bee keeper. High Green Honey can be purchased from Cafe Hug!

Trustee​

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Trustee​

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Trustee​

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Sam Tarff joined the board of High Green Development Trust as a trustee in 2026. He brings over 30 years’ experience in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, including more than 25 years as a chief executive, director or trustee of community, regeneration, and social impact organisations.

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Sam is currently Lead Finance Trustee at The Blagrave Trust, a social justice grant funder supporting young people, and works part-time as Chief Executive of STEP Development Trust in Stocksbridge, where he was previously an advisor and then a trustee. He has served on the boards of eighteen charities, strategic boards and investment and grant-making panels, including South Yorkshire Objective One PMB, Key Fund Investments, the National Lottery Community Fund Big Potential and Social Investment Business investment readiness fund.

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Much of Sam’s career has been spent helping community organisations take on and sustain buildings. He has led on nine community asset transfers, and was Chief Executive of a £55m place-based regeneration programme in Nottingham.

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Alongside this, Sam and his wife Linda were foster and Shared Lives carers for over 15years.

Ready, Steady, Go Group Volunteer

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Lesley has worked for many years with young children and their families. She has been a childminder, a SureStart creche coordinator, and a foster carer for over 20 years. Many of the children she has cared for have had additional needs and she loves being a volunteer for the Ready, Steady, Go group. 

Site & Services Volunteer

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Craft & Chat Group Volunteer

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Mind, Body & Soil Volunteer

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Mind, Body & Soil Volunteer

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Baby & Toddler Group Volunteer

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Mind, Body & Soil Volunteer 

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Joy is a retired teacher and a lifelong gardener, living locally in High Green. Her earliest memory of gardening is planting peas and broad beans with her dad as a toddler — so you could say she's been growing things for almost as long as she can remember!

Joy has had an allotment for 25 years and is passionate about growing organic fruit and vegetables, reducing our reliance on plastics and creating spaces where nature can thrive alongside us. Joy is particularly interested in promoting biodiversity, wilding and encouraging wildlife into our gardens.

She is delighted to be part of the team and look forward to helping create a garden that brings people, plants and nature together — a place where everyone can get involved, learn, grow and simply enjoy being outdoors. 

Craft & Chat Group Volunteer

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Site & Services Volunteer

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The Village Get Together Volunteer

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The Village Get Together Volunteer

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Mind, Body & Soil Volunteer

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Thorncliffe Art Group Volunteer

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