Meet The Team
Lauren Sanderson
Community Engagement Manager
Lauren has worked and volunteered in the charity sector for over a decade. Beginning her work at HGDT in September 2021 she is passionate about creating an inclusive and supportive environment to allow the local community to reach its full potential.
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In her spare time Lauren is the Volunteer Project Coordinator for The Hygiene Bank Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham.
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Fun fact : Lauren has seen Manchester band The Courteeners over 20 times, and has lost count of the total amount of gigs and concerts she has attended in her lifetime.
Gail Sutton
Campus Manager
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.
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Fun fact : For the first year of her life Gail lived in a caravan in the field behind The Crossfield Tavern with her mum and dad.
David Plotts
Volunteer
David started as a trustee at HGDT in June 2021 and is now a volunteer at our Community Garden.
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David readily admits that he has very few, if any, growing and gardening skills so is looking forward to lots of local engagement from the community to help develop the site into something the whole community can be proud of.
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Fun fact: David was born, raised, and educated in Perth, Australia before moving, at the age of 22, to the UK and Barnsley in 1989.
Michael Kimpton
Facilities Cleaning Services
Michael has worked at The Campus since January 2019 as a member of the facilities cleaning team.
He enjoys nature and wildlife and often walks through Westwood County Park in the summer months before starting work.
Karen Hague MBE
Trustee
Over 25 years later Karen is still involved with the building which was the Comprehensive 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 small part!
Fun fact: When Karen met the Queen in 2004 to receive an MBE, the military Brass Band was playing songs from Hans Christian Anderson and she had to keep a straight face, and not take offence, when 'There once was an Ugly Duckling’ was played as she curtsied to the Queen!
Chamila Edrisinghe
Finance Officer
I have been volunteering in Barnsley since 2018 as a treasurer and then as a bookkeeper at DIAL.
At the same time I volunteered at Sheffield Assist and then Disability Sheffield as bookkeeper.
Later on I started working part time at Disability Sheffield and joined HGDT in November 2021 as our Finance Officer,
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Fun Fact: I was in born, raised and educated in Sri Lanka moving to England in 2010 with my husband and elder daughter.
Isobel Wells
Chair of Trustees
A highly committed individual with multiple years’ experience within a project management background. A local resident with expertise in project management, development and implementation of initiatives and problem solving.
Colleagues would describe Isobel as an individual who is resourceful, proactive and proud in the work she does.
Helen Holland
Community Supervisor
Helen joined the HGDT team in January 2023 to support, supervise, recruit and retain volunteers whilst highlighting the role volunteers play within the trust. 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.
Fun fact: Helen was born at the bottom of the stairs after her mum didn’t know she was pregnant with her, she weighed 3lb 11oz and wasn’t premature.
Gill Ellis
Trustee
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.
Gary Abbey
Trustee
I have 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. I am in my second stint as trustee having re-joined in 2022. The trust has made remarkable progress over recent years and I am excited to be part of a group that aims to improve the lives of both the local and wider community I am really excited future holds for the building its occupants and more importantly the community.
Fun fact: In my spare time I enjoy running. In 2022 I managed to achieve a lifelong ambition of running the London Marathon.