Meet The Team
Lauren Sanderson
Chief Executive Officer
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.
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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.
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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 having seen Prince (twice in two nights!, Madonna, Britney Spears, Beyonce, Stereophonics, Oasis, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, P!nk, The Blossoms and many more.
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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Gail is responsible for the day to day safety and operations of The Campus building.
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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.
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 and also oversees the marketing and promotion of events and activities happening at The Campus.
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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.
Michael Kimpton
Site and Services Assistant
Michael has worked at The Campus since January 2019 as a member of the Site and Services team with responsibilities for cleaning and maintenance.
Michael also uses his skills to lead our Mind, Body and Soil gardening group.
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 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!
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!
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.
In her spare time Gill is also an glass artist and bee keeper. High Green Honey can be purchased from Cafe Hug!
Kevin Clifford OBE
Chair of Trustees
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.
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Kevin's contribution to nursing was recognised in the 2018 New Years Honours when he was awarded an OBE for his services.​
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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.
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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.
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Fun Fact : By 15, Kevin was a qualified Lifeguard working at Langold Lake which allowed open water swimming at the time. On the one Christmas Day swim he worked they had to break the ice!
Gary Abbey
Vice Chair
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.