Katy Lawrence – Chair

Katy is very excited to be involved in People Express as part of the board as she feels it is great that the district has an arts organisation that appeals to everyone in the community. Katy has worked for four years at Granville Sports College as an Assistant House Leader, supporting the well-being and emotional needs of young people. Katy brings to the Board a passion for the arts, experience of working with young people and an understanding of the needs of excluded groups.

Ian Reid- Treasurer

Ian accepted an invitation to join the Board, as he feels People Express play an important role in bringing isolated groups together and building their confidence and aspiration to set up their own activities. This was particularly important with the decline in the mining industry and the huge impact this had on local communities. Ian is now a retired Civil Engineer, having worked at a number of Councils, including South Derbyshire District Council. Ian brings his experience on the side of the Public Sector, to support People Express to thrive in a world with increasing paperwork and target driven accountability.

 Helen Litherland

Helen has worked with people Express delivering arts projects over the years and seen the impact that the arts has on vulnerable people. She says,”They enjoy taking part and it opens up new skills and talents that they didn’t know that they had”. She is Operational Lead for Trident Reach the People Charity, managing support services for young people and older people. Helens experience includes business and strategic planning, management of staff teams, human resources and budgeting.

Chris Baldwin

Chris is new to being involved with an organisation at Board level, but is very excited to be a part of the People Express family. He hopes to interject his ideas and passions for holistic education and music into the development of activities and programmes that can help to raise the aspirations and dreams for as many people as possible in the locality. All in order to help provide opportunities for people to be the best that they can possibly be through the arts.

Councillor Kim Coe

Newly elected to  South Derbyshire District Council Kim has been appointed to our board as a representative from SDDC which is one of our three main funders.  She brings a wealth of local knowledge to the board having been involved  in a number of community projects, which include work by the Rotary Club of Swadlincote and she is also a  trustee for ‘Shoutout’ board.  She has a great interest in the community and has recently been involved in  starting  a Community Responder Group working in partnership with EMAS (East Midlands Ambulance Service).   She manages an independent medical company.

Councillor Margaret (Beth) Hall

Appointed to the People Express Board as a representative of South Derbyshire District Council one of our three main funders, Margaret is a local primary school teacher who has been a Councillor for over eight years.  She has an interest in music has been involved as a Trustee  with South Derbyshire Music Trust at The William Allitt School.  She brings a wealth of local knowledge to the board and is enthusiastic about the arts.

Jacqui Storer – short bio and photo to follow soon….