Meet the team - our trustees
Lesley Maslen - Chair of Trustees
The driving force behind the project’s inception is retired businesswoman Lesley Maslen. She was very concerned about local families who may be struggling to provide nutritious meals when household budgets were so tight. Lesley imagined it being a short term project, however due to her drive and desire to help, Food For Families is busier than ever and diversifying all the time. Lesley has worked tirelessly to make FFF what it is today.
Jeanette Stokes
Jeanette is the bedrock of Food for Families, with over 22 years experience working in a school kitchen; she brings a wealth of cooking know-how but is also extremely hardworking, positive and funny. It's never a dull moment in the kitchen if Jeanette is cooking. With a 'can do' attitude, she works tirelessly with Lesley to make Food For Families a success.
Jamie Stuttard
Headteacher of one of our local schools, Jamie has been incredibly supportive of Food For Families right from the beginning, with his school being the first to sign up. A constant support and help to us, often helping to distribute the meals in the playground on a weekly basis.
Katrina Lee
Kat first became involved with Food For Families as the Morrisons Community Champion. She now works for local mental health charity, but as a keen supporter Kat lives locally and has a fantastic knowledge of the local community.
Rachael Whittaker
Married to a local business owner who had sponsored Food for Families, Rachael took a personal interest in supporting our cause. As a businesswoman in her own right, with her brand of children's vitamins, she was keen to be involved and help to support local families.
Meet the Team - Our volunteers
Carol
Carol
Carol
One of our main cooks, Carol has been with us from the start. She has a wealth of knowledge due to being a retired primary school and home economics teacher. She will be instrumental in launching and running our cookery classes, Let's Cook! Carol also features in our 'how to' videos on our YouTube channel
Sue H
Carol
Carol
Another one of our cooks, Sue is a whizz in the kitchen. She has years of catering experience gained from working in school and commercial kitchens. A great baker and cake decorator, Sue also supports the local community as an active member of GRO.
Val
Carol
Mandy
Val has been part of FFF from the early days, she's a well known supporter of the local community. Always upbeat, Val is a great help in the kitchen whether it's preparing the meals or packing. Val is also our tombola queen and represents FFF at local fundraising events.
Mandy
Russell
Mandy
Mandy ensures our kitchen is cleaned thoroughly each week to maintain our 5* Hygiene Rating, so we can concentrate on cooking and baking.
Kelly
Russell
Russell
Kelly is one of our Surplus Food Collectors. She works with several stores and supermarkets, handling early morning collections. Kelly also runs one of our Outreach Projects, distributing surplus food to families in deprived estates. She is hardworking, creative, and eager to help wherever she can.
Russell
Russell
Russell
Russell is multi-talented, assisting with deliveries, kitchen work, and surplus food collections several days a week. He is always eager to help and brings a positive attitude to every task he undertakes.
John
John
John
John has been a licensee for 30 years at Siddal Place, Maggie's, Stump Cross Inn, and The Maypole. Retired for 4 years, he enjoys cooking, golf, and walking. John is passionate about sharing his culinary skills and enjoys working in the kitchen
Debbie
Debbie
Debbie
A retired ER nurse, Debbie is always calm and collected in the kitchen, super helpful, and not phased by anything! Debbie usually helps in the kitchen but will step up and help anywhere she is needed. Helping us to be zero heroes, Debbie deals with all our packaging, ensuring it is recycled.
Karen
Debbie
Debbie
Karen is an actress and voice over artist who features in the 'how to' videos on our YouTube channel, but on a weekly basis you can find her in the kitchen, helping prep the meals, pack them, wash up and generally helping where needed.
Tracy
Debbie
Tracy
When she is not on duty at the West Vale Co-op, Tracy is also helping at Food For Families. Tracy is always ready to step in and help, and does a range of food prepping, packing, sorting the goody bags, cleaning and washing up.
Eileen
Eileen
Eileen
As one half of a pair with her partner Paul, you will find Eileen labelling the bags for delivery or peeling and prepping veg ready for storage. Eileen is an intrepid traveller and is often globetrotting when not volunteering with FFF.
Paul
Eileen
Eileen
Calm and methodical, Paul is great at stock rotation and storage, keeping our storeroom tidy. His height is an asset, allowing him to reach high shelves. Paul and Eileen also assist with daily food surplus collections.
Tina
Eileen
Tina
Tina joins us in the kitchen every week, she's a great all rounder prepping the food, arranging the goody bags, washing up etc. and giving us her pearls of wisdom.
Becky
Becky
Becky
Becky supports FFF in the kitchen despite being a nurse, volunteer at Project Colt and a barista who makes a mean coffee! She can be relied upon to help us with prep and cooking in the kitchen on a regular basis.
Rod
Becky
Becky
Already volunteering for another Halifax Charity, Rod decided he wasn’t busy enough and volunteered at Food For Families as well. Initially, he joined to do a few deliveries, but now he also works in the kitchen and collects surplus food during the week.
Susan
Becky
Susan
Susan is an accomplished cook who works in the kitchen several times a month. She strongly supports our goal of preventing surplus food from ending up in dustbins and landfill. Susan is very inventive with creating soups from whatever ingredients are available and is especially renowned for her delicious Minestrone Soup.
Sarah
Richard
Richard
An ex-nurse and now a furniture restorer, Sarah offered to help where we needed, you'll have seen her delivering the summer lunches, now she'll be in the kitchen on a regular basis.
Richard
Richard
Richard
Working at Project Colt, Richard is often on hand to help with moving and lifting, a great help with our deliveries.
Maria
Richard
Maria
Maria works at Elland and District Food Bank with whom we have developed great networks, supporting each other where we can. Maria helps with our deliveries to schools on a rota basis.
Doug
Graham
Chris
One our new volunteers
Chris
Graham
Chris
As a local ward councillor, Chris is a great supporter of the local community and was keen to help out with FFF, and recently volunteered to be our Treasurer
Graham
Graham
Graham
Retired Headteacher, Graham, is always on hand to support in whatever way needed, be that dropping meals off at the schools or delivering education sessions to primary children, to name but a few things.
Rachael
Rachael, an ex-school cook and accomplished cake maker, helps us on our baking days, bringing her expertise and passion for baking to the team.
Katie
Katie
Katie
Katie is in charge of logistics and the rota, planning it out seamlessly every month so our volunteers know where they need to be and when. Katie's husband Jez, is also a great supporter of FFF, helping out when needed.
Dave
Katie
Katie
As a retired technology teacher, Dave is our photographer and go-to when needing logos, images or generally anything IT.
Jo
Katie
Jo
Jo was introduced to us by one of our other volunteers and loves the concept behind FFF. Jo helps with the sorting and delivering of goodies to our local schools and is passionate about charity work having previously volunteered at Overgate Hospice, worked at The Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity and Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice. Jo ru
Jo was introduced to us by one of our other volunteers and loves the concept behind FFF. Jo helps with the sorting and delivering of goodies to our local schools and is passionate about charity work having previously volunteered at Overgate Hospice, worked at The Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity and Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice. Jo runs a massage therapy business and will volunteer on her day off.