Meet the Team
Skipton Step into Action is run almost entirely by volunteers, who do everything from collecting shopping and prescriptions, to making friendly phone calls, answering our helpline, coordinating requests and dealing with all the administration behind the scenes. The group as a whole is overseen by our Management Team and Trustees.
Name: Charlotte McKeown
Position: Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Skipton Step into Action (SSIA) was born from the community response to the Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020, supporting vulnerable and elderly people access essential supplies of food and medication.
We registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in January 2021, and were appointed as a Community Support Organisation for Skipton and South Craven in April 2021. Since inception, our activities and services have organically evolved, providing essential services and engaging, inclusive community projects. ‘Connection’ is at the core of everything we do because connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.
We facilitate community-led solutions, focusing on supporting local citizens (friends of SSIA) to build resources and solutions. I consider all aspects of what we do as a Charity through an Asset-Based Community Development approach; Identifying and embracing local assets, including the skills, gifts and talents of local people. My ambition is to build on this, and encourage people to share their passions, creating a ‘ripple’ effect across the community so citizens feel proud to live in a connected and vibrant community.
My desire to support others can be traced back to my long-term teaching career; Encouraging, motivating and empowering students to fulfil their potential. As Curriculum Co-ordinator, I was responsible for implementing and maintaining quality assurance measures.
In my spare time, I really enjoy strength training at the gym, hiking and unwinding in the swimming pool.
Name: Teri Gribbin
Position: Volunteer Coordinator and Activity Coordinator
I live in Skipton with my partner, my son Oliver and our cat, Margot. I joined Skipton Step Into Action as a volunteer around the time of its inception during the pandemic in 2020. I have loved being part of the evolution of this wonderful charity and having the chance to make a difference in my community. I started my role as Volunteer Coordinator in 2022, which extended into Activity Coordinator also later that year. My role is dynamic and exciting; I’ve enjoyed seeing the staff team grow and the way we share our strengths to pull together as a team.
Alongside my work for the charity, I have been studying towards my degree and graduated with First-class Honours in Philosophy and Psychological Studies during the summer of 2022. In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, spending time with my son, reading and anything creative!
Name: Caroline Jolliffe
Position: Administration Support
I joined SSIA in March 2022 as I was seeking a part-time community-based role and loved the ethos and how SSIA supported the Skipton and South Craven Community.
I have been privileged to work in my local community for 12 years teaching at Craven College and 3 years at Townhead Surgery in the reception and management teams. Prior to that I worked in various sales management roles in the corporate world of British and International Hotel sales.
In my spare time, I love cooking, socialising and taking advantage of our beautiful local countryside, through walking with friends and family especially if they have dogs, who I love to kidnap/adopt/borrow at any available opportunity.
Name: Kevin Allen
Position: Transport Co-ordinator
Having retired at the end of 2021 from a 40+ year career in the logistics industry, I felt the time was right for a new challenge and in January 2023 joined Skipton Step Into Action to assist in establishing a new Volunteer led Car journey scheme for the Skipton and South Craven community.
This role has allowed me to use my years of organisation and management experience and I am pleased to say the scheme was fully established at the beginning of February.
We have recently expanded the scheme with the purchase of a Wheelchair Accessible Minibus to further support local people in attending Health and Hospital appointments and in the near future we hope to be able to offer shopping and more social trips.
In my spare time I enjoy socialising with friends and visiting with my family particularly a very boisterous 4-year-old grandson who keeps me on the ball. I am also a supporter of Chelsea F.C. which in itself has been a challenge recently but there is always next season!!
Name: Hayley Stockwell
Position: Wellbeing Cafe Project Coordinator
I started volunteering at the Wellbeing Cafe because SSIA’s commitment to connecting and serving the local community resonated deeply with me. When I was offered the opportunity to become Project Coordinator at the Cafe & Hub it felt like a natural next step. I’m thrilled to be part of a team that plays such an important role in enhancing and enriching the lives of so many.
In my diverse career, I’ve worked in various roles, mostly in the financial services sector and more recently as a transcriptionist. Beyond work hours, I enjoy baking, indulging in a good read, practising Gi-Gong, and discovering this beautiful part of North Yorkshire.
Name: Sarah Wilson
Position:VCS Anchor Coordinator and Nurturing Growth Project Coordinator
I joined SSIA in March 2020 during the pandemic and I have had lots of different roles within the charity; one of which was to help run the first project Ground Yourself in Green in Aireville Park.
I am now working as the Nurturing Growth Project Coordinator, bringing people together for group activities, and as an Anchor Links coordinator with local care homes working to bring the community links into care settings.
I thoroughly enjoy bringing the community together and also love to continue my volunteering work as a befriender making phone calls and visiting people in their homes.
Name: Becca Hewitt
Position: Trustee
Becca Hewitt has worked as a freelance community researcher, evaluator and project manager since 2013, mainly supporting the NHS to understand the experiences and views of community members and VCS organisations.
Becca is a librarian by training, beginning at The British Library in London and then for 10 years in the NHS, mainly in Bradford, before going into the voluntary sector to run Equity Partnership (a Bradford District charity for LGBTQ+ people) where she also helped to establish the Equalities Forum as part of the Bradford District VCS Assembly. She has chaired several VCS organisations including Craven CVS and a national LGBT Asylum organisation called No Going Back. In recent years she’s worked with organisations, including The VCS Alliance (who support collaborative service delivery and resource sharing within the VCS), and the University of Bradford to enable the NHS and VCS to engage with one another. Becca has worked as a project manager for various local NHS trusts, mainly around engagement and insight.
Lately she has worked closer to home in Craven, helping with the development of community organisations including Pioneer Projects and Broughton Road Community Centre. In 2022 she completed training to become a guide on how to build community connectedness and individual wellbeing, based on appreciating strengths and skills all communities have within them.
Becca is a Southerner by birth but has lived in Craven for more than 20 years. She is serial dog rescuer and IT geek!
Name: Marion Tweed-Rycroft
Position: Trustee
I joined the SSIA Board in July 2023. I live in Addingham with my husband and our cockapoo, Yogi. I’ve worked in health and social care for 35 years in a variety of different roles, most recently for North Yorkshire Council in the Stronger Communities Team.
I was very impressed by SSIA’s response during the pandemic and I’m delighted to be a trustee of such a dynamic and responsive organisation that is going from strength to strength. I hope my previous experience can be of some use, and I’m particularly interested in partnerships with other organisations and with communities of all kinds to make the most of all the knowledge, skills and talents in and around Skipton.
Name: Emily Rice
Position: Trustee
I joined the board of trustees at SSIA in August 2023, having first got involved with the charity through the fabulous the Christmas Elves initiative. This gave me a good understanding of the impact SSIA has in this area and made me extremely keen to be further involved in a charity with such a strong purpose and set of values. The story of how SSIA came about and it’s growth is truly inspiring.
In my day job I am the Operations Manager at an environmental consultancy and Bcorp organisation based on the outskirts of Skipton. I live in Embsay with my husband and daughter.
Name: Peter Hartley
Position: Trustee
I joined the trustees in June 2022 to take on the specific responsibilities of Treasurer. I see the role as making sure the truly great people who do the charities real work of helping people are not encumbered by issues of funding and administration.
I am a Chartered Accountant by training and now run my own business providing business and IT consultancy to a range of clients. I enjoy reading and have a particular interest in military history. I also now have a primary school age granddaughter who is making me realise how old I am -and also how lucky.
Name: Bruce Woodhouse
Position: Trustee
I retired in Oct 2019 after over 25 years as a GP at Dyneley House in Skipton. During the pandemic I have worked as a volunteer at Skipton Food Bank and have also been giving lots of COVID vaccinations. I also sit regularly as a West Yorkshire Magistrate. SSIA has been doing such useful and necessary work in the community and I hope I can use my experience and skills to add something as a Trustee. When I have time I like to cycle and kayak. I have also played cricket at Skipton CI for many years, albeit with more enthusiasm than talent.
Name: Sarah Seastron
Position: Trustee
I live in Skipton currently and have lived around the area all my life. I am looking forward to working with and supporting the local community as a Trustee of Skipton Step into Action.
Currently I run my own business providing HR support to small businesses. I have two children who have grown up in the area and in my spare time I enjoy family life, meeting friends, films, live music, cooking and baking.
Name: Joanne Whitehead
Position: Trustee
Living in Skipton, I joined SSIA to help support the local community through what are challenging times for so many.
As a business strategist and founder of an accountancy I often sit on the boards of small businesses helping them to grow, skills which I hope to be able to put to good use at SSIA. I’m also a school governor as I believe that every child deserves to be offered an outstanding education. In my spare time you’ll likely find me doing never ending DIY, walking around our beautiful region with my dogs and spending time with friends & family.
With over 60 people from Skipton on our volunteer team, sadly we can’t list them all here. The people below are those you’re most likely to meet or speak to if you’re getting in touch with SSIA
Name: Netta Hollings
Position: Lead Coordinator, Area Manager for Central and East area, member of the website team
I am widowed with three grown-up children. I have lived in Skipton for 32 years (so still an offcumden). Retired last year from 30+ years of NHS data and stats. Since then, I have started dog fostering for Aireworth Dogs in Need. I also knit, have an allotment, keep bees and love live music (when we are allowed to go again).
I was only just getting my head round being retired when the Pandemic struck. So I volunteered at the Food Bank and for SSIA. I enjoy it because, to quote Blur, it gives me a sense of enormous well being.
How to get in touch with us
Call: 01756 802 098 - Monday to Friday 9am-1pm.
(Please leave a message and we will respond to you within 48 working hours).
Email: support@ssia.org.uk
Supported By
Skipton Step into Action is able to work with people and the community because of the generous support of different organisations and individuals – thank you.
