Staff
Jimm Reed: CEO
jimm@leedscommunityhomes.org.uk
Jimm has 24 years of experience in developing affordable and community-led housing. As a project manager he has worked with numerous community-led and affordable housing schemes across the UK, starting with Lilac and including Chapeltown Cohousing. Involved in LCH since our inception, he leads on our own projects and oversees development stage support for the groups we work with.
Lucy Meredith
lucy@leedscommunityhomes.org.uk
Lucy is part of the Leeds Community Homes Admin Team, She joined the team in November 2019 and is the organisation’s lead on PR, marketing, social media and events. She also works for Climate Action Leeds to support the growth of sustainable and eco-friendly housing. She likes swimming and plays the ukulele.
Cynthia Brathwaite
cynthia@leedscommunityhomes.org.uk
Cynthia has 15 years of experience in central government housing and building safety policy. She has joined Leeds Community Homes to manage People Powered Homes. She is resident co-treasurer of ‘Chaco’ a co-housing project located in Leeds. She enjoys rock climbing, riding around on her motorbike and is a keen novice on the drums!
Board Members
Guy Millichamp: Society Treasurer
Guy has worked in the social housing sector for 25 years in a variety of senior positions, including as a chief financial officer, board member and audit committee chair. He is currently Director of Finance for Connect Housing. He is passionate about delivering a great service to people who need good quality, affordable homes. Guy brings significant skills and experience to the Board including leadership, strategic financial & treasury management, residential property development, performance management and a strong knowledge and understanding of good governance in the social housing sector.
Paul Belbin
Paul Belbin has over 30 years of experience in the social housing sector, and is currently Head of Development & Enterprise at GIPSIL. He has extensive experience managing services for offenders, the homeless, young people and other vulnerable groups across northern England.
Rachel Vernelle: Society Secretary
Rachel Vernelle has 28 years of community involvement and empowerment experience. Supporting people in communities to come together, build on their strengths, influence decision-makers and achieve their visions. With extensive experience of working with tenant-led housing organisations.
Martin Hawthorne
Having spent over 30 years in social housing Martin believes passionately that he has a lot to offer and has a wide range of experience in setting up teams and partnerships with an outstanding record of delivery. Expert in the construction and development process Martin can bring together people with the right skills and motivations to deliver fantastic outcomes .
David Nugent: Society Chair
Having trained as an architect, David has worked in housing for more than twenty years. Following spells at Equity Housing and People First, he is now the Director of Canopy Housing. He helped Calder Valley CLT become an RP and recently gained an MSc in Sustainability and Adaptation.
Beverley Brown
Beverley is a local businesswoman from Leeds, operating two successful businesses: retail and business development. She has a wide range of experience across social housing and built environment sectors, from project and business development, grant funding , social enterprises and consultancy. Beverley is passionate about social investment and its role to empower local communities.
James Hartley
James Hartley is the CEO of Leeds Action to Create Homes, (Latch). He has been involved with Leeds Community Homes from its inception and is keen and excited about seeing the group grow and assist others to achieve their housing aspirations.
Lou Cunningham
Lou is a nurse by trade and has worked extensively in health, social care, education and the third sector.She has a keen interest in community engagement and involvement, regularly facilitating and supporting community and residents groups to bring ideas to life. She is a home educator who lives in Armley with her son and their menagerie, and is currently an Armley Ward councillor for Leeds City Council.
Associates
In addition to our staff we have a number of Associates who work for us. All our Associates are suitability qualified people who have experience of working on people powered housing.
Peg Alexander
After over 25 years at a senior level running charities and working in senior policy/ development roles the public sector , Peg has worked in community led housing for the last 2 years. She combines this with another career as a presenter and journalist on TV, radio, podcasts and live events including zooms.
Claude Hendrickson
Claude is the lead on our Cohesive Communities work.
He was the project manager on the Frontline community self build scheme in Leeds, which saw 12 unemployed African Caribbean men and their families build new homes for themselves. He has remained a passionate advocate for BAME & minority groups in terms of Community Led housing, and training/employment.
Claude brings knowledge and experience of working with BAME groups across the city as well as research and publication skills to help with this project.
He was commissioned in 2016/17 to produce a 10 year strategy for Leeds City Council (LCC) around self-build, custom build and community led housing. That report informed LCC’s housing strategy.
Andy Lloyd
Andy Lloyd is a CIH Accredited Community Led Housing Adviser affiliated to the Community Land Trust Network. Andy works as an advisor for Leeds Community Homes as well as supporting other hubs in the north of England.
Become an associate
We need a bank of suitability qualified associates to be available to work for us – either working with groups or doing work directly for Leeds Community Homes.
