Charlotte has been working in Barnsley since 2000 on a variety of community development projects. Much of this work has been managing frontline delivery, giving her extensive knowledge of the barriers and pitfalls to project delivery.

Charlotte lives and works in Barnsley, so anything that improves the lives of Barnsley residents is of interest to her. As a trained Chef, food has always played an important part of Charlotte’s life, and then a mum managing a family on a very tight budget. “No matter what project I have been involved with there is always a strong link to food: it’s what brings us together, it’s a basic building block of holistic health and for most people it’s so much more than simply fuel.”

In Charlotte’s work life, food is a key part of how she supports families in accessing a healthy lifestyle. “I am delighted to be part of Good Food Barnsley. It brings together so many of the great things that are already in Barnsley and provides a place where innovation is happening.”

Gary is the Chair of Good Food Barnsley CiC. He is a pioneer of social supermarkets in the UK and is the Chair of Community Shop CiC, the UK first Social Supermarket Chain. Gary is involved in regional food networks around the UK and has a particular interesting in developing ‘affordable food ecosystems’ which include multiple models of affordable food initiatives.

He is also the Director of a social impact and design consultancy which works with businesses, local authorities and anchor institutions looking to innovate and maximise their social impact. A passionate advocate of asset-based development practices he always aims to focus on what’s strong and not what’s wrong. He has owned and run a number of hospitality businesses with a focus on local produce, but really his guilty secret is pies and Accrington Stanley.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

Michelle has, for the last thirty years, worked with and for young people and vulnerable adults in Barnsley… and still claims to be the right side of 40. She has worked for both the statutory and third sectors, but her passion is in supporting families in their own villages and helping to bring about together community cohesion.

As Co-Founder of Ad Astra, her appearance can be deceptive and beneath Michelle’s gentle exterior hides a steely determination to do the best for the people of Barnsley. Michelle believes that food is one asset that can bring families together, and no one should be without.

As a board member of Good Food Barnsley, Michelle is an integral member of the team working to bring forward the possibilities of food, and its related practices, to the forefront of people’s minds, engaging with Barnsley citizens and decision makers to empower everyone to make positive changes and reinvigorate people’s relationship with food. Believing in the power of a healthy mind/healthy body, Michelle brings a wealth of experience and deep understanding of Barnsley families that keep our work centred on those we’re looking to support and work with.

Amy has been with us since September 2020. She is our Innovation Manager, contributing to the strategic implementation of the Good Food Barnsley model and developing our theoretical framework, facilitating and supporting research in and around food access, and translating this to what works on-the-ground. “I am particularly interested in looking at how food access can be empowering to Barnsley citizens. I have previously conducted research into food and identity, looking at ideas like ‘you are what you eat’, and what this might mean when your budget is tighter than the average person’s or family’s. I believe that food can be a really powerful thing that brings people together.”

Amy liaises with private, public and third sector organisations and individuals working across the borough to support Barnsley citizens in having access to the food they need to thrive.

Amy sits on the Healthy Holidays Steering Group and panel for 3rd sector organisation funding applications for Healthy Holiday activities. In addition, Amy also sits on the Early Help Adults Group, part of the Stronger Communities Partnership.

Amy is our first port of call for questions over the work we do and how to get involved. Please contact Amy via our contact form.

Gareth is one of the board members for Good Food Barnsley. He is the Chief Executive of FareShare Yorkshire, and has been since 2013, working with the Board of Trustees and has the overall responsibility for the leadership, management and strategic direction of the charity.

“Food insecurity is most often a symptom of a much wider and more systemic issue, or set of issues, for families. Having said that, food also has a great capacity to bring people together, and that’s what we seek to do through Good Food Barnsley. It isn’t just about feeding people, it’s about bringing people together, using food to do that, and then looking to make impactful change.”

Gareth is fully committed to the work of Good Food Barnsley and our drive to deliver empowering and well-rounded support to Barnsley citizens that helps to alleviate food insecurity in the long term.