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Trustees & Governance

  • Chopsticks is led by people who care.

    Our trustees are volunteers with experience in finance, business, digital work, lived experience and frontline support.

    They oversee the strategic direction, financial health and long-term sustainability of Chopsticks, acting as champions for inclusion and meaningful work in the community.

    We’re grateful for the time, care and insight they give.

  • How we’re governed

    Chopsticks (North Yorkshire) Ltd is a Registered Society, governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees in line with our constitution.

    Our trustees meet regularly to review operations, approve strategic decisions and ensure we remain compliant with laws and FCA regulations. Their role is to keep us focused, accountable and aligned with our mission.

Our Trustees

  • A man and a young boy taking a selfie at an amusement park with a green train ride in the background.

    John Proud – Workshop Support & Facilities

    John is a dedicated volunteer, regularly supporting our members in the laser room and Chopshed. He brings hands-on expertise and fresh tech to the team. As a trustee, he champions accessibility and innovation at Chopsticks.

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    Kim Sanders – Chair

    Kim chairs our Board of Trustees, helping to shape the long-term direction of Chopsticks. With her background in social care and a genuine passion for inclusion, Kim brings clarity, compassion and strong leadership to every meeting. Her guidance ensures we stay focused on our mission and values as we look to the future.

  • A middle-aged man with curly gray hair and a slight smile, wearing a maroon shirt and a light-colored jacket, standing against a brown background.

    Steve Shuttleworth – Treasurer

    Steve oversees the organisation’s finances, ensuring we remain sustainable and financially responsible. With decades of financial experience, he brings rigour and reassurance to our budgeting and reporting.

  • A man smiling and holding two bags of cheese snacks, standing at a snack stand with other snacks behind him.

    David Braithwaite – Members’ Representative

    David acts as a link between the board and our members, ensuring their views and experiences are always represented. His insight helps shape how we make decisions that directly affect those we support.

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    Stewart Wilson – Staff Representative

    Stewart is a support worker and staff representative on the board. He brings frontline insight into member needs, team dynamics and day-to-day delivery — helping ensure our decisions reflect what’s happening on the ground.

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    Dawn Proud – Digital Strategy & Communications

    Dawn brings experience in stakeholder engagement, operational delivery and digital transformation. As a trustee, she supports the development of our website and digital content, helping to strengthen Chopsticks’ online presence and share our products and story with a wider audience.

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    Matty Carrick – PLC & Community Links

    Matty works closely with students at the Personalised Learning College at Chopsticks. His deep understanding of our members — and those who may join us — helps shape our future. Passionate about inclusion, Matty plays a key role in getting adults with disabilities involved in community and leisure activities.

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    Nathan Greenwood – Governance & Risk

    Nathan teaches at the Personalised Learning College and leads many outdoor sports and activities. With coaching experience and a passion for inclusion, he’s a key link between education and adult life for people with learning disabilities. Nathan brings experience in compliance, policy and governance, helping ensure Chopsticks remains accountable and well-managed while staying true to its person-centred approach.

  • A smiling man in a gray sweatshirt holding a cardboard cutout of a woman's face, standing in a room with UK flags and classroom decorations.

    Andy Turner – Sales and Marketing

    As a local businessman, Andy brings valuable expertise in sales and marketing to Chopsticks. His insight helps us shine a spotlight on our members’ talents.

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    Francesca Evans – Marketing & Communications

    Francesca is another teacher at the Personalised Learning College, based at another site. She offers an insight into the next generation of students who may want to access our services. This helps us build our services to enable new members to access activities they enjoy, as well as trying new things.

Being a Trustee means:

Helping guide the charity’s long-term direction

Championing inclusion with a commitment to person-centred support

Supporting a welcoming, hands-on team

Could you be a 

trustee?

We’re always open to hearing from people who want to get involved.

If you’re passionate about supporting adults with learning disabilities and have skills in governance, finance, HR, digital or inclusion, we’d love to hear from you.

It’s a voluntary role, but one that makes a real difference.

Want to know more? Contact us for a chat or pop in to visit and we’ll be happy to show you around.