We’re delighted to welcome two new members of staff to our team this month.

Helen Juste joins us as our new Partnership & Networks Manager, and will be heading up our work on the West Lancs Third Sector Network and its sub-networks.

Helen comes with a wealth of experience at both community and strategic level, having worked as Arts & Cultural Development Manager for West Lancashire Borough Council until and more recently, setting up her own CIC Positive Placemakers which undertook intensive community engagement work in Kirkham.

Helen says:

“I am delighted to be involved with the development of a network for the third sector, and am looking forward to working with members and key partners to make this happen.”

Steve Kirby joins us as Community Development Officer to support our work around the Network and sub-networks, as well as to deliver our CVS community development support services.

Many of you will know Steve from his community involvement in Hesketh Bank – as a Parish Councillor, as well as committee member of Poor Marsh allotment society, Chair of Hesketh Bank community centre, and more recently trustee of Hesketh Bank and Tarleton Helpers.

Steve says:

‘What could possibly have made me want to go back to work after 13 happy years of retirement?

Well, being very much involved in my local community, I’ve always been a big fan of the CVS and the work that they do. All the wonderful help they give to lots of community groups and the vision and values that drive them in their goal of helping to build a better community made me want to be part of the team when a vacancy was advertised.

I’m so glad to be involved and I’m raring to go!

We’re really pleased to have them on board.  Together with our existing Community Development Worker, Dot Fowell, they form a fantastic new community development team within CVS and they’re looking forward to working with the wonderful West Lancs voluntary sector.