Sefton CVS is governed by Charity Trustees, who are also Company Directors, comprising ten representatives of voluntary sector and community organisations and co-options from professional and relevant fields of expertise. Trustees are elected annually to serve a three-year term through the agency's affiliate base and by co-option from communities of interest.

Elected Members from all three political parties attend without voting powers. Meetings are held on a bi-monthly basis.

Much of the main business of CVS occurs through its sub committee structure. CVS has two sub-committees covering Finance, Communications and Corporate Management, (incorporating a personnel brief), which meet during the quarterly cycle to report their transactions to the full Board.

The Governance Structure of Sefton CVS and a full list of Trustees is available in .PDF format - click here to download.

Board Profiles

Margaret Hardman MBE (Chair)

Margaret has been involved in the voluntary sector since 1980, and set up the Multiple Sclerosis Society in South Sefton in 1981. She was elected Chair of Crossroads Caring for Carers Association in 1997 and became President in 2004 after stepping down as Chair.

Margaret has been Chair of Sefton Council for Voluntary Service since 1997.

Louise Barry

Information to follow.

Godwin Bateren

Godwin Bateren has a background in the Merchant Navy, working as a navigation officer, managing port operations in Africa before switching to community development and capacity building following the Toxteth Riots of 1981. Godwin is Chief Executive of Chara Trust, a Black Minority Ethnic-led infrastructure organisation, which was formed in 1996 ‘to help individuals to make choices about their lives-choices about education, training, voluntary activity and involvement’. Chara Trust is part of the Greater Merseyside Change Up Consortium, and, as well as its work on Merseyside, undertakes international community development.

Godwin has a strong passion for working with local communities in Africa, exploring options and potential for self-development and sustainability, whilst primarily exploring use of local resources. Godwin lives in Toxteth and is married with 4 grown up children. His hobbies include travelling, photography, classical, jazz and world music.

Paul Cummins

Paul Cummins has been a Trustee of Sefton CVS since 1987 after he had worked for the organisation for three years having established Litherland Helping Hand. Paul worked extensively in the voluntary sector in Sefton prior to a career in local government with Knowsley MBC in a variety of roles in Social Services, Voluntary Sector Liaison and Community Safety. Paul is an elected member of Sefton Council, and is currently the Labour Spokesperson for Leisure Services, having previously held the posts of Cabinet Member for Housing and Chair of Social Services. He is also a Trustee of Merseyside Third Sector Technology Centre (3tc), Sefton Carers Centre, Crosby, Formby and District CAB, Waterloo Community Association and M Path European Mental Health Trust. For the past seventeen years he has been Chair of Governors at William Gladstone School, Seaforth. Paul is now an Independent Consultant working with statutory bodies and voluntary and community organisations.

Dave Roscoe (Vice Chair)

Dave was born and educated in the Waterloo and Crosby areas and is an old boy of Merchant Taylors School. His early career was spent in what is now Sefton Borough and he has many deep associations with the area.

His career took him away from Merseyside where his work in telecommunications led him through a number of managerial roles with international responsibilities until his retirement six years ago . Since retirement and his return to Merseyside, Dave has become involved in the voluntary sector, where his is Chairman of the West Lancs. Disability Helpline, a Director of the Openeye Gallery in Liverpool and a Trustee of Merseyside Fire Support Network.

Ultan Russell

Senior Officer for Church & Society in the Church of England Diocese of Liverpool, Ultan has previously held posts with the Churches Commission for Racial Justice, Birmingham Voluntary Service Council, the Churches Community Work Alliance and Birmingham Churches Together. A Roman Catholic, Ultan has been awarded the papal medal Pro Ecclesia and Pontifice (like a CBE!) for services to the church.

Ultan facilitated the development of borough faith networks in and around Greater Merseyside, and is currently chair of the ChangeUp Consortium for Greater Merseyside, which links Councils for Voluntary Service and specialist infrastructure bodies (including Churches Together in the Merseyside Region which he represents).

David McGregor

David McGregor was born & educated in Southport.

He spent 12 years in the Royal Air Force and then studied electronics leading him to running the Advanced Electronics and Computer Aided Design Laboratories at Kingston University. He has held various I.T. roles and spent 10 years working as the I.T. manager for the Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People in Leatherhead, which includes: The Queen Elizabeth's (The Queen Mother) Training College and the Development Centre ( a halfway house for physically disabled people between institutions and independent living), a printing works (a sheltered working environment for disabled people), The Banstead Brain Injury Centre ( a day care centre for disabled people) in Dartford and Lulworth Court, a holiday home for disabled people in Southend on Sea.

He was a member of the Charity Consortium Information Directors Group and served on NCVS's Computer Working Party.

David is a fellow of the Institution of Engineering and technology, a member of the British Computer Society and the Institute for the management of Information Systems.

Liz Barnett

Liz has a background in finance, working in the Housing & Treasurers' Department in Birmingham. On moving to Sefton, Liz worked for Nugent Care, first in finance and then in service development. Along with the Nugent Care team, Liz has opened new services in the child, mental health & acquired brain injury sectors. After retiring from full time employment, Liz now works with Nugent Care on special projects.

Liz was a magistrate for 20 years and is now a member of the Merseyside Probation Trust, heading up the Business Development Panel for the board. She is also a member of the Merseyside Police Authority Standards Committee.

Adam Ruffinato

Adam has a background as a commercial banker with Natwest where he worked for a number of years and also with the Derbyshire Building Society where he was a specialist commercial property banker.

For the last two years he has been the Unity Trust manager for the North West. Unity Trust are a bank specialising in banking services for the Third Sector.

He lives in Waterloo with his wife and two young daughters who take up much of his spare time.

Simon Sharman (Treasurer)

Information to follow.