Meet our Board of Trustees
CO-CHAIR: DARREN IBELL
What first drew you to Groundwork Five Counties?
The provision of employment opportunities and Green Doctor are areas I am extremely passionate about. Also, Groundwork’s well-being and community development agenda.
What relevant experience do you bring to your role as Trustee?
Working in the housing sector for the last 15 years means I bring specific positive housing acumen to answering the cost of living and energy crisis, as well as tenancy sustainability.
What is your vision for Groundwork Five Counties?
To help get the Groundwork Five Counties name out there. Not just as a charity people have heard of in passing, but with a stronger and more defined identity.
CO-CHAIR: SARAH CLARKE
What first drew you to Groundwork Five Counties?
I wanted to expand my knowledge and offer my skills to a regionally based organisation that focusses on environmental issues as well as supporting community activity. What a match!
What relevant experience do you bring to your role as Trustee?
I have broad experiences across the third sector. I have worked for various national charities, building and improving all kinds of services. I have also served on other boards, including as chair of an environmental social enterprise. I hope to support Groundwork Five Counties to continue to drive forward its governance.
What is your vision for Groundwork Five Counties?
My vision is that Groundwork Five Counties can continue to develop and deliver impactful work, in line with its mission and strategy.
ADRIAN COURT
What first drew you to Groundwork Five Counties?
Groundwork’s ability to provide career paths into Green Jobs for those in need of support and skills development.
What relevant experience do you bring to your new role as Trustee?
25+ years of experience in developing solutions and technologies to combat climate change, and a deep understanding of the importance of giving back control to nature.
What is your vision for Groundwork Five Counties?
To be a leading organisation in providing green job foundation programs, and helping communities benefit from regenerating natural environments.
AMINE BENKERMI
What first drew you to Groundwork Five Counties?
I’ve been keen to contribute more to my local communities and become more active and involved. Groundwork Five Counties’ mission and initiatives align perfectly with my own values and vision of how to empower everyday people whilst helping the environment.
What relevant experience do you bring to your role as Trustee?
I hope to better represent younger people and people of certain marginalised communities that could benefit from GWFC’s work, either as beneficiaries or volunteers. I also intend to use my experience in tech and project management to provide insight and steer the organisation towards the best possible direction.
What is your vision for Groundwork Five Counties?
An inclusive charity that is influential and able to not only help people in need, but also steer local and regional policies to reduce the number of people needing help in the first place and focus more on green initiatives.
DARRAN TRUTE
What first drew you to Groundwork Five Counties?
Groundwork’s mission strongly aligns with my own values and vision for sustainable, compassionate, and impactful community development. The approach to empowering local communities while addressing environmental and social challenges feels like a natural extension of the work I’m passionate about.
What relevant experience do you bring to your role as Trustee?
I bring a background in strategic leadership, change management, and process improvement. I’ve led initiatives that resonate with Groundwork’s goals, from environmental projects and community development to helping organisations adapt through agile, data-driven transformations. I guide senior leadership teams, driving innovation, and applying tools to improve outcomes in complex settings. I’m well-versed in managing significant stakeholder relationships, ensuring alignment with key organisational values, and coaching teams in methodologies to make every step toward positive change count.
What is your vision for Groundwork Five Counties?
My vision is to create an organisation that not only thrives in its current projects but becomes a model of sustainable, scalable change that others aspire to emulate. By embracing both human-centred and thoughtfully informed solutions, I envision Groundwork as a leader in community-driven change that is resilient, compassionate, and forward-thinking.
ED WRIGHT
What first drew you to Groundwork Five Counties?
It’s all about supporting local people to live their lives more sustainably. Groundwork is a great regional charity which is much needed at this time. We hear on the news daily the catastrophic effects of climate change and the cost of living crisis – Groundwork Five Counties is empowering people to affect change for the better.
What relevant experience do you bring to your role as Trustee?
As a Commercial IP partner in national law firm Shakespeare Martineau, I have significant experience in heading and constructively contributing to relevant practice area and/or sector-focused teams. Shakespeare Martineau is a BCorp, meaning that health, social and environmental considerations all form a key part of our organisational DNA. I also act as an observer to the Medilink Midlands board and a panel member of Active Notts.
What is your vision for Groundwork Five Counties?
A multitude of meaningful successes in implementing and delivering Groundworks’ new Strategic Plan.
HELEN CLARKE
What first drew you to Groundwork Five Counties?
Providing support to people within their own communities, tailored to individual need with an environmental focus, are all things that I’m passionate about. I’m a huge advocate of bringing people together and empowering communities to become strong and resilient.
What relevant experience do you bring to your new role as Trustee?
Having worked in local government social housing management and for central government on the decarbonisation of social housing, I bring a range of property and people skills to support Groundworks in delivering its strategy.
What is your vision for Groundwork Five Counties?
To become a best practice example for delivery of community empowerment. With a clear focus on mission and strategy to ensure an ability to deliver, adapt and respond to the needs of the communities we serve.
HELEN SKINNER
What first drew you to Groundwork Five Counties?
I was appointed to represent Broxtowe Borough Council as Groundwork was one of our “outside bodies”.
What relevant experience do you bring to your new role as Trustee?
I am portfolio holder for Environment and Climate Change this brings with it an enormous challenge which I embrace with a passion. My second challenge is to try and improve the lives of the constituents whom I represent by facing and tackling the hardship and disadvantage which they experience in their daily lives. I feel that Groundwork fits well with my aspirations.
What is your vision for Groundwork Five Counties?
My vision for the organisation is that it will grow in confidence and be able to improve the life chances of ordinary people and the quality of the environment in which they find themselves.
CLLR JIM CREAMER
What first drew you to Groundwork Five Counties?
The continuing ethos of helping communities passed on from Groundwork Greater Nottingham.
What relevant experience do you bring to your role as Trustee?
Experience with dealing with local problems as an elected councillor.
What is your vision for Groundwork Five Counties?
To continue as a viable organisation dedicated to helping communities improve their quality of life with sustainable and forward looking projects and schemes.
JONATHAN MACE
What first drew you to Groundwork Five Counties?
I was drawn to Groundwork Five Counties’ mission to build resilient, sustainable communities and drive environmental restoration, as I believe these efforts are crucial to reducing inequality and improving quality of life, which aligns with my own commitment to social inclusion and environmental stewardship.
What relevant experience do you bring to your role as Trustee?
With extensive experience in charity leadership, marketing, fundraising and community-focused initiatives, I bring a commitment to sustainability and social inclusion, supporting community resilience and environmental recovery.
What is your vision for Groundwork Five Counties?
To empower communities across the Five Counties to thrive sustainably by fostering environmental resilience, social equality, and economic stability. Groundwork Five Counties will be a catalyst for transformative projects that restore nature, support communities in achieving net-zero goals, and create inclusive, green spaces that enhance wellbeing, inspire stewardship, and build a legacy of environmental and social resilience for future generations.
MARC GREEN
What first drew you to Groundwork Five Counties?
I want to be involved with an organisation creating a fair and green future, supporting local communities in becoming more resilient and tackling issues like climate change and social inequality. Being a trustee provides a platform to influence strategic decisions that impact local communities, enhancing leadership skills and expanding my network through engaging with other trustees and community leaders, fostering valuable connections and collaborative opportunities. It reflects my own beliefs about community responsibility and environmental care alongside empowering individuals through green jobs and community.
What relevant experience do you bring to your role as Trustee?
With over 25 years of fundraising experience, I have generated £150+ million for various good causes – I know how to find and ask people for money. My expertise includes strategic planning, financial management, team leadership in diverse fundraising initiatives, and cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals and corporate partners.
What is your vision for Groundwork Five Counties?
I want to enhance Groundwork Five Counties’ capacity to create lasting positive change in communities through sustainable practices, strong partnerships, and innovative fundraising strategies. Looking at sustainable funding initiatives, strategic partnership building, and supporting diverse approaches through adopting innovative digital and AI solutions to address the new philanthropic age we are segueing into.
NEIL MOON
What first drew you to Groundwork Five Counties?
I wanted to expand my knowledge and contribute to greater society. This was an easy decision to join Groundwork Five Counties as not only do they help the community but also make a positive contribution to the environment.
What relevant experience do you bring to your role as Trustee?
As a competent person for Health and Safety, I being a range of skills not only pertaining to Health and Safety but also working in the construction industry. I have gained experience in working both the private and local government sectors in both operational and strategic leadership roles.
What is your vision for Groundwork Five Counties?
My vision for the organisation is to help develop the organisation so that it makes a difference in the lives of people daily while improving the quality of the environment around them.
