Our Senior Management Team

Andrew Thompson | Chief Executive Officer

My role is to provide strategic and ethical leadership, to oversee operational management, to ensure governance & compliance and to provide external representation for the organisation. My primary focus is to ensure that GWWM fulfils its mission, remains financially sustainable, and delivers impactful programs. My key tasks include working closely with the Board of Trustees to develop a long-term vision and maintaining a bird’s-eye review of operations while delegating execution to an excellent team of senior leaders.

I have worked here at Groundwork West Midlands for five years, I was initially recruited as a ‘Turnaround Director’ to try and salvage a viable charity with seriously depleting levels of reserves. We are now on track to return our fourth successive surplus- a real turnaround in the charity’s fortunes and the mark of a sustainable and successful charity with a bright future for years to come. 

Debbie Williams | Head of Finance

I hold the overall responsibility for ensuring that the Trust maintains a strong financial management and planning system. Collaborating with the Senior Management Team, I review and establish annual budgets to support both project fulfilment and workforce allocation. My additional duties include payroll management, overseeing accounting activities up to and including Management Accounts. I also fulfil the organisations Company Secretary role. With over 20 years of experience within Groundwork Trusts, I have been part of Groundwork West Midlands since its inception in 2009. I am proud of my leadership in financial management of a large employment contract which is helping people get back into employment. I have had the opportunity to work with managers on numerous impactful projects and guiding the team to achieve financial performance milestones.

Alan Bull | Head of Employment and Skills

With over 20 years of experience supporting and managing within various welfare to work roles including employability trainer, employment coach and performance manager I oversee the Employment and Skills theme here at Groundwork West Midlands. Over the years Groundwork West Midlands has delivered projects such as Building Better Opportunities, NEET programmes, Restart and Birmingham Employment and Skills. Working alongside HR and Finance I ensure projects are staffed and working to budgets and meeting performance targets. As a member of the Senior Management Team I work with the team to sustain and grow the charity and its objectives. Following on from the COVID lockdown I manage to secure a contract with SERCO to start the Restart programme which helps people get back into employment. Since then I have helped open four centres across the West Midlands.

Joanne Elward | Healthy Lifestyle Manager

I have worked at Groundwork West Midlands for 13 years. My role as Healthy Lifestyle Manager is centred on designing projects in response to needs of people. This includes implementing, managing programs and initiatives that encourage healthy habits, physical and mental wellbeing to help create an overall balanced living. My proudest achievement at Groundwork West Midlands is seeing the real life positive impact that our programs have on people’s lives especially the Cook & Eat project. Cook Together Eat Together is a community-focused initiative that brings people of all ages and backgrounds together to learn about nutrition, cooking skills, and the joy of sharing meals. By fostering a sense of community and providing practical skills, the program not only improves participants’ dietary habits but also enhances their social connections and emotional well-being. It has been incredibly rewarding to witness the transformation in participants as they gain confidence in the kitchen and develop a deeper appreciation for the food they prepare.

Pundeep Kaur | Community and Environment Manager

As the Community and Environment Manager at Groundwork West Midlands, I lead an exceptional multidisciplinary team capable of engaging a diverse audience and delivering activities and services through a wide array of projects. Our initiatives encompass various themes, combining aspects of nature, people and places. We focus on empowering individuals to enhance their resilience and well-being, as well as assisting community groups in securing funding. Our projects are diverse, exciting and fulfilling, aimed at creating meaningful and impactful outcomes. I began my journey at Groundwork as a volunteer in the Education team in Wolverhampton and have since transitioned to the Communities team, further broadening my skills and experience. I am grateful to witness first-hand the lasting positive effects our work has on communities. As a manager, I take great pride in my team’s dedication to addressing people’s needs and ensuring the success of our projects.

Melissa Underwood | Land and Environment Manager

I am the Land and Environment Manager at Groundwork West Midlands, where I lead a fantastic team of rangers dedicated to enhancing our country parks and green spaces. I oversee a variety of projects- from water restoration to meadow creation- that aim to benefit both nature and our local communities. My role is all about sustainable environment today but also leave a positive legacy for future generations. I have been working with Groundwork West Midlands for just over a year now, I’m really enjoying the diversity of the projects, and no two days are the same. A project that stand out is a sensory garden refurbishment where volunteers where able to grow their confidence working together and following safety procedures. At Groundwork West Midlands I am proud to contribute to a future where both people and nature flourish together.