What the Board Does
Behind every piece of work we do, a group of dedicated trustees give their time, experience, and steady guidance to keep Healthwatch Bradford and District on the right path. They help us stay independent, make sound decisions, and remain focused on what matters most to local people. Our Trustees bring a rich mix of skills and experience from the health and care sector, education, community work, research, and governance. They help us stay grounded in what matters to Bradford’s communities. Our board of Trustees:
- Shape the overall vision and priorities for Healthwatch Bradford and District.
- Ensure we meet all our legal and regulatory duties.
- Keep a close eye on our finances, governance and potential risks.
- Provide guidance and support to the Chief Executive and staff team.
- Make sure local people’s experiences and views drive our work.
Our Board of Trustees
Sarah - Chair of the Board of Trustees.
"I think Healthwatch Bradford and District does a vital job hearing from people across the District, sharing their experiences and views with the NHS, and helping the health and care system better understand the community. I love that I can support this, and I really enjoy getting to work with the fantastic team."
As the Chair of the board of trustees, I work with the other trustees and staff to help set the strategic direction of Healthwatch Bradford and District. We meet regularly to look at finance reports, agree the budget, get updates on the work of the staff team and make any decisions that are important to ensure the charity is as strong and effective as possible. We also work closely with the senior staff team to make sure they have the support they need.
I previously managed Healthwatch Bradford and District, and I’m passionate about ensuring our local community has a strong voice in the local NHS. I know from personal experience, as both a patient and a carer, that the NHS can be confusing and it can be hard to have your voice heard. We are a diverse and brilliant community, and it’s vital that every part of it has the chance to speak up and help shape our care.
Outside of my role, I’ve got two young children so I’m often busy with them, but I also love yoga and walking in the woods and moors around the District.
Jo - Member of our Board of Trustees.
“I’m committed to making sure every voice, especially those often overlooked, shapes the future of our local health and care services.”
Alongside my work as an Aviation Ops Co‑ordinator, I serve as a trustee where my role is to read, question, and challenge. I bring real‑life experience into board decisions, always trying to make sure services and strategies work for the people they’re meant to help.
Because I commute between Yorkshire and Oxford for my job, I get to see how health services operate in different parts of the country. That wider perspective really influences how I approach certain services, especially when I see how differently things can be done in other areas of the UK.
I have a particular interest in children’s services, the elderly, and the more vulnerable sector, as I feel these are the cohorts that have seldom heard voices and need to be supported within healthcare services. As a Healthwatch board member, I champion the voice of local people in health and social care. I use lived experience, community insight, and independent challenge to influence decisions, improve services, and ensure people are heard. I’m driven by a belief that everyone deserves safe, fair, and accessible care, and that real change happens when the public voice is at the table and taken seriously.
I’m also currently studying a diploma in Aesthetics. When I’m qualified, I hope to be able to help people with cleft palates or other facial issues or scarring that isn’t covered on the NHS. It’s important to me to support people who might otherwise struggle to access the help they need.
I really agree with the sentiment that the health and care system works best when it truly listens to the people it serves.
Emma - Member of our Board of Trustees.
"Good health and social care starts with listening. Sometimes the smallest conversations can lead to the biggest changes."
I became a Trustee because I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to shape the health and social care services they use. Healthwatch Bradford and District gives people a voice, especially those whose experiences and opinions can too easily go unheard, and I am passionate about making sure those voices are listened to.
Alongside my trustee role, I am a doctoral researcher with a particular interest in working with health and social care staff, and seldom heard communities. I am fascinated by the ways in which people experience services differently and the barriers that can prevent them from being heard. For me, good health and social care starts with listening to people and understanding what really matters to them.
As a Trustee, I help support the strategic direction of Healthwatch Bradford and District and champion the importance of involving local people in decisions about health and care. I am particularly interested in making sure that our work is accessible, inclusive and reaches communities that are often underrepresented. I also sit front and centre in supporting and developing our communication strategy.
Outside of Healthwatch and research, life is a little less organised! I foster dogs, which means my house is often wonderfully chaotic, with a revolving cast of four-legged visitors keeping me on my toes. When the chaos gets a bit too much, I reach for my crochet hooks. I love creating things by hand, and it's the perfect way to unwind after a busy day (or after trying to persuade a foster dog that the sofa isn't theirs!).
