The Judges

Calderdale Community Spirit Awards

Nominations have now closed

The tough decision of picking just one winner in each category will fall to our esteemed panel of judges, here’s a little more information on who will be making those choices.

Steve Duncan

Steve is the Chief Executive Officer of the Community Foundation for Calderdale (CFFC) and a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.

Steve joined the Foundation in 2000 and became the CEO in 2004. Steve’s background prior to joining CFFC was in graphic design and illustration and in his spare time as a community events organiser and volunteer youth and community worker, with a particular passion for improving the life chances of young people.

Steve has steered CFFC through several significant flood events most notably in 2015 and 2020 raising over £3 million to support flooded households, charities and businesses. As a response to these significant flood events two schemes were introduced, Watermark and FloodSave, to provide financial support to people and organisations vulnerable to future flooding. In 2016 CFFC received two national awards for its immediate response to the Boxing Day 2015 flood and its visionary schemes.

More recently Steve and his team responded to the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) raising and distributing significant sums to front line charities to support the frail, elderly and vulnerable in Calderdale. And in 2022 Coordinated online fundraising appeals following fires at Ash Green Primary School and Burlees House Hebden Bridge and has seen a record breaking £2.4m of grants awarded to Calderdale organisations.

Steve is a trustee of Cycling Without Age Calderdale, Calipso and the FC Halifax Foundation and a committee member of Business for Calderdale

“I am a proud Yorkshireman born in Leeds, a passionate Leeds United fan and love living in Calderdale. Calderdale has been my home now for 34 years. I love its people, their warmth and generosity and the stunning countryside and I truly believe we have the best charitable organisations and charity leaders right here in little old Calderdale – resilient, innovative, resourceful and always fighting above its weight.”

Sian Rogers

Siân Rogers, Policy and Projects Manager, lead for Voluntary and Community Sector, Calderdale Council

Since 2012 Sian has been the lead officer for Calderdale Council working in partnership with the voluntary and community sector. Her team’s work includes running grants and contracts for the voluntary community sector including the Voluntary Sector Infrastructure Alliance, Healthwatch and advice services, developing volunteering, working with other funders to bring more money into Calderdale and some big projects with the sector like community asset transfers where local people have taken on the management of important local buildings (for example the Town Hall in Hebden Bridge, the old Fire Station and Swimming Pool in Sowerby Bridge). Her team also leads the Inclusive Economy Strategy and projects for Calderdale and supports the anti-poverty partnership. In 2018 Sian was awarded the prestigious Public Sector Hero Award, sponsored by CCLA, from Locality, the national network for community organisations for championing innovative partnership approaches to working with the VCSE for her work in Calderdale. During Covid-19 Sian has been supporting the volunteer hub for Calderdale building on the Council’s experience working with volunteers in the floods that hit the Calder Valley in 2012, 2015 and in February 2020. Follow @RogersSian

‘It has been a tough year for everyone but I’ve been inspired again by the passionate people who work and volunteer in the voluntary sector to make a difference across the Borough. It is a real privilege, particularly as a Calder Valley resident, to work alongside the huge range of amazing local voluntary and community groups in Calderdale’.

Emma Worsley

Emma is the Membership Services & Communications Manager for Voluntary & Community (VAC) and the Communications Lead for the VSI Alliance. Working in the Calderdale Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector for over a decade, Emma is passionate about promoting and championing the hard work and resilience of the VCSE Sector and its positive impact on local communities. In her spare time, Emma enjoys gardening, sewing and swimming.