About Us
Valley Park Community Association (VPCA) is a charity which exists to promote the interests of the residents of Valley Park. The overall aim is to improve the quality of life by bringing together residents, local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to ensure that educational, welfare and leisure facilities are available.
VPCA manages Valley Park Community Centre, local Magazine the Valley Park Voice, and employs a Centre Manager and Community Engagement Coordinator.
Valley Park Community Centre
‘More than a Hall’ – Valley Park News
Valley Park Voice
Current Committee
VPCA is run by a committee of volunteers dedicated to their local community who manage the Valley Park Community Centre and Valley Park Voice.
Rob Jenkins
Chair
Having lived in Valley Park for over 20 years I felt it was time to give something back to the community and took on the role of Chair in 2020. After the lockdown and COVID I am keen to bring the community back together improving health and wellbeing and having the Community Centre as a focal point for this. I like all chocolate, particularly maltesers – donations gratefully received!
Les Berridge
Vice Chair
Les has been a resident of Valley Park for 23 years and has worked as a front line recruiter until his recent retirement, He was consistently one of Gattaca’s top performers and in his last full time year produced more revenue than anyone else, winning their award for Consultant of the Year.
He holds the Diploma in Recruitment Practice, the highest qualification in recruitment. He has also been a member of the REC’s Technology Exec Committee (ultimately as the Chair) for the last fourteen years, where he helped to bring about changes to government policy over security clearance, tax law and immigration. At the REC’s National awards in 2010, he was awarded the Eileen Simpson Award for Outstanding Contribution to Recruitment and two years later was awarded one of the first five honorary fellowships of the IRP, the highest individual honour in recruitment.
James Crawford
Treasurer
James is a long time resident of Valley Park, originally moving to the area in 1994.
James moved back to Valley Park in Late 2019, just before COVID lockdowns, and started volunteering with VPCA shortly after.
He works as a Process Automations Engineer and is an amateur filmmaker in his spare time.
Sarah McClelland
Trustee
Hi! I’m Sarah, the lead minister (vicar) of St Francis church in Valley Park, which is ideally situated between St Francis school and the Cleveland Bay! I love our leafy cycle paths, profusion of streams, and above all, our friendly community. You may have seen me around on the back of a tandem, as my husband, Cliff, and I do enjoy a bike ride, or maybe playing a bit of table tennis in our back garden or down at Knightwood on the outdoor table.
I was born and brought up in Jersey and was GP there until taking up vicaring back in 2014. Cliff and I trained together and now he’s a prison chaplain at Winchester prison – handily within cycling distance. As a church here in Valley Park we’re a diverse bunch and we’re all about community. For me, our twice weekly café is a highlight!
Helen Whitbourn
Secretary
Awaiting biog.
Isla Thomson
Centre Manager / Editor
I started working for VPCA in early 2020 and am responsible for the Community Centre, Website, Bookings, Accounts, and the Valley Park Voice. This part-time role is both challenging and rewarding and I have really enjoyed becoming part of the Valley Park community.
Lucy Armstrong
Community Engagement Coordinator
Awaiting biog.