Calderdale Forum 50 Plus draws on the experience of a number of volunteers, who make up the organisation’s committee.
If you are interested in joining our committee, attending our meetings or joining our Insight Panel, you can find out more about what we are looking for here.
Interested in finding out more? For an informal chat, contact us at info@calderdaleforum50plus.com or call 07946 510900 and leave a message.
Michael Felton: Following a career in Education, finishing as Head of a large comprehensive school, Michael became involved in a wide range of local initiatives. As a Non Executive Director of Calderdale PCT (2002-2006), he developed an interest in older peoples issues and was their Older Peoples Champion. Since 2007 he has been a Trustee of Age UK, as it has now become, and a member of Forum 50+ since its inception. He brings to the Forum experience in the public and voluntary sectors and a range of useful connections. He retains an interest in Education both as a Governor of a Primary school in Calderdale, and in making it clear that education is for life and can be an important part of the experience of older people.
Malcolm Kielty MBE: Malcolm’s involvement in the arena of Rugby League for 49 years is widely known throughout Calderdale, culminating in the award of an MBE in the 2014 Honours List. He is also very involved with Disability Partnership Calderdale (DPC) as a member and former Chair, a co-founder of the Cardinals Wheelchair Sports Club and founder of the Calderdale Community Coaching Trust (a charitable foundation). He brings to the Forum a wealth of connections and networking ability throughout Calderdale. These skills and his experience have been invaluable as a forum Committee Members for the last three years and as Chair since November 2014.
Ann Ogilvie: Having had a successful career in project management/change management Ann has brought experience to the committee relating to planning and driving forward new initiatives. She currently works in Adults, Health and Social Care at Calderdale Council and has a large network of contacts across the Calderdale Commissioning Group, Calderdale Royal Hospital, Providers, Contractors and the Voluntary Sector. Her aim is to support people across the borough to remain happy and safe in their own homes for as long as possible and leading the type of life they wish to lead. She is married with two sons and her hobbies include walking, gardening and, of course, shopping!
Mike Riley: After a career in Banking with Halifax Building Society, Mike was then recruited by Dell Computers to be its UK Managing Director. He has also been involved in helping new businesses start up, as the Director of Leeds Business Venture, and also started and ran a training company, producing a business programme for Radio Leeds, Northern Business, which ran for about three years. After he retired, Mike’s mum suffered from Dementia, which gave him an understanding of just how hard it was to source reliable information and help. Mike joined Forum 50+ a couple of years ago to try and help rectify these shortcomings.
Shabir Hussain: Shabir is a qualified accountant with an MA in Public Policy from the University of Birmingham and has been Director of Bluebird Care Calderdale & Bradford South since 2012. He worked for a housing charity for over 16 years and saw first-hand the positive impact on children’s lives when homeless families are provided with permanent accommodation. His passion for helping others led to involvement with Memory Lane Café, Disability Partnership Calderdale, Staying Well, The Great Get Together at Crow Wood Park and Calderdale Dementia Friendly Community. Since 2013, he has regularly volunteered for Rotary – helping raise funds for local good causes.
Chris Willis: Originally from Sheffield, Chris has lived in Halifax since 1986, when she started working for Calderdale Council in Adult Social Care. She started out in catering, then moved into Home Care management, and finished in Commissioning. Her last role was working in partnership with the Alzheimers Society, identifying ways to improve the lives of people living with dementia. Since retirement in 2015, she has had more time to spend in the garden, is an active member of Sowerby Bridge Ladies’ Probus, and continues her interest in genealogy, growing the family tree. Only recently, she discovered her three times Great Grandfather was married in Elland in 1856, despite believing she was the first member of her family to live in the Calderdale area!
Julie Ingham: Julie is an experienced marketing and communications professional, who has held management roles in both commercial and third sector organisations and run her own marketing consultancy, providing advice and support to small businesses in West Yorkshire. More recently she lead the marketing department at National Day Nurseries Association and was responsible for developing the strategy for this national membership and training organisation to support its vision of high quality childcare for all. The role involved working closely with the Director of Policy to campaign for enhanced funding for the day nursery sector. She now works part-time in a community engagement role for home care provider Home Instead Calderdale. Away from work, Julie is a keen cyclist and tennis player, competing in the Calderdale tennis league and coaching youngsters in cycling skills.