Meet The Team
The Staff
Helen Health
Volunteer Coordinator
Before joining Rhubarb Farm Helen worked in adult learning for over 16 years, predominately as a project manager, managing the development of digital learning resources for adults with low level literacy skills and apprenticeship programmes. She has come to Rhubarb Farm looking for a complete change in role and a different environment.
Christine Breach
Drug and Alcohol Worker
Chris worked in the food industry for many years , including ten years with our partners, The School of Artisan Food, which is where she first came into contact with Rhubarb Farm, working on collaborations such as the Chatsworth Show and the School’s kitchen garden. Her own experiences of the therapeutic benefits of gardening have helped prompt a change of direction to work in supporting volunteers with substance misuse issues. She loves to cook and has always been an enthusiastic amateur gardener.
Elaine Czipak
Support Worker (casual)
Elaine previously worked in the NHS for 34 yrs and for the last 8 as a community Physiotherapist.
In her spare time she is part of her residents association helping to organise events in her village. She loves gardening and takes the lead in planting flower tubs in her village.
Paul Hancox
Driver
Paul has joined Rhubarb Farm despite trying to retire! He had a career in the armed forces as a Mechanical/Electrical Engineer, serving in various countries as a senior NCO. After his army service he made a career in bus and coach manufacturing in Birmingham. After relocating to Chesterfield he began a business manufacturing small and medium coaches, and then beer containers. His engineering and driving skills are invaluable in maintenance of the vehicles, and transporting volunteers to the Farm.
Managing Director
Jennie Street (Managing Director and Board member)
Jennie Street has 30 years development experience in Sheffield, Derbyshire, Hong Kong, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Eritrea. She has worked in community action and rights, mental health, housing, gypsy action, and refugee rehabilitation. She worked on a community allotments project involving residents in Rotherham, and on an organic therapeutic horticultural project in NE Derbs. She has experience of management, audit, evaluation and project management. Jennie opens her own garden each year for a local open gardens scheme and for 2 years under the National Gardens Scheme (Yellow Book). She co-wrote a book "Red Sea Railway", published 2010.
The Board
John Beazer (non executive director)
John Beazer was formerly CEO of Yes2Work Ltd, a small social firm helping disabled jobseekers back into work and employing disabled people itself. John works on the strategic side of Rhubarb Farm, where his 30 years experience as a senior civil servant and his IT expertise is invaluable.
SIMON TAYLOR (Non-Executive Director)
Simon Taylor worked in care management at a residential school for students with language disorders and autism. He then spent 12 years working in local authority economic development, managing European funding streams and developing business support schemes for social enterprises. He then worked for Shared Lives Plus, a charity and the UK network of micro and family-based providers of care services. Currently he works for Derbyshire County Council as Social Pedagogy, Senior Staff Development Officer in the Children and Younger Adults Department.
PETER FINCH (Non-Executive Director)
Peter has worked for Smith Bros Electrical Wholesalers in Doncaster for the past 26 years and currently holds the post of Sales Manager and is very highly regarded and respected within the electrical industry.
Pete first joined the Board after a visit to Rhubarb Farm and arranging the funding and installation of a full site CCTV and intruder system to protect the Farm. Pete is very active in seeking practical support for the Farm from a variety of suppliers he works with, and brings important business advice and guidance to the Board.
GARETH DILLON (Non-Executive Director)
Gareth is a qualified Mining and Civil Engineer with over 30 years of industry experience and was appointed Managing Director of Chesterfield based contractor NT Killingley in November 2018. Killingley have a long relationship with Rhubarb Farm and have provided much appreciated assistance, equipment and materials over the years. Having made a number of visits to help with various issues and being so impressed with the Farm's community engagement, Gareth was delighted to accept an offer to join the Board of Directors and brings his diverse business experience to the Board.
ANGELA KEYWORTH (Non-Executive Director)
Angela comes from a background of sales and consultancy. She has lived and worked in countries such as Malta and Dubai for 12 years, where she ran her own businesses in real estate. Angela returned to the UK in April 2011 and became one of the first women in the UK to qualify as a Green Deal, Carbon Energy Assessor. She has a technical background in energy saving and has worked with a portfolio of large-scale commercial clients. Angela is passionate about the future of Rhubarb Farm and the work it does for so many less privileged people in society.