Meet the Team

Our team are committed to carers. Many members of our staff team and Board of Directors are current or former carers themselves, so we understand the reality of caring.

Our Staff

Anne Connolly

Chief Executive

Anne leads Manchester Carers Forum, working closely with our dedicated team to ensure carers across the city receive high-quality support in their caring roles. She works alongside the Board of Directors to deliver the Forum’s strategic vision and keep the organisation running smoothly day to day.

With more than 20 years’ experience in the voluntary sector, Anne has worked in both local and national mental health charities and advice organisations. Her background in advocacy, advice and service development means she understands the challenges carers face when navigating complex systems during emotionally difficult times.

Anne joined Manchester Carers Forum in 2016 and previously served as Operations Manager. In that role she strengthened internal systems, led on service development and income generation, helping to shape the organisation’s long term direction.

Following the passing of long serving Chief Officer Dave Williams in 2025, Anne is committed to building on the strong foundations he created. She is focused on ensuring carers’ voices continue to be heard and that the Forum remains a collaborative and trusted partner across Manchester.

Anne also brings lived experience to her role, having cared for her late father. This personal insight combined with her professional experience, drives her commitment to ensuring Manchester Carers Forum remains a reliable and supportive source of support to carers for many years to come.

Anne Connolly

Chief Executive

Carer Support and Admin Coordinator

Daniel first became involved with MCF many years ago when he accessed our support as a young carer. This led to him volunteering with us, and later becoming a paid member of staff. Daniel’s role with us was first in admin and he is the true definition of developing his skills on the job. He now has NVQ Level 3 in Business and Communications and leads on both our admin and publicity, most notably our website, social media and monthly online newsletter.

Daniel now uses his passion for supporting carers and his own experience as a carer, in a combined admin and support role providing direct support to carers over the phone, and supporting our groups, trips and coffee meetings. If you call our main number, it is more than likely Daniel who will answer.

Daniel Cooke

Carer Support and Admin Coordinator

Daniel first became involved with MCF many years ago when he accessed our support as a young carer. This led to him volunteering with us, and later becoming a paid member of staff.

South Locality Lead Coordinator

Hannah became part of the Manchester Carers Forum Team at the start of November 2024. Before joining the team Hannah had been working for another charity supporting parent carers of early years children with emerging needs and SEND. Hannah is passionate about listening to and working alongside carers and actioning what they are saying they need. Hannah knows the importance of peer support and providing opportunities for carers to meet other people on a similar journey to them. Hannah also has previous experience working as a social worker in the Youth Offending Team and Fostering and Adoption team.

In her role as Locality Coordinator Hannah leads the Carers Manchester South team, whose work is focussed on raising awareness of the needs of carers and promoting Carers Manchester. Hannah also leads on engagement work with carers in South Manchester, conducting gap analysis to look at what support carers need and how this can be provided.

Hannah Kennedy

North Locality Lead Coordinator

Hannah became part of the Manchester Carers Forum team in February 2019. In her former role as one of our Carer Support Service Coordinators, Hannah coordinated carers walks, several of the support groups, as well as trips and breaks. Hannah also used her creative skills to implement service development based on the direct feedback carers gave us about what would benefit their wellbeing.

Hannah Kennedy

North Locality Lead Coordinator

Hannah is passionate about supporting carers to improve their quality of life. A former health coach and crisis worker, she has extensive experience over several years providing support to people going through difficult situations. A former carer herself, Hannah has real insight into the needs of carers and the challenges they face.

In her current role as North Locality Lead Coordinator, Hannah leads the Carers Manchester North team, whose work is focussed on raising awareness of carers and promoting Carers Manchester. Hannah also leads on engagement work with carers in North Manchester, conducing gap analysis to look at what support carers need and how this can be provided.

Hannah is the organisation’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, our main contact for safeguarding concerns.

Karen Kennedy

Carer Support Coordinator

Karen has been working for charities for the past 23 years supporting vulnerable people of Manchester. Born in Crumpsall she has extensive knowledge of the North of Manchester. Karen is a part-time carer for her mum who is a stroke survivor. A yoga teacher and enthusiastic about the mind and body connection, the importance of respite to carers through mindfulness, exercise and most importantly peer support. Communication is important to her and she will continue to provide information and a haven to our carers throughout their journey.

Karen Kennedy

Carer Support Coordinator

Data Management and Funding Officer

David brings his data expertise to the Forum to lead on our data collection and management. He provides valuable support across the organisation.

Data Management and Funding Officer

David Sheffield - Data Management Officer

David brings his data expertise to the Forum to lead on our data collection and management. He provides valuable support across the organisation. This includes ensuring colleagues have the data they need to offer the best support service to carers as well as the data to complete funding applications and monitoring documentation. He also works collaboratively with the Chief Executive to develop income generation, including leading on applications to charitable trusts and developing the organisation’s individual and corporate fundraising, as well as supporting wider organisational development.

Mark Turner

Carer Outreach Coordinator

Mark identifies and engages with unpaid carers in a range of settings in the north and south Manchester communities. A focus of Mark’s work is to enable underrepresented groups of carers to access support and information in their caring journeys.

Carer Outreach Coordinator

Mark has started to establish a citywide group for male carers, a group typically underrepresented in accessing support and services.

Mark plays a role in supporting efforts to develop links with a range of partners including health services, to increase awareness and recognition of the valuable role carers play in our city.

Mark has a community development background and worked for a large housing association supporting tenants and residents groups.

Mark also led a large children and young peoples voluntary sector organisation in Kent, managing traditional youth services and setting up a bail support scheme for youngsters at risk of remand or custodial sentences. Home tutoring was brought to the youth club for those young people excluded from mainstream school provision.

In the past 6 and a half years, Mark has worked for the NHS, based in doctor’s surgeries, providing health checks and support for carers and those patients at risk of diabetes and cardio-vascular disease.

Mark likes nothing more than to get outdoors and finds movement is the best way for him to stay physically healthy and support his mental wellbeing. He feels it’s really important for carers to be able to have the time to do the things they enjoy!

Afara Welch

Finance Officer

Afara is an accounting professional with over ten years experience in the field. She brings this expertise to manage MCF’s accounts on a day-to-day basis and provides advice to our Board of Directors.

Finance Officer

	Afara is an accounting professional with over ten years experience in the field. She brings this expertise to manage MCF’s accounts on a day-to-day basis and provides advice to our Board of Directors. Afara strives to bring her best to the organisation so we continue in a strong position to deliver support to carers.

Board of Directors

Steven Bonham – Grant

Steven brings his expertise as a solicitor providing legal guidance to the Directors as well as acting as the Safeguarding Lead for the Board.

Mike Lake

Mike has overall view of the Forum’s finances, both now and looking towards the future. Mike spent most of his earlier life in Essex until moving to Cheshire in his banking career. Since retiring and with his financial background he became equally involved in voluntary work and a treasurer of various organisations, including two with a connection to music.

Having caring experience for his mother, in 2011 Mike decided to become our Treasurer to use his years of financial expertise to ensure robust financial management of MCF so we can continue to support carers.

Mike Lake

Mike has overall view of the Forum’s finances, both now and looking towards the future. Mike spent most of his earlier life in Essex until moving to Cheshire in his banking career.

David Laughlin

David has over 25 years of experience and has worked in the Lloyds and North American insurance risk markets.

David has worked extensively in the PFI/PPP and public sector arena for many years from a procurement perspective and has been heavily involved in many different types of projects going back to the introduction of NHS Trust Wave One in 1991.

David has spoken at many conferences highlighting the insurance and risk management issues of PFI projects, in particular within the Road and Health sectors. In addition he has worked extensively on drafting national framework risk contracts in the UK.

David decided to become a Director to help Manchester Carers Forum support carers after becoming a carer himself and to bring his expertise of risk management into the charity sector.

Gaynor Morgan

Having been a carer for nearly 40 years, caring for family members with mental health problems and substance misuse, she is well versed in the needs of carers.

Gaynor first became involved with MCF by chance over 20 years ago, through talking to her neighbour over the garden fence who pointed her in the direction of our support. Gaynor found that over the years this support taught her to have a voice. Those that know Gaynor know just how much she now uses her voice as a champion for carers. Whether that is through her weekly radio show for carers on All FM, the student social workers she engages with through their readiness for practice or her carer awareness raising to statutory services. Gaynor ensures being a voice for carers is at the heart of everything we do.

Ann Sarge

Ann has been a carer for 25 years. She has received continuous support from the MCF team which enabled her to go on a creative journey – writing, dancing, acting and singing!

Ann has developed a great sense of belonging and felt empowered to become a Director, allowing her to bring her wealth of experience as a Manchester carer to the Board to ensure we continue to empower carers.

Ann Sarge

Ann has been a carer for 25 years. She has received continuous support from the MCF team which enabled her to go on a creative journey – writing, dancing, acting and singing!

Since he left university in 2010, David has worked in the property sector, and run a number of businesses. He brings this expertise and pragmatic thinking into the work of the Forum to help keep the business side of things running, supporting the valuable work that all carers and volunteers carry out around Manchester.

David has also been involved in a number of fundraising events for the Forum, including a bike ride from Knutsford to Bath which was a bit of a challenge!

David Tindall

Since he left university in 2010, David has worked in the property sector, and run a number of businesses.

Sara Williamson

Sara is Chair of Manchester Carers Forum and brings a wealth of public leadership experience, helping to guide and strengthen the organisation.

Sara is Chair of Manchester Carers Forum and brings a wealth of public leadership experience, helping to guide and strengthen the organisation. Sara has held senior executive roles within the NHS including Accountable Officer and Director of Integrated Health and Care Strategy for over 30 years, most recently in Greater Manchester. Her skills and experience are complemented by 7 years as a management consultant.

Sara has also been an Associate of AQUA: Advancing Quality Alliance, Vice Chair of the Pankhurst Trust (incorporating Manchester Women’s Aid) and Co-Chair of the Greater Manchester Women’s Health Strategy Group.

Throughout her career Sara has successfully led organisations and delivered the strategic direction and implementation of highly complex care systems across a wide range of sectors.

Sara has recently retired from the NHS and is now enjoying travelling more, running more as a member of Chorlton Runners and volunteer and runner at Parkrun, and has recently joined a choir.

Meet The Team

Our Staff

Anne Connolly

Chief Executive

Daniel Cooke

Carer Support and Admin Coordinator

Hannah Evans

South Locality Lead Coordinator

Hannah Kennedy

North Locality Lead Coordinator

Karen Kennedy

Carer Support Coordinator

David Sheffield

Data Management and Funding Officer

Mark Turner

Carer Outreach Coordinator

Afara Welch

Finance Officer

Board of Directors

Steven Bonham – Grant

Mike Lake

David Laughlin

Gaynor Morgan

Ann Sarge

David Tindall

Sara Williamson

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