The People

---

Duggs  is a director of the Valleys Anchor, the book keeper  and does a fair bit freelance work for us on the Anchor Contract & the Families Together Project.
He lives in Holmfirth and his daughter was born and raised in the Colne Valley. He first lived round here when he was 18 and has never really left.  He has organised many community festivals and run environmental projects as a volunteer. He likes to think of himself as the biggest champion and advocate for the great area he made his home. 

 After 35 years working professionally in the voluntary & public sector supporting community projects, and working on policy and innovation in related fields Duggs took early retirement with a view to work less. But still works for about 20 hours a week supporting local groups; collaborating with partners in the Voluntary Sector, the Council and Health & is the main point of contact for the CIC

Outside of work Duggs is a keen fisherman, keeps a few chickens & lots of bees, drinks craft beer and walks his lurcher. 

Direct Mail: duggs@valleysanchor.co.uk

Sarah is a director of the Valleys Anchor, the chair and does some freelance work for us on the Families Together Project.

Sarah grew up in Yorkshire. She trained to teach in 1972. She settled in Huddersfield in 1985 and taught  at Newsome High School, having previously taught in Leicester and London.  She then moved to the University of Leeds, to work on behaviour management, teacher education and gender issues. Sarah then moved to the Teacher Training agency/DfE in Manchester where she led  the Business and Diversity team in the Recruitment Division until retirement in 2013. 

Sarah has been active in the Holme Valley where she has lived for over 30 years, supporting a variety of Arts, community and charity organisations. 

In May 2023 Sarah was elected as a Labour Parish Councillor to serve the Upper Holme Valley. She chairs the HVPC Climate Action and Community Engagement Committee (CACE) and can be contacted via the Parish Council cllrswhitelaw@holmevalleyparishcouncil.gov.uk or for VACIC matters 

Direct Mail: sarah@valleysanchor.co.uk

Lorraine is the newest of directors here at Valley Anchor CIC. Originally from Lincolnshire she moved over here to do a degree at Bretton Hall , home now to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, in the mid 80s and never went back. 

She has spent most of her life working in the charity sector but 2 years ago decided to take the plunge and give up full time paid work for a more challenging career of property renovation.  At the same time she wanted to get more involved in the local community so joined the Honley village Community Trust where she is treasurer and then became active in local politics where she chairs the local Branch of the Labour Party in Meltham & Honley. 

Outside of all this Lorraine loves walking and owns a very old VW campervan known affectionally as Skippy.

Gabby is a director of the Valleys Anchor, the secretary and does some freelance work for us on the Families Together Project. 

Grew up in the Colne Valley (Sla’wit) and has lived in the Holme Valley before moving slightly closer to Huddersfield.

Loves our wonderful countryside and fell walking, live music and seems to love a strong #hivemade flat white.

Gabby has 16 years experience gained in the charity sector and is Founder and CEO of Hive Huddersfield CIC, a not for profit cafe and community hub in central Huddersfield.

You can catch her for a coffee in Hive most days.

Direct Mail: gabby@valleysanchor.co.uk