Primetimers NW was launched at the end of February 2011 by Manchester based consultant and executive coach, Chris Hind, who has been working with charities and not for profit organisations for more than five years. Originally supported by the UnLtd Engage Programme the network of members in the north west has now accumulated a diverse range of skills including senior management experience in education and healthcare as well as specialist expertise in HR, accountancy, project management and change management.  Chris has now moved on from his lead role but remains an active member of Primetimers supporting a range of projects and assignments.  

For more information about Primetimers North West contact Brent Thomas or Bernice Rook on 0845 456 3885.

Recent funding from the Social Action Fund has also enabled local charities such as Assist UK to receive some well-targeted business support from Primetimers NW. 

Case Study:  Assist UK is a Manchester-based charity supporting disabled people and leads a UK wide network of locally situated Disabled Living Centres.   Chief Executive, Alan Norton, contacted Chris to discuss some of the issues facing Assist and it was agreed that Primetimers would undertake an Organisational Diagnostic Review to be presented back to the executive team and trustees with a resulting action plan.

Mary Walker had joined Primetimers a couple of months previously having had a successful and varied career in both public and private sectors.  Working with another Primetimer, Brian Holmes (who was one of our first NW members), they met with the executive team, completed the ODT by undertaking a series of interviews and facilitated a discussion with the trustees and then staff which looked at the future direction of the charity. This has subsequently led to an action plan with a series of recommendations which are being considered by Assist.

Initial feedback has been positive and commenting on her experience Mary was enthusiastic:  “It was great to get involved in some ‘real’ work so soon after joining Primetimers and I really felt that the work we were doing was important and would result in Assist being better placed to face its challenges”.