Jayne Blacklay becomes Helpforce Chair
22nd January 2025
We are very pleased to announce that Jayne Blacklay has been appointed as Helpforce’s new Chair.
Jayne Blacklay, the Strategic Adviser for the Foundation Group of NHS trusts, has become our charity’s new Chair, as Dr Anna Dixon steps down from the role. Jayne has been a Trustee since Helpforce was founded and Vice Chair for the past year. Following Anna’s election as an MP, Jayne will take over leadership of our expert board of trustees.
Jayne will work with our new Chief Executive, Amerjit Chohan, to ensure the charity delivers on its mission to accelerate and grow volunteering at this important, transformational moment for health and care. With the NHS Ten Year Plan for Health due in May, and to build on the momentum of our successful ‘Unlocking the power of volunteering’ report and reception, our charity’s leadership is being further strengthened, with Jayne supported by two Vice Chairs, Lara Sonola and Richard Lewis. Lara will focus on organisational issues and Richard will work alongside Jayne, Amerjit and the senior management team as the charity reviews its strategy.
Commenting on her appointment, Jayne said:
“I am immensely pleased to take on this role for a charity and cause I believe in so strongly.
“Helpforce has demonstrated the value of volunteering and has become a trusted partner across the NHS. Having established a firm foundation and strong track record of delivering benefits, we are on a great trajectory to optimise the role of volunteering within the Ten Year Plan for Health.
“My warmest thanks to Anna for her work as Chair. Building on the brilliant work of our founder, Sir Tom Hughes-Hallett. She has been instrumental in establishing Helpforce as a valued resource, developing volunteer roles across many NHS providers.
“And welcome to our two new Vice Chairs. I look forward to working alongside Lara and Richard with Amerjit, Helpforce’s new Chief Executive, and the wonderful Helpforce staff. Helpforce really has an incredible team, with the right skills and experience to help deliver the step-change needed from the NHS, national and local government and care and community organisations to scale and spread the power of volunteering.”
Anna Dixon welcomed Jayne to her new role as Chair, and commented:
"Helpforce is incredibly important to me. Having helped Sir Tom found the charity, I was honoured to take on the role of Chair when he retired. Having been elected an MP last summer and successfully appointed a new Chief Executive, it is time for me to step back.
“I’m so pleased to hand over to Jayne, whose experience within the NHS and commitment to Helpforce make her the perfect person for the role.”
Amerjit welcomed Jayne, commenting:
“I look forward to working alongside Jayne as our new Chair.
“Helpforce is a tremendous organisation and it’s a great time to be taking on the role of Chief Executive, building on Mark Lever’s legacy. As Mark’s farewell blog sets out, Helpforce has already helped achieve so much in shifting how volunteering is perceived and deployed - and now stands poised to do even more.
“We’re ambitious about the changes we want to see and, thanks to our great team of skilled and committed trustees and staff, I know we’ll succeed.”