Meet the team

MEET THE TEAM

Senior Leadership Team

Senior Management at LOROS comprises a number of individuals who collectively have operational authority and responsibility for running the organisation. They are directed and supported by the Board of Trustees with regard to strategy and performance and provide relevant and timely information to the Board to enable it to discharge its responsibilities. The Chief Executive, Lead Clinician and Director of Care Services attend all Board meetings.

Director of Finance and Resources

Emma Clarke

Director of People

Jackie Goss MA MCIPD CAHRI

Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Income Generation and Marketing

Caroline Baker

Director of Patient Services & Clinical Quality

Jo Polkey

Medical Director

Dr Luke Feathers, MBBS FRCP

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Rob Parkinson

Director of Finance and Resources

Emma Clarke

Emma joined LOROS in August 2023 as the Director of Finance & Resources. After obtained a BA in Business & Accounting, Emma became a qualified Chartered Accountant in 2009 and is currently a Fellow with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). With a career spanning over 20 years in the not for profit sector, Emma’s experience includes senior leadership roles within the education sector and a large UK wide charity.

As the Director of Finance & Resources, Emma is a pivotal member of the senior leadership team with responsibility for leading LOROS’s finance, IT, Data Governance, Facilities and Operations. This includes overseeing the management of the financial resources and working with trustees and senior colleagues to manage risk and deliver a financial strategy that realises the charity’s priorities and future plans.

Outside of work Emma enjoys spending time with family and friends

Director of People

Jackie Goss MA MCIPD CAHRI

Date joined LOROS

March 2021

Jackie joined LOROS in March 2021 as Associate Director of Human Resources and was subsequently promoted to Director of People in January 2022. She joined LOROS as part of her successful 17 year career in Human Resources, during which she has worked largely within the commercial sector in the UK, Republic of Ireland and Australia. Her qualifications include BA (Hons) Human Resources Management, PG Cert Employment Law, PG Dip Human Resources Management and a Masters in Human Resources Management. She holds Chartered Member status of both the UK’s CIPD and its Australian equivalent, the AHRI.

The overriding purpose of Jackie’s role as Director of People is to create a culture which consistently delivers the highest possible level of patient care. This is done by ensuring the processes, practices and procedures by which our paid staff and volunteers are recruited and deployed to deliver the LOROS Strategy are fit for purpose, aspirational and deliver on quality. This is a process of continuous improvement, achieved through the commitment and collaboration of the Volunteer Coordination team, HR team and Staff Network Coordinator.

Outside of work Jackie enjoys making greetings cards, golf, cycling and listening to podcasts on true crime, management and The Archers.

Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Income Generation and Marketing

Caroline Baker

Date joined LOROS

June 2019

Caroline joined LOROS in June 2019 having worked in the charitable sector for over 14 years. Prior to this she spent the first 7 years of her career in the financial sector. She is an experienced Director of Fundraising and Communications, however her specialism is in Philanthropy, having implemented and led the Major Gift and Capital Appeal programmes at Barnardo’s. She has significant experience across a range of fundraising disciplines as well as organisational stakeholder management.

Caroline is responsible for all areas of income generation at LOROS, from the more traditional areas, such as Fundraising, Lotteries and Enterprise- to developing new and innovative income streams for LOROS with the aim of raising more long term sustainable funds to support patients and their families. Underpinning all of income generation is the data team who support income generation in their communication with our supporters.

Caroline is passionate about building meaningful relationships and partnerships with supporters, so that all supporters feel genuinely valued and truly know the difference that their support makes at LOROS.

Director of Patient Services & Clinical Quality

Jo Polkey

As a qualified District Nurse I made my way into the world of Hospice care just over 9 years ago wanting to improve  the experience and care available to all end of life patients, particularly in the community wanting to die at home. Nottinghamshire Hospice, where I spent nearly 9 years, provides a community facing service built around a strong shift based Hospice at Home service and this is where my experience as a DN helped support that wish. During the last year I worked for St Barnabas Hospice in Lincoln who also have a small Inpatient Unit as well as community services. I feel privileged to have been appointed to the Director of Patient Services role at LOROS, to walk in the footsteps of Jo Kavanagh who was well known and incredibly supportive across the East Midlands Hospices.  

I bring a wealth of management experience to the role and look forward to working alongside the Specialist Palliative care teams delivering excellent palliative and end of life care to the people of Leicestershire and Rutland.

Medical Director

Dr Luke Feathers, MBBS FRCP

Dr Feathers is the medical lead for the Hospice and oversees medical aspects of care for patients on the ward, in day therapy, out patients and at home, in conjunction with their general practitioners and the community teams.

He is responsible for co-ordinating the other doctors who work at the Hospice including those in training. He chairs the Medicines Management Group and contributes to the Clinical Governance Committee as part of maintaining high quality governance for the Hospice.

He trained in Newcastle upon Tyne and then worked in anaesthetics, hospital medicine and general practice before training in palliative medicine in the North East, Aberdeen, Nottingham and then Leicester.

He has been particularly interested in developing services for patients with neurological conditions, has some training in cognitive behaviour therapy and facilitates advanced communication skills courses.

He became the Medical Lead for LOROS in December 2006 and shares responsibility for developing the Hospice strategy, focusing particularly on community services.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Rob Parkinson

Rob grew up in Leicester as part of a family that was very much involved in charity work in the city, county and in Rutland (one of his early memories is reading on the local talking newspaper service). After leaving university with a degree in politics, Rob began work as a policy officer and researcher in the field of dementia care. He went on to become head of policy, research and information for MHA Care Group before joining The National Deaf Children’s Society as director for England. He was chief executive of Leicester-based charity Action Homeless and spent six years leading Home-Start UK, the national umbrella organisation for the federation of Home-Start charities which together form the largest provider of volunteer-led home support for families in the UK. Since 2019, Rob has been chief executive of the University of Warwick Students’ Union. 

Rob is a trustee of Cats Protection, the country’s leading feline welfare charity. He has been the chair of HomeCome Ltd, a private not-for-profit company providing affordable housing for people in Leicester and was one of the original non-executive directors of Inclusion Healthcare, a community interest company that provides primary care services for asylum seekers and homeless people in Leicester. 

Rob is married and lives in Leicestershire. As a classically-trained (but very out of practice!) singer, he enjoys music and in recent years has started to get back into running, entering a few half marathons. He is a big Leicester City fan and has a season ticket at the King Power stadium.

MEET THE TEAM

Education and training

The LOROS Education team has been providing education and training for the past 10 years. We have a very experienced team from a broad range of backgrounds allied to end-of-life care and palliative care.

Practice Educator

Kerry Blankley

Assistant Practitioner in Practice Development

Donna Walker

Practice Educator

Kerry Blankley

RGN, BSc (Health Sciences) MSc (Advanced Nursing Practice-palliative pathway) Diploma in Professional Studies Nursing (Community Health) & PGCertHE.

Kerry has worked in specialist palliative care in hospitals, community settings and care homes as a clinical nurse specialist. She was appointed to the Education team in November 2008. Kerry has responsibility for the masters programme and the university certificate. She is Honorary Lecturer at the University of Northampton and De Montfort University. Her interests include communication skills and she is a trained advanced communications skills facilitator. In addition, she has a particular interest in the role of care homes in palliative care.

Assistant Practitioner in Practice Development

Donna Walker

Donna joined LOROS in 2003 as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) on the inpatient unit.

Donna began working at the Leicester General Hospital as a HCA in 1993. In the year 2000 she gained a post as a ‘B’ Grade HCA. This involved using enhanced skills to support the registered nurses and mentoring new HCAs.

Donna developed a passion for end of life care which led her to LOROS. She achieved NVQ Level 3 in Care and Foundation Degree Science in Health and Social Care/Palliative and Supportive Care.

Donna joined the Education team as an Assistant Practitioner in Practice Development in April 2015. This role is designed to support the development of HCAs, including the delivery and assessment of the Care Certificate for newly appointed and Apprentice HCAs.

MEET THE TEAM

Research team

The LOROS and University of Leicester integrated research team bring a diversity of expertise to improve care through research and its translation into practice.

Research Associate

Shona Agarwal

NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow

Lucy Bleazard

Research Associate

Fawn Harrad-Hyde

Associate Professor in Palliative Care and Frailty

Linda Birt

Research Manager

Tara Maitland

Clinical Lecturer in Community Palliative Care and Frailty

Chris Williams

Research Administrator

Siddiqa Reninghaus

Research Volunteer

Janis Hayward

Senior Research Administrator and PA to Christina Faull

Sarah Worthy

PhD Student

Chandini Subramanyam

Deputy Lead for Research and Associate Professor of Palliative Care and Frailty at the University of Leicester

Dr Zoebia Islam

Consultant in Palliative Medicine & Research Lead and Professor in Palliative Medicine at University of Leicester

Professor Christina Faull

Research Associate

Shona Agarwal

I am a Bank Research Associate for the Centre of Excellence at LOROS hospice. With a background in primary care I have had many years’ experience working as a researcher in the field of Health Services Research. I am an experienced qualitative researcher, new to the area of palliative care. I have particular interests in mental health and improving services for ethnic minorities.

Research Administrator

Siddiqa Reninghaus

Siddiqa joined LOROS in June 2022 as a Research Administrator.

Siddiqa has worked abroad as a nanny in America for 18 months where she became inspired to write about her journey across the pond. This experience sparked Siddiqa’s interest in her writing career which she pursued upon her return to the UK.

For the past 6 years, Siddiqa has worked in the Marketing and Publishing industry as a Copywriter, Feature Writer, and E-Commerce Assistant. She’s written articles, blogs, newsletters, and more, on a variety of topics.

It wasn’t until the global pandemic that Siddiqa pursued a change in her career prospects. She just completed her Masters in Psychology at Nottingham Trent University before starting her Research career here at LOROS.

Research Volunteer

Janis Hayward

My previous experience prior to LOROS was working on paediatric oncology clinical trials where I was involved with all aspects of studies from project initiation through to publication.

I was fortunate that after 21 years in this area, there was clear evidence that research studies I worked on had made a real difference to patients. Such improvements can only be achieved through research programmes and just as there is a great need for research in the field of oncology there is likewise with hospice care. So following on from retirement last year, I have been a volunteer in the LOROS research department – one day a week -  where I provide support with LOROS research studies.

During this time I have found it particularly interesting to assist with the ‘Anxiety management in breathlessness’ study which explores the potential of an electronic device in treating anxiety in people who experience breathlessness, which will be opening to recruitment shortly.

Senior Research Administrator and PA to Christina Faull

Sarah Worthy

Sarah joined LOROS in 2022 after working in the NHS for 13 years, 10 of those in Cardiac Research.

PhD Student

Chandini Subramanyam

I am honoured to be LOROS’ first PhD student and be supervised by the deputy head of research Dr Zoebia Islam. My research revolves around the mental health and mental health literacy of young adults from ethnically diverse communities who provide care for someone with a serious illness. My aim is to develop a resource or intervention and influence policy for carers.

Deputy Lead for Research and Associate Professor of Palliative Care and Frailty at the University of Leicester

Dr Zoebia Islam

Before joining LOROS in 2013, Zoebia was the Heart of England Hub Manager for the Mental Health Research Network and a Senior Research Fellow at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust (BSMHFT). A sociologist by background, over the last 20 years she has contributed to education and research particularly in the area of ethnicity and health inequalities and inequity having managed a number of innovative and high profile projects at the University of Warwick’s Medical School and BSMHFT. At LOROS Zoebia is leading on novel work tackling health inequalities and inequity in end of life care planning experiences of ethnically diverse and minoritised patients and their families. She also Chairs and convenes the national ‘Sawubona – Equity in Palliative Care for All Research Forum’.

Consultant in Palliative Medicine & Research Lead and Professor in Palliative Medicine at University of Leicester

Professor Christina Faull

Christina has worked at LOROS for more than 20 years as a Consultant in palliative medicine.  She has been a professor at the University of Leicester since 2018. She leads the research programme at LOROS and  in partnership with the University of Leicester. She has written two award winning text books and is passionate about improving care for patients and their families through research and education.

MEET THE TEAM

Fundraising

As well as our own LOROS organised events, our friendly and professional team aim to help the public raise funds by encouraging and advising them with their own fundraising ideas and functions. They are also committed to raising awareness of Hospice volunteering within the community, to encourage local people to become actively involved in our Hospice and day therapy and to support its shops.

Supporter Engagement Co-ordinator

Amber Lester

Mass Participation Events Coordinator

Raina Hussain

Challenge Events Fundraising Coordinator

Megan Whittaker

Stewardship & Special Events Co-ordinator

Iva Vuchkova

Mass Participation Events Officer

Kim Blount

Trusts and Grants Coordinator

Christopher Tyrer

Philanthropic Giving Lead

Helen Lee-Smith

Supporter Engagement Lead

Mark Clements

Philanthropy & Partnership Researcher

Alicia Henfrey

Supporter Engagement Co-ordinator

Emma Jones

Events Co-ordinator

Charlotte Graham

Supporter Engagement Co-ordinator

Debbie Thrussell

Events Lead

Andrew Ward

Fundraising Manager

Laura Betts

Supporter Engagement Co-ordinator

Amber Lester

Amber has a background in chemistry and zoololgy. Extracurricular activities include climbing instructing and personal training qualifications and run coaching. Amber loves working in the community and teaches yoga as a qualified instructor at every opportunity.

Amber says: "Working for LOROS is truly my dream job. I’ve always wanted to work for a charity and love working in communities and schools. LOROS is like a family, everyone looks out for each other and connect over sharing the same passion for working for LOROS. It feels so rewarding working here and I love all of the different branches of LOROS that there is to explore”

Mass Participation Events Coordinator

Raina Hussain

Raina joined the events team at LOROS in early 2023 as the Mass Participation Events Coordinator. While studying Marketing at university, Raina had some experience planning her family members' weddings and decided that event planning was the route she wanted to go down. After graduating in 2022, she held a temporary role at Alton Towers during the Oktoberfest and Scarefest season, during which she got a good look in at how mass participation events work and all of the effort that goes into them. The role at LOROS seemed to be a perfect fit for her first 'proper' job in Events, and she's looking forward to building on her skills as she works on events such as the Twilight Walk, the Rothley 10k, and the Run Leicester Festival.

I've always been interested in the 'behind-the-scenes' of events and productions, so it made sense for me to go down this career path. I love seeing all the small pieces come together as they culminate into a fantastic event, and seeing the looks of pure joy on our participants' faces as they take part. It's an honour to be trusted with LOROS events, some of which have been happening for over a decade! I hope to help take LOROS events to the next level in the coming years, as well as develop my own skills and event knowledge along the way.

Challenge Events Fundraising Coordinator

Megan Whittaker

Megan joined the LOROS events team in April 2023 as Challenge Events Coordinator. She hit the ground running by heading off to London to congratulate Team LOROS on their victory to crossing the finish line of the London Marathon 2023. Alongside this, she’ll be focused on skydives, international treks and many more.

Megan has a background in event planning after completing an apprenticeship in Events Supervisory. She then continued her work within the events industry by arranging weddings and parties to hosting award ceremonies and networking breakfasts.

Megan said: “I’m proud to now be working within the events team at LOROS knowing that our events play a vital role in helping those who use LOROS services. I’m looking forward to the future as the possibilities for challenge events are endless, so watch this space!”

Stewardship & Special Events Co-ordinator

Iva Vuchkova

Iva joined the LOROS Events team in July 2023 as the Stewardship & Special Events Co-ordinator. After being granted the award of Bachelor of Arts in Events Management with Honours in 2021, Iva has been part of the corporate events sector for a couple of years, working on conferences, product launches and incentives.

My hobbies include photography and hiking, as well as exploring places in the nature I have not yet visited. My interest in events started from voluntary work and ever since I have always been passionate about organising events that have a valuable impact on a specific audience. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to be part of LOROS and very excited about contributing to the work of the Events team. I am positive that working towards achieving such meaningful goals will provide me with fulfilment on a daily basis.

Mass Participation Events Officer

Kim Blount

Kim joined the LOROS events team in June 2023, bringing experience of event management within the education sector. Her previous role with a Multi-Academy Trust saw her bringing thousands of children from 21 primary schools together throughout the year, to provide them with aspirational opportunities and experiences. This was anything from a fun run to performing arts festivals, maths events, science showcases, annual awards and anything and everything in-between. Being a keen runner, Kim also brings a personal passion and perspective for the many sporting events organised by LOROS.

“A key driver throughout my whole career has been about helping people. This has been delivered in a variety of different ways but the focus and the ‘why’ has always remained the same. To help. Being from Leicester and having always been aware of the fantastic work LOROS does, I am incredibly proud to be able to use my skillset and experience to not only put on events that people will enjoy but, through funds raised, will genuinely make a huge difference to individuals and their families across the county”.

Trusts and Grants Coordinator

Christopher Tyrer

Chris joined the LOROS Philanthropic Giving Team in April 2022 as Trusts and Grants Coordinator, with a focus on securing grants from trusts and foundations for the Hospice.

After graduating from De Montfort University with a BA in Fine Art - followed by an MA in Art Museum and Gallery Studies from the University of Leicester - Chris has been working in arts management and fundraising for the past ten years. Realising that fundraising was where he could make a difference, Chris decided to make a move into the charity sector and is delighted to take on this new role at LOROS.

Chris said: “I’m really excited to have joined the team at LOROS. It’s a real privilege to have the opportunity to support all the amazing care that our staff provides for patients and families.” 

Philanthropic Giving Lead

Helen Lee-Smith

Helen joined LOROS in March 2022 and has throughout a 20 year career in the charity sector, worked in fundraising manager roles for local and national charities including Sue Ryder Care, British Red Cross, and Rainbows hospice. Throughout this time, as a proud Leicestershire resident she has enjoyed getting to know lots of lovely folk who live here and loved supporting them with their fundraising.

Working for LOROS allows Helen to work for a cause she can personally identify with having lost her mum to cancer in 1998, and she is passionate about empowering others to make a positive difference to LOROS patients and families.

Supporter Engagement Lead

Mark Clements

Having built a career in finance as a Chartered Management Accountant, Mark changed his career and became a professional fundraiser in 2017. Mark is a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and is an experienced hospice fundraiser specialising in working with community supporters and events.

Mark joined LOROS in August 2021 as Supporter Engagement Lead. He’s passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion; being part of a national committee to shape strategies for increasing all forms of diversity in fundraising.

He says: “I’m incredibly passionate about the work of the Hospice movement, and it’s an honour to work for an organisation as respected as LOROS. I’m driven by the knowledge that doing a good job makes a difference to people when they need us the most.”

Philanthropy & Partnership Researcher

Alicia Henfrey

Alicia joined the LOROS fundraising team in August 2021, as Philanthropy & Partnerships Researcher, focussing on providing research & support to the Philanthropic Lead & Supporter Engagement team, assisting them in cultivating & expanding our Supporter network.

Alicia spent 30 years working in a variety of Financial Services organisations before deciding on a career change after a health scare. In her determination to spend the remainder of her career in an environment where she could make a meaningful difference to others, she considered LOROS.

Having been a patient of the Lymphoedema clinic & a visiting family member, Alicia said: "I was already aware of the many great things that LOROS do for the community, and now I am exceptionally excited at the prospects I have to contribute more directly myself."

Supporter Engagement Co-ordinator

Emma Jones

Emma began working for LOROS in October 2018 as a Community Fundraising Co-ordinator, working with our supporters and alongside Debbie with the community events.

Graduating with an Events Degree, employment continued in the events industry working for a corporate company arranging business events and for automotive clients. Before joining LOROS Emma spent 4 years organising events and conferences at a hotel, with all of these roles having many transferable skills to her role here at the Hospice.

Emma said: "I enjoy fundraising in my spare time so combining events and fundraising for my job is a dream! LOROS is such a special place, every day is different and I enjoy meeting and working with our enthusiastic volunteers and supporters."

Events Co-ordinator

Charlotte Graham

Charlotte joined LOROS in August 2018 and is delighted to be part of the Fundraising Events team. Charlotte has always worked in Events, organising various Conferences & Events and Weddings within many well-known venues across Leicestershire.

Charlotte said: “I am so proud to have been given the opportunity to work within the Fundraising Events team here at LOROS and to contribute to the work of the hospice. There are so many amazing events in the pipeline that I can’t wait to be a part of!”

Supporter Engagement Co-ordinator

Debbie Thrussell

Debbie started working for LOROS as a volunteer receptionist at the Hospice in 2008 before joining the Fundraising team in 2010. She previously worked as an importer and exporter for a large point of sales company.

Debbie works as part of the Supporter Engagement Team and her role sees her looking after groups, teams and individuals fundraising for LOROS within the community. Debbie said: “I really enjoy working for LOROS and seeing the difference the Hospice makes for patients and their families. Working alongside our fantastic community supporters and our wonderful volunteers on a variety of amazing and creative fundraising ideas makes my role a real pleasure. We are all part of a dedicated team raising vital funds for LOROS. I feel very privileged to be working with such a well-loved local charity."

Events Lead

Andrew Ward

Andrew joined the LOROS Fundraising Team as a Fundraising Co-ordinator in September 2015, focusing on challenge events including the Tower Run and Into The Wild, amongst others.

Andrew has a background in Sales and Marketing and can speak fluent French and German, having previously worked in various roles across Europe. In 2012, Andrew was awarded a post-graduate diploma in International Growth from the Michael Smurfit Business School in Dublin.

Andrew said: “It's such a pleasure to be part of such an amazing team and contribute to the work of the Hospice. We have such a wide range of events from challenges, through to lunches, dinners, and corporate days, not to mention some really exciting campaigns. If you haven't attended, volunteered, or taken part in one of our events before then I highly recommend it!"

Fundraising Manager

Laura Betts

Laura began working at LOROS in July 2012 as a fundraising coordinator and since then has occupied the position of Partnership Development Executive and Events Lead, before being appointed Fundraising Manager in September 2017.

Laura was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Media Production & Technology from the University of Central Lancashire in 2010 and has recently become a member of the Institute of Fundraising; she recently studied for and achieved a Certificate in Fundraising through the Institute of Fundraising.

Laura said: “In my role at LOROS I am able to realise so many of my career aspirations. The role provides me with exciting challenges, constant variation and above all satisfaction and fulfilment. I love what I do and everything LOROS stands for.”

MEET THE TEAM

Lottery

As well as running and developing one of the most successful hospice lotteries in the UK, the Lottery team are also responsible for ‘support and win’ scratch cards, and two seasonal raffles, Spring into Summer and Winter Warmer. The team are committed to raising awareness of the Hospice through their fundraising activities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The team consists of a finance and administration team, responsible for the daily running of the office and finance of the lottery, and a promotions team, responsible for the marketing and comms of all Lottery products.

Lottery fundraiser

Lindsey Geary

Lottery Promotions Administrator

Fiona Hilderley

Lottery Promotions Lead

Nikki Coles-Cross

Lottery Fundraiser

Veselka Saric

Lottery Fundraiser - Bank

Sarah Robinson

Relief Cash Collector

Dianne Noon

LOROS Lottery Manager

Colette Norman CMgr MCMI

Lottery fundraiser

Lindsey Geary

Lindsey joined the Lottery team in September 2014 after her mum received treatment at LOROS the year before. Lindsey supported the hospice by doing the Great Manchester swim in 2015 to raise much needed funds, and then decided she would like to be part of the lottery team to help generate income on a regular basis.

“I am passionate about LOROS and forever grateful for the excellent care my mum received, being part of the lottery team and helping it to grow is very satisfying and rewarding”

Lottery Finance and Admin Team

Michelle, Chris, and Anita are responsible for the day-to-day finance and administration of the Lottery office.

Lottery Promotions Administrator

Fiona Hilderley

Fiona joined the team in 2021 as a lottery fundraiser, she already had a close link to the hospice as her mum passed away at LOROS in 2020. Fiona supported the hospice and did a skydive in 2020 which in turn lead her to want to develop a career within the hospice. 

In 2021 Fiona and her daughters supported the light up a life appeal and shared their story to our supporters and in turn we’re privileged to turn our Christmas tree lights on. In 2022 Fiona changed job roles into the Lottery Promotions Administrator. Fiona takes control of our events and venue research for our Lottery Fundraisers to attend. 

“LOROS is very close to my heart due to the care my mum received and the care myself and daughters also had after my mum had passed away. I’m passionate about my job and will continue to do all I can to help the hospice raise vital funds so they can continue giving the free high-quality care they do”  

Lottery Promotions Lead

Nikki Coles-Cross

Nikki joined LOROS in May 2019, after 20 years in corporate event management. Her background is marketing and promotions, programme development, copy writing and event logistics. Prior to joining LOROS, she worked for a government-funded organisation supporting small businesses and business start-ups, and a health and safety membership organisation, spanning over 20 years.

Her role within income generation is to raise awareness of LOROS Lotteries, and its products, through marketing, events, corporate relationships and a fundraising sales team.

After losing her Dad to cancer, she decided to leave her event role, to ‘make a difference’, and that’s why she joined LOROS. She is passionate about the Hospice, and is proud to be part of something so close to her heart.

Lottery Fundraiser

Veselka Saric

Veselka joined the Lottery team in December 2016. Veselka promotes the LOROS Lottery and its products at venues and events across the county.

She is passionate about the Hospice, and loves chatting to the public and our supporters about the specialist care and other support services that LOROS provide.

Lottery Fundraiser - Bank

Sarah Robinson

Sarah has been part of the Lottery team since 2011. Sarah promotes the LOROS Lottery and its products at venues and events across the county.

She is passionate about the Hospice, and loves chatting to the public and our supporters about the specialist care and other support services that LOROS provide.

Relief Cash Collector

Dianne Noon

Dianne joined the team in October 2017. Dianne has a personal link to the Hospice, as LOROS provided inpatient care for her Mum in 2016. It is around this time that she began volunteering for LOROS, managing the city centre cash donation boxes. She is now a Relief Cash Collector for our Lottery players.

LOROS Lottery Manager

Colette Norman CMgr MCMI

Colette joined the team as Lottery Manager in November 2017. She already had close links to the Hospice, as her Mum passed away at LOROS in March 2011, followed by her father-in-law in November 2019. She and her family supported the winter raffle campaign back in 2013, in memory of their Mum. Colette’s admiration for the Hospice lead her to this role.

She has over 20 year’s event, project management and marketing experience, has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Birmingham in Business Management and is a Chartered Manager. Since 2021 is Chair of the Hospice Lotteries Association and has been a director on their board since 2018.

“I’m passionate about LOROS, and want to continue to grow and develop what has been built up over the past 25+ years.”

MEET THE TEAM

Shop & Enterprises

As well as being responsible for the 29 LOROS shops, the team also runs the warehouse that co-ordinates all supporter donated goods. The team is also responsible for the creation and distribution of our seasonal novelty toys, each year producing a variety of cute collectable toys that are sold in our shops and through our network of supporters.

Area Manager

SJ Waites

Deputy Retail Operations Manager

Mary Lockhart

Retail Manager

Gary McMillan-Dale

Area Manager

SJ Waites

SJ joined LOROS in 2014  as a Shop manager after a long career in Banking, and stepped up into the Area Manager position in January 2020.

SJ’s role is to manage LOROS’s 13 ‘traditional’ charity shops across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

She enjoys working with people and aims to maximise income for patient care by ensuring excellent standards across all shops.

SJ says she is so happy to work for LOROS and loves going home knowing she has made a difference. She is proud of her team and the work they do together.

Deputy Retail Operations Manager

Mary Lockhart

Mary joined LOROS in December 2018, following a varied career within customer service and retail.

Her main role is to manage the daily operations of our 29 shops, with support from Gary, the Deputy Retail Business Development Manager.

Mary’s aim is to improve the service and products we offer our customers and to promote the variety and quality our shops offer. All with the goal of maximising the profits to provide funding for the Hospice.

“I feel privileged to be able to work at LOROS and see the amazing support they give to so many families each year. I am so proud to work here and be part of the shops team who are all so passionate about what they do.”

Retail Manager

Gary McMillan-Dale

Gary joined LOROS in January 2019. As a Retail Manager, his role is to oversee the 29 LOROS shops, along with Mary, Deputy Retail Operations Manager.

Gary's main role is to review the current high street and ecommerce shops within the charity, as well as reviewing external opportunities. He shares the same goal - to maximise the income to support the Hospice.

The shops are largely supported by a great bank of volunteers and dedicated management teams. He feels proud to a part of a passionate team and committee who support the Hospice through hard work, donations and not forgetting our wonderful customers.

LOROS, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QE
Fundraising Regulator