Our CEO and ELT have the needs of the most vulnerable in our community at the forefront of everything they do.
We continue to do everything from making sure our customers are able to leave the streets, to have affordable housing, and on the right road to recovery.
Helena Evans - CEO
Helena’s most recent role is working for the specialist care and support company (Individual Support) at Places for People Housing Group as a Regional Operations Manager.
She has been responsible for the strategic leadership, operational and performance management (support, care and housing management) for a range of care and support services across the North West and South West.
Helena has led a large multifunctional dispersed team covering a range of diverse services from floating support services, homeless hostel accommodation, extra care/sheltered housing services, supported housing (homeless families, teenage parents, young persons’ services), an accredited Foyer (providing housing, training and employment opportunities) and older persons care provision.
During her time with Places for People, Helena has pioneered new approaches to service provision, including introducing a psychologically based approach used to achieve positive outcomes for customers in the homelessness and mental health sectors.
Helena has also chaired the National Housing Federation’s North West Regional Older Persons Housing and Support Forum and has chaired two working groups for Lancashire County Council contributing to the development of their peer review and customer engagement strategies and programmes.
Helena’s previous job roles and experience in the care, support and supported housing sectors over the past 22 years have spanned across the voluntary, public and private sectors.
She has worked for the mental health charities; Mind and Rethink (formerly NSF); regional and national housing associations and a local authority. She started out in her career as a support worker in community mental health services.
Helena is a Corporate Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and Associate Member of the Chartered Management Institute. In her spare time, Helena has a keen interest in music and is completing a music production diploma.
Paul Cooper - Director of Finance and Business Growth
Paul is a Chartered Management Accountant and has worked in the retail, transport, education and housing sectors over his 27-year career.
Having specialised in the housing sector for the past 13 years, Paul has worked for Housing Associations such as Your Housing Group, the Regena Group and the Prima Group.
During this time, Paul has been heavily involved in raising additional / restructuring existing finance and negotiating VAT Partial Exemption schemes with HMRC.
In his spare time, Paul enjoys cycling and playing guitar. He is also the Standard Bearer and Committee member for his local Royal British legion branch. Paul is also treasurer for his local cricket team and the village carnival.
Pat Chevannes MCIPD - Head of Human Resources
Pat joined Brighter Futures in December 2010 as the Human Resources Manager. The role has now evolved and expanded to become Head of Human Resources to cover the full remit of the HR service including developing focused and pragmatic HR solutions which are aligned to the business objectives, plans and strategy.
Pat’s previous roles and experience in human resources over the past 27 years have spanned across the public and private sectors working for medium sized to national and international organisations across the East Midlands, North Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Before joining Brighter Futures, Pat worked for a PFI organisation, Sodexo Healthcare Limited at the UHNM NHS Trust Royal Stoke University Hospital. The role involved the TUPE transfer of non-clinical staff (catering, domestic and portering services) from the hospital to Sodexo Healthcare based on Retention of Employment terms and conditions (ROE).
Pat is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
