Our people

Grapevine’s power comes from the skilled and passionate people who live and breathe our mission everyday. They bring brilliance to our work.

Two white women and a mixed race disabled man stand for a photo at Coventry Canal Basin looking proud they have walked 16 miles for health equity for people with learning disabilities.
Emma and Molly from our Strengthening People strand alongside health advocate Rishard.

We have a strong culture of helping people uncover their potential. This supports our team team to perform at its best by:

  • Being accountable to the people we serve
  • Having freedom and trust to do what is right
  • Support to stay true to people’s dreams
  • Trust and encouragement to make decisions autonomously
  • Support to be curious, exploratory and playful
  • Modelling and transmitting our key skills and beliefs
  • Comfort with uncertainty when necessary.
Members of our #WeAreGrapevine team
  1. Ari Fairgrieve, Community Organiser (Nature Towns and Cities)
  2. Beverley Foster, Project Worker (Help and Connect)
  3. Chloe Andrew, Community Organiser (Coventry Youth Activists)
  4. Claire Harvey, Communications Manager
  5. Clare Wightman, CEO
  6. Edwin Lukong, Community Organiser
  7. Emma O’Brien, Project Worker (Health Team)
  8. Grace Lewis, Campaigns Officer (Disability Justice)
  9. Herbie Cullip, Project Worker (Health Team)
  10. Kirsty Baxter, Sessional Worker (Coventry Youth Activists)
  11. Laura Fisher, Shifting Power Team Leader and Community Organiser (Connecting for Good)
  12. Laura Smith, Project Worker (Teenvine Plus)
  13. Leonie Schmid, Community Organiser (Connecting for Good)
  14. Lucy Gilbert, Senior Operations Officer
  15. Lynn Donovan, Advocacy Officer
  16. Mel Smith, Deputy CEO
  17. Melissa Smith, Community Organiser (Connecting for Good and Coventry Youth Activists)
  18. Michelle Lewis, Community Organiser in Warwickshire
  19. Michelle Reid, Project Worker (Help and Connect)
  20. Molly Gillespie, Strengthening People Team Leader
  21. Nof Azran, Community Organiser (Connecting for Good)
  22. Poppy Walton, Project Worker (Teenvine Plus Next Steps)
  23. Priya Gondalia, Community Organiser (Connecting for Good)
  24. Sarah Grove, Project Worker (Teenvine Plus)
  25. Siân Lewis, Senior Community Organiser (Connecting for Good)

Meet our Grapevine Board of Trustees by clicking this link.