As a parent of children who have attended Greentop over about eight years I have seen the transformative effect that circus, and Greentop in particular, can have.
I have also been a volunteer with Troupe - an experience I greatly enjoy.
I became interested in becoming a trustee to further support Greentop, and to be a voice for parents within the board.
In 2019 I walked into Greentop excited to try out aerial hoop and silks as a complete beginner. In the years that have followed circus has become a bit of an obsession that has challenged the way I think about what I’m capable of. Greentop has been a continual part of that journey and given me opportunities to push myself beyond what I thought was possible such as performing in Scratch Shows.
Greentop is an incredible Charity, and I applied to be a trustee to be part of making a difference through circus in the lives of Children, Adults and Circus Professionals. As a Chair of the Board of Trustees I’ll continually look to draw on my corporate experience from my career in Tech Leadership; whether that’s strategic thinking, problem solving or working with others.
Ian is a freelance creative professional. Having worked in the arts sector in South Yorkshire for over 20 years. He has worked in many roles from producing large scale outdoor festivals and events to programming intimate theatre projects, touring small-scale theatre, producing community theatre projects and performing, stage managing and leading creative workshops.
Previous roles include Arts Development Officer at BMBC. Head of Programming and Artist Development at the Civic in Barnsley
He is currently working as a freelance programmer for The Royal and Derngate in Northampton.
Jenny moved to Yorkshire from London 10 years ago to study the visual arts, after completing her degree she went on to work for Leeds City Council where she worked in communications and marketing, economic development and was a member of the team working on the city’s bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2023.
I volunteered as a Trustee at a time when Greentop was undergoing a period of rapid and vigorous change. Having been involved with the organisation in one capacity or another since 1997, I felt it was time to ‘give something back’, by helping to sustain and grow our amazing resource. As organisation and communication are my key skills, I put myself forward for the role of Company Secretary. I had plenty of enthusiasm and determination, but precious little experience of governance, and it was a steep curve, learning to minute meetings accurately and file the Annual Returns! Thankfully the other Board members were there to support me. I have found the time commitment manageable, and there are all sorts of ways to get involved, from networking and fundraising, to safeguarding and recruitment. As a Trustee, I’m proud to be an ambassador for Greentop, and feel privileged to work alongside a stellar staff team for the benefit of our unique and fantastic circus community.
I have been involved with Greentop as a student, a manipulation / acrobalance / aerial tutor, a performer, a sound / lighting / stage technician, a builder, an electrician and a Trustee; sometimes simultaneously.
Greentop has given me opportunity, camaraderie, income, pride, applause, frustration, despair, challenge, refuge, hope, sleepless nights and a wide variety of bruises, burns, abrasions, strains and other assorted circus injuries!
I have a professional background in community arts, theatre research and teaching.
I was a Trustee for Leeds Children's Circus between 2000-2003, and joined the Greentop Board in 2016 as a parent trustee. Greentop is a fantastic circus and community centre, and has strongly supported my daughter over the past 11 years. Its co-operative and caring ethos is inspirational, and I want to help it grow from strength to strength so it can nurture future generations of young circus people.
I did one of Greentop’s fantastic weekend trapeze workshops and never looked back. It changed my perception about what my body could do – I want other people to experience that too. I knew I wanted to be part of supporting Greentop to grow, so I applied to be a trustee.
