Meet the Connectors

East Lindsey

David Bruce - Lead Community Connector, Skegness, Spilsby, Stickney and Old Leake

Hi, my name is David Bruce and I am the Lead Community Connector for Coastal & Rural PCN and oversee the Night Light Cafes in our locality too. I am based across 2 Wellbeing Hubs (Spilsby & Skegness) I am passionate about mental health transformation in our area and am looking forward to what the next 3 years will bring. I have a background in youth & community work and SEN. I am the co founder of Bro Pro UK. Bro Pro is a men's mental health support group based in Lincolnshire with a 5 year vision to become a stand alone charity that will eventually go national. Please contact me at [email protected] or 07939092585

Suzy Pearl - Community Connector, Spilsby, Stickney & Old Leake

My name is Suzy Pearl and I am the Community Connector for Spilsby & District, part of First Coastal Rural PCN. This includes Stickney and Old Leake too. I'm also the Night Light Cafe Coordinator for Spilsby. I have been working within mental health for just over 6 years now which I am very passionate about, before that I was a youth worker at the New Life Church Centre, part of the New Life Church in Spilsby. Email: [email protected] or phone: 07901211220

Michael Lithgow - Community Connector, Skegness and District

I am the Community Connecter for Skegness and District - First Coastal PCN. Wellbeing Hubs have been set up in Skegness, Burgh and Wainfleet. I am a local lead for Bro Pro UK and I am passionate about helping transformation with mental health, as a former Paratrooper of 7 years to the British Armed Forces, I have seen mental health first aid is needed, to help people achieve there true potential. Email: [email protected] or phone 07535684487

Barbara Hancock - Community Connector, Mablethorpe & District

Email: [email protected] or phone 07859874380

Elise Needham - Community Connector, Louth

Email: [email protected] or phone 07734470875

Katie Blake - Community Connector, East Lindsey & Boston

Hello, I'm Katie Blake, a community connector specialising in addressing rough sleeping, homelessness, and temporary accommodation challenges across East Lindsey and Boston. Over the years, I've developed a deep understanding of working with individuals facing dual diagnosis of substance use and mental health issues. My passion lies in advocating for the significance of therapeutic counselling for these vulnerable populations. I believe in its transformative power to enhance well-being and foster stability. Through my work, I aim to bridge gaps in support systems, empower individuals, and bring about lasting positive change in our community.

West Lindsey

Lorraine Rooks - Community Connector, Gainsborough

Hi, my name is Lorraine Rooks and I’m the Community Connector for Gainsborough/Trent PCN. I’m based in our Wellbeing Hub at Clip, The Bridge, 142 Bridge Street Gainsborough DN21 1LP. I am passionate about community and supporting people to access groups and other means of support to help them live their best life. Before moving to Lincolnshire my husband and I led a church in Wymondham, Norfolk for 10 years and I also worked in a residential rehab supporting women in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. In our Hub, I’m currently leading on a thriving Chill, Chat & Connect group which meets every Monday afternoon, our Long Covid peer support group and our new Memory Café – A Song and a Sandwich! I also work part-time as a counsellor and volunteer at our local Night Light Café when I can. Most importantly, I’m mum to the fabulous Obi – the lolloping-labradoodle outshining me in my profile picture who takes up any spare time I may have! Email: [email protected] or phone 07498 990518

Grace Bowker, Rural Connector/Wellbeing Hub Coordinator

Hi, My name is Grace and I am the Rural Community Connector for Trent PCN, particularly covering Saxilby and Brigg. I have worked within community wellbeing for many years and founded a wellbeing centre in Lincoln and most recently established a local wellbeing festival Soul Escape. Before this my background was in education as a primary school teacher. I am passionate about the role of community to support individuals to provide a sense of belonging, friendship and provide practical and emotional support. My moto is “if you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to go far go together.” Email: [email protected] Phone: 07943 721611

North Kesteven

Fiona Monk - Community Connector, Sleaford

My name is Fiona and I am the Sleaford area Community Connector. I am based at Bridge Church, Lincoln & South Lincs Church, Ruskington. I am very proud to be part of this wonderful team of Connectors. My role is all about supporting individuals and groups in the community, helping people to make useful and meaningful connections in order for them to live full, rewarding and healthy lives. Email: [email protected] or phone 07564044025

South Kesteven

Jo Taylor - Community Connector, Grantham

My name is Jo and I am the Community Connector for Grantham and the surrounding rural areas. If you don’t know what a community connector is I basically do as it says, connect the community! This involves working with all of the different and amazing community groups to support them in all that they do. I look at what’s available in the area and what’s missing, to see how I can fill the gaps to better support peoples mental wellbeing. Email: [email protected] or phone 07564044115

Shani Storrie - Community Connector, Four Counties (Stamford & Bourne)

I am new to post as the Community Connector for the Four Counties PCN. My background is education, welfare and I have lots different life experiences on which to draw to help inform my work. The role is still evolving to meet need; however, the focus of the role is to work to improve mental health and wellbeing support in the community and help to create resilience. In the next few months, I will be getting out into the community to get to know the people, groups and organisations in the Four Counties PNC, to find out what is going on and any needs that I can help enable connections to. Email: [email protected] or phone 07513702602

Boston

Katie Blake - Community Connector, East Lindsey & Boston

Heidi Freeman - Community Connector, Boston

Email: [email protected] or phone 07833 786816

Lincoln

James Prentice - Community Connector, Lincoln South

"I joined as a Community Connector on 3rd April 2023, so am still very much getting used to the role! For the past ten years I have been Lead Pastor of Life Church Lincoln, based in the Birchwood area of the city. I found this role to be extremely fulfilling and enjoyed helping improve the lives of many of the people I met. I already knew a couple of the Community Connectors based in and around the county, and when the Lincoln South area became available I thought it would be just the exciting new challenge I felt ready for. I love meeting new people and helping form relationships and partnerships that improve the lives of people in different and diverse communities. I would really like to see a Community Hub and various new initiatives established within the Lincoln South area so that it can improve the lives of people who live in the area. I really enjoy working across different disciplines and helping to bring others together to unite around a common cause of making the lives of individuals better and more meaningful, and hope to see much of that in Lincoln South." Email: [email protected] or phone 07730197255

Lois Delong - Community Connector, Lincoln North

My name is Lois Delong and I'm the Community Connector for Lincoln North, as part of the NHS Mental Health Transformation Programme. Within this patch, we're passionate about prioritising good mental health and resilience for all through sharing about new and existing activities, groups and services, whilst proactively working together in partnership across sectors to address gaps in community provision. Many of these existing community groups and services are facilitated by fantastic staff and volunteers with a heart to see true, long-lasting change across the landscape of this community. I'm always up for a chat and a cuppa so I hope to cross paths soon if we haven't already! Email: [email protected] or phone 07305347193

Mike Farley - Community Connector, Lincoln

"I am the Community Connector for Lincoln City, covering the centre and around the south end of the city with North Hykeham, Birchwood and a couple of nearby villages. I have been in post for just under two years and involved with the Mental Health Transformation Programme since its outset. My background is in Primary Education and latterly leading a church in the city for ten years before merging with Bridge Church and becoming the Community Pastor prior to taking on this role. I am committed to the community and seeing people thrive in their wellbeing. Connected communities create thriving people who create connected communities - and this brings transformation." Email: [email protected] or phone 07916909973

Dave Rigby - Community Connector, Lincoln

Email: [email protected]

South Holland

Jo Ireland - Community Connector, Spalding

I'm Jo, recently employed as one of the Spalding Community Connectors, based at Tonic Health. I am embracing the role, getting out and about discovering what services are available in the locality and setting up links with existing community groups. We have already arranged to hold regular pop-up hubs around the town, and attended community events to connect with local people. Email: [email protected] or phone 07471465111

Vanessa Collins - Community Connector, South Lincs Rural

Hi, I'm, Vanessa. I am the South Lincs Rural Community Connector. I am relatively new to the role. My background is health and social care management and adult education. I have always had the desire to connect people to the correct support services, in some cases this has been hard. I am excited about my new role. I have started to get out into villages finding out what is out there already. I have attended community events and listened to what people would like in their village to support wellbeing. From these events, pop-up meetings are starting to find connections that will support mental health and wellbeing and build resilience. Email: [email protected]

SHINE Lincolnshire

Gail Scrutton - Community Connector Partnership Lead, SHINE

Email: [email protected]