Our CEOs Welcome

I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to all visitors to Community Development Chesterfield. I am incredibly proud to be part of a small but dedicated team that is making a genuinely positive difference to the lives of people across Chesterfield.

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A bit about me…

My professional background is in Information Technology. I began my career in 2016 at a small local school in Chesterfield, where I completed an apprenticeship and achieved my Level 3 IT Professional qualification. During my time there, I was fortunate to gain experience across several roles, including IT Specialist, Student Support Officer and Teaching and Learning Assistant. These roles gave me a strong foundation not only in technical skills, but also in supporting young people and understanding their wider needs.

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I later progressed onto a degree apprenticeship in IT. Unfortunately, during this period my health declined and I made the difficult but necessary decision to step away from both work and study to focus on recovery and wellbeing. This experience had a profound impact on me and ultimately shaped my outlook on community support, inclusion and resilience.

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In the summer of 2023, I was introduced to a local community group working to support young people in Chesterfield. I was immediately drawn to the group’s values and ethos and began volunteering. After spending time understanding how the group operated, I invited my partner, Grace Wright, to get involved. Grace has a strong passion for working with children and improving community spaces and together we became deeply involved in developing and strengthening the group.

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Following several months of growth, learning and strategic development, we were entrusted with operational ownership of the organisation. We then committed ourselves fully to building a sustainable future for the service, developing a robust business plan and completing a successful charity application.

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As a result, Community Development Chesterfield was founded in January 2024, with Grace Wright as Director and myself as Chief Executive Officer.

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CDC is a fully inclusive charity, dedicated to providing a warm, safe and healthy environment for everyone who accesses our services. Our staff and volunteers are highly trained, compassionate and committed to offering the best possible support. We work hard to both challenge and empower our community, ensuring that every individual can gain the greatest benefit from what we provide.

I am truly honoured to be leading Community Development Chesterfield into its next chapter and look forward to continuing this journey alongside our community.

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Warmest Regards

Dan Henman

Chief Executive Officer