Toni Montinaro - Manager

I believe in our diversity as LGBT people but I am also committed that LGBT people are part of the wider community and should play an active role in our neighbourhoods. I have a strong interest in developing a Healthier Gay Derby and Derbyshire. I believe that more is needed to raise the awareness of HIV and Sexual Health and to tackle discrimination and lack of services in Derby and Derbyshire. I am conscious that further work is needed to support Lesbian(Gay) and Bisexual women especially around health; and to advocate and support our Transgendered community who often face harrassment and misunderstanding. I am committed to working with others to make real changes (real people, real services) and that includes working with ARC, Derbyshire Positive Support, Choices Youth Group, Derbyshire Constabulary, South Derbyshire CVS, Amber Valley Mental Health Services, City Council and the list as well as the work goes on.

Melvyn Fearn - Administrator

My name is Melvyn Fearn and I've been df's part-time administrator for the last 5 years. I also help to facilitate df’s men's support and social group (Reach Out) that meets on a Thursday. I joined df eleven years ago as a helpline volunteer, and was one of the founding members of the Sexual Health Project in 1995. Over the years that I have been involved df has seen many changes from moving to new premises to suppling of new services. I'm looking forward in being involved with df for many more years.

Joshua Robinson - Sexual Health Outreach Worker

Hi, I'm Joshua and I work as an Outreach Worker on df's SHAG project. I have lived in Derby all my life and enjoy going out on the scene, meeting people and making new friends. I discovered my sexuality relatively early so therefore have been through the experience of coming out to my family and friends and experiencing the mixed reactions. I am now in my twenties and feel that I know and understand my identity. My position within df gives me the opportunity to be available to talk to and maybe help gay people, not only about going through the experience of coming out but any issues regarding sexual health. I am a keen learner and hope to expand my knowledge further as my time with df progresses. My hobbies include socialising with my friends, driving and listening to music. Come and say 'hello' if you see me out!

Sergei Ryzhenok - Sexual Health Outreach Worker

Hi there! I'm Sergei and I work part time for df as a project worker. This is one of the best jobs I've ever done because it involves meeting people from absolutely different walks of life, people of any ages and backgrounds. My position requires lots of driving around and spending some time outside, come rain or shine, as a result of that I've learnt to appreciate mother nature and all the benefits of the fresh air. PSE work for example is great especially because it's one of the most rarest jobs in the world that you can get, it is absolutely unique and it's always nice to know that there are only a few PSE workers in this country (around 20), which makes me and David feel very special indeed! I'm sure David would agree with me!

Dan Gaunt - Sexual Health Outreach Worker

Hi my name is Dan, I am 20 years old and have lived in Derby for the past 18 months. Before that I lived in south Derbyshire. I have been involved in loads of activities with df on a voluntary basis. I was the chair of the 'Love Knows No Gender' youth forum for a short while but decided that I would like to join the 'SHAG' (Sexual Health Action Group) team. Which brings me to now. I am now a Sexual Health Outreach Worker for df and cant wait to get my hands dirty. As well as working with df I have a full time job at a local bar in town, which I really enjoy but hope to make my job at df a full time one. I think the work that df does is a vital part of the gay community and am proud to be part of it! I am a fun outgoing person and am easy to get on with and talk to. I enjoy going out on the scene and meeting up with friends - when I get the time. So will see you out and about!

David Siddons - LGBT Healthy Communities Development Worker

Hi, I'm David and I'm the LGBT Healthy Communities Development Worker. I was interested in this post as coming from a rural part of Derbyshire myself, the lack of services in these areas are still pretty much the same today as they were 10 years ago. My role will be looking at what services we can provide for the LGBT community in Amber Valley, Erewash and South Derbyshire. My other roles for df, as a PSE Outreach Worker and a worker at the df Youth Forum, 'Love Knows No Gender' has helped me to gain a further insight into the needs of both LGBT and MSM (men who have sex with men) people. I am hoping to form some fantastic working relationships with other organisations in order to develop these services, of which I see every bit as challenging. Even though there isn't much of it, in my spare time, I like to keep as active as possible. I enjoy socialising with friends, watching films, listening to music and I do try to get to the gym 2-3 times a week when possible.

Jonathan Kightley - Rural Youth Participation Worker

Hi! My name is Jonathan, I am the Rural Youth Participation Worker for df. I grew up in Derbyshire and have recently moved back to Derby after training to be a Violist at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Whilst at the RNCM I joined the LGB&T society offering support to students at the college. When I moved to Derby I got a job working for the Youth Service as a Sexual Health Worker for the Boys' and Young Men's Team. I have recently started a PGCE in Nottingham and hope to become a secondary music teacher. I feel very strongly about the lack of support for young LGB&T people in school environments and hope to increase awareness of the issues faced by this group. I play in a band called Meandervent. I am passionate about cooking and eating, love going to see and hear live music, watching films and going out with friends for a drink and a dance.

Peter Jones - Trainer

Peter Jones was originally from London but now lives and works in Derby and has done so since 1997. His full time job is Daycare Unit Manager at Treetops Hospice in Risley. He is also a Community Education Tutor and has experience of group facilitation, and in this role he leads regular workshops and discussion groups for df's Men's group (Reach Out). In his spare time he enjoys socialising, writing, reading, painting and walking. He is also fond of retail therapy and recommends its healing properties.

Andy Cave - LGBT Training Officer

Hi, I'm Andrew (Andy) Cave and I'm the LGB&T Training Officer for df. My passion for working in this field started when I was at University in Liverpool and joined the university LGBT Society. I soon ran for the committee and gained the entertainments officer's position. In 2004 I was able to use my experience gained at university, and develop my skills further with Staffordshire Buddies and the South Staffordshire Mesmen Project. My work here was primarily in HIV prevention, I am still employed as the Information and Community Development Worker. This position in Staffordshire will enable greater and more effective interaction between Derbyshire and Staffordshire. I have strong beliefs regarding equality and services for the LGB&T community and I am looking forward to helping df develop real services to help real people. I am also keen to help the police develop their policing of the LGB&T community and hold an independent advisor position to assist the police in South Staffordshire and also Secretary for the South and East Staffordshire LGBT Network. Even though this work does take up a lot of my time I do like to let my hair down, so in my personal life I enjoy socialising with my friends and family whether that is at my local pub or out on the scene in Birmingham. My hobbies include music, film and love going to Festivals all over the country. I also have a passion for travelling and try to do so as often as possible.

Juliet Sims - Youth Inclusion Worker

I am Youth Inclusion Worker for df and I am also employed by Derby City Youth Services as development worker for 'Choices' youth group. My experience ranges from working as a tutor in a young offenders institute to residential social work working with young people in care. I am passionate about working with young people and especially LGBT inclusion. In my role as development worker for Choices I go to other youth groups, schools, colleges and provide workshops which challenge homophobic bullying. I also promote services for LGBT youth and network with other agencies to get Choices known so they can refer young people. My role as Derbyshire Youth Inclusion Worker is to set up and establish a LGBT youth forum with young people from all over Derbyshire. This youth forum will give the young people the opportunity to talk to mainstream service providers and get them to change policies to include LGBT issues i.e. homophobic bullying policies within schools. Alongside the youth forum I am also creating a LGBT youth workers network so we can share best practice, ideas and information and therefore forge closer links between all the LGBT youth groups in Derbyshire.

Marie Wade - Co-chair

My name is Marie and am the voluntary co-ordinater for the Sexual Health Project, I have been a volunteer for about 4 years now and am keen to improve the sexual health of all within the LGBT community of Derbyshire. I have been sitting on the management commitee for almost a year now as the representative for the Sexual Health Project. I am a mental health nurse by trade and am currently working with those who misuse drugs and/or alcohol. So health is a top priority. My other interests include: eating out, good movies, good music, good s... enough of that, my dislikes are: house/garage/caravan (!!) music & impatient drivers!

Becci Moore - Women's Zone Rep

Hi, Im Becci and I'm the women's group rep. That means that I represent the group at management meetings and take forward any issues from the group, and feedback information to the group from df. I am a gay woman, and I have been going to Women's Zone for about 3 years. When I arrived in Derbyshire I didn't even know there was a gay scene. Since joining, I have made new friends, and taken part in some of the activities and social events organisied by Women's Zone. I have also become a sexual health volunteer. Apart from that I like to spend time going out and socialising on and off the scene (Derby and beyond!), and spending time with family and friends (including my beautiful cats Freya & Maggie!) and trying to spend some time (or at least think about) keeping reasonably fit.

Ann Walker - Company Secretary

My name is Ann. I have been a Trustee for a few months after spending some time as a switchboard volunteer. I started going to the Women's group about 3 years ago after contacting the Switchboard and speaking to a volunteer. Going to the group was a excellent way to meet people to socialise with, as I didn't know anyone in Derby at that time. I have worked in local government for the past 12 years in environment health. It's a job I really enjoy. Being a volunteer and a Trustee has been a very interesting and very rewarding experience.

Chris Harris

My name is Chris and I have recently become a trustee. I do have a background in Health Care, but for the past 15 years have been involved in the Derbyshire Voluntary Sector, mainly in a Learning & Development role. I hope to bring the experience I have gathered in the 2 sectors to contribute to the great work that df delivers in the community.

Barry Stevenson

I was born in Derbyshire (in Ilkeston) and still live here (near Belper). I have lived most of my life as a 'straight' man, pushing the gay reality under the carpet. Although I enjoyed a good life with genuine friends and a nice family, hiding my sexuality led inevitably to increasing unhappiness. While making the first moves towards making contact with the gay community locally, I discovered the services of df and, in particular, it's associated men's group. This provided me with gay friends for the first time in my life together with help and support that I needed. I am therefore delighted to be able to support them in return by working as a volunteer Trustee and to help them in their valuable work on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. In my spare time I enjoy country walks (and country pubs!) together with photography and of course socialising with friends (gay and straight).

Clem Nicholls

I would like to stand for the position of treasurer. I have been a part of the organisation for almost a year and I do believe I have more to contribute to financial governance, the growth of the organisation, future development and service delivery. I am committed to the values of the organisation. Diversity and equality had influenced the planning and delivery of services and hopefully will remain a key policy. I would welcome the opportunity to be a trustee. My skills, life long learning and experiences can give the organisation added value. I remain committed in assisting the organisation to achieve its goals.

Jon Ashford-Smith

Jon Ashford-Smith currently works as Development Officer for Derby Playhouse. He has 3 years experience in fundraising and has raised upwards of £500,000 during this period. He arrived at the Playhouse after working for Derbyshire Housing Aid as Senior Development Officer for 2 years. After graduating from the University of Leicester in 2002 with a Masters degree in English Literary Research he moved to Manchester to work for a public relations agency. He quickly gleaned the skills that he required for fundraising, and decided to move into the voluntary sector. He then moved back to Derby and took up the post with Derbyshire Housing Aid. His interests include music, theatre, film and literature.

Bill Hussey - Derbyshire LGBT Switchboard Representative