Jane joined Acorn Community Care in January 2021, originally intending to help out for a short time after deciding to take early retirement. With more than 20 years of experience in HR, including work with local charities and five years as HR Manager at Castle Howard, she thought she’d left organisational life behind — but a single visit to the farm changed her mind. Within moments of meeting the team and seeing the energy, laughter and sense of purpose at Acorn, she knew this was where she was meant to be.

Since then, Jane has become a cornerstone of Acorn’s internal operations. Her role covers all aspects of people management, recruitment, staff wellbeing, admin systems and much more — but what really sets her apart is how she goes about it. She’s known across the charity for being calm under pressure, straight-talking when needed, and always ready to listen.

Jane doesn’t just work behind the scenes. She’s visible, present, and always takes time to connect with staff, volunteers and the people we support. She has helped strengthen our processes, shaped new staff benefits, and ensured that as the charity grows, our culture of kindness and accountability grows with it.

No two days are ever the same — and that’s exactly how Jane likes it. Her motivation is simple: help build a workplace where people are valued, supported and proud of what they do.