our board
John Bradbury
He is passionate about seeing people transformed who then go on to bring transformation to their communities; equipping and releasing people to fulfil their full potential.
John has been married to Helen since 1988 and they have two wonderful grown-up children. He likes to relax by walking, doing DIY or just crashing on the sofa and watching a movie.
Yasmin Qureshi MP
Yasmin is the Member of Parliament for Bolton South and Walkden, representing Farnworth since 2010.
She is currently the Chair of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), a UK delegate to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and the UK Government’s Trade Envoy to Egypt. Yasmin has also held senior frontbench roles as Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, Shadow Minister for International Development, and Shadow Minister for Justice.
Yasmin plays an active role in numerous All-Party Parliamentary Groups, including leading roles on Pakistan, Dentistry and Oral Health, Hormone Pregnancy Tests, and Greater Manchester.
Before entering Parliament, she worked as a barrister, holding senior posts in the Crown Prosecution Service and the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, where she helped strengthen justice systems, human rights protections, and anti-trafficking measures.
She has lived with her family in Bolton since 2007.
Nadeem Ayub
Nadeem was elected to Bolton Council in 2022 first representing Farnworth. He was re-elected in 2023 in Farnworth North where he was promoted and given the responsibility to be the Executive member for Culture. His duties include, Libraries, Museums, Events, Albert Halls, Markets, Heaton Fold & School Meals.
Nadeem is married to Foziah for 16 years, they have four beautiful sons. Nadeem graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a Masters in Law and IT. He now works as an IT consultant with various international companies.
Paul Sanders
Paul was born in Farnworth and has lived here all his life. His hometown is very important to him and his family. He has three young children with his partner, Sarah, and they attend local nursery and school. He worked locally in adult social care for over 10 years, and in 2018, was elected to Bolton Council as a localist councillor for Farnworth. His aim has been to put Farnworth back on the map and help to make the town a better place for all.
Carlene Kirton
Carlene been a proud resident of Farnworth for most of her life, and she cares deeply about the community she calls home. As a passionate advocate for inclusive development, she brings a strong focus on accessibility to her role on the Focus on Farnworth board.
She is committed to ensuring that accessibility is embedded in every project we take forward—so that all residents, regardless of ability or background, can benefit from local improvements. She believes that local people deserve a voice in shaping the future of our town.
Helen Clayton
Helen works with Bolton CVS, supporting the brilliant charities, community groups and social enterprises that make Bolton such a great place. She has spent the last ten years working across the borough and is especially excited to see how the Pride in Place funding in Farnworth can help local groups grow and make an even bigger difference
Carrie Riley
Carrie a regeneration professional with over 20 years of experience working across community development, place-based transformation, and inclusive growth. She currently works for Bolton at Home as the Community Engagement Manager for South Bolton, where she also lead on employment and skills. She is passionate about creating opportunities for residents to thrive and committed to building strong partnerships that support long-term change. She brings strategic insight, practical experience, and a deep understanding of community needs to my role on the board.
Vanessa Barlow
Vanessa is the Social Value Manager at Seddon, a role in which she champions the company’s commitment to creating lasting positive impact in the communities they serve. With decades of experience at Seddon — she first joined in 1985 — Vanessa has developed deep roots in the business and a strong connection to its people-first values.
Guided by her belief that construction offers more than buildings, Vanessa works to ensure Seddon’s projects contribute to social wellbeing, including supporting long-term unemployed people and building meaningful partnerships.
Janet Pollard
Janet brings over 35 years of public sector experience, with a deep commitment to ensuring value for money and the responsible use of public funds to benefit local communities.
For the past 23 years, she has served Bolton Council in a range of finance roles, currently leading as Head of Finance with strategic oversight of regeneration initiatives.
Janet has played a key role in the transformation of Farnworth, contributing for more than a decade through her involvement in area forum meetings and her position as the Council’s representative on the Farnworth Board.
Her leadership ensures that financial strategy is closely aligned with community priorities and long-term place-based development.
Her work reflects a strong ethos of public service, financial stewardship, and collaborative regeneration—making her a trusted figure in Bolton’s ongoing efforts to build vibrant, inclusive communities.