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A Bit of Background
Collaborative Women UK is a ‘not-for-profit’ Community Interest Company founded in Stretford, Manchester in 2014 by Executive Directors Jan Tasker and Grace McCorkle.
Both Jan and Grace are Housing Practitioners whose combined experience in their field spans some five decades working across the private, public and voluntary sectors. They say:
“ We are Collaborative Women UK. Our organisation was born out of a passion to provide access to safe and affordable housing and to find ways of empowering women to forge their own paths. By working together with our partner organisations and local communities we aim to assist women in identifying and making the most constructive choices for their futures.”
‘The Hub’ provides a safe and welcoming environment with workshops that help women to bridge the gaps in their knowledge and empower them to map their own pathways to independence. This community driven project has helped in improving both the health and wellbeing of the women in Stretford and strives to improve their economic and personal futures.
Meet The Team
Directors.
Jan Tasker
Co-CEO - Director Of Housing And Business
Jan is a qualified building surveyor with an extensive career in housing that spans three decades. Leading the provision of safe accommodation for women is a natural discipline for Jan and having successfully run her own businesses since her late teens means she has a keen business acumen to help steer Collaborative Women UK through the many environmental challenges.
Having cultivated skills and expertise through her experience of working across the voluntary, private and public sectors, as a Housing Practitioner, she has been instrumental in influencing safer housing policies and practices resulting in improved/ safer living conditions, changing lives as a consequence.
Jan says:
“I am totally committed to providing a solid, holistic approach to help women find their worth, have a voice and make positive choices. I am appalled and saddened that so many women are suffering abuse or live in fear of violence against them. It is hugely rewarding to help women realise their ambitions and believe they ‘can do’ ............we can and do make a difference.”
She has never been known to shy away from resolving a situation and striving for equality and fairness. Her passion to help make a difference to women’s lives means that she is bursting with energy, enthusiasm, innovation and pride to be a co-founder of Collaborative Women UK working with friend and business partner/ Co-CEO Grace McCorkle
Grace McCorkle
Co-CEO - Director Of Community Partnerships And Services
Grace leads on the development of Collaborative Women’s community engagement and portfolio of organised events. Working closely with local agencies across Greater Manchester Grace forges partnerships in order to provide learning opportunities for women.
Grace states:
"By offering a diverse portfolio of organised events through our community HUB and peer group learning helps in alleviating the socio-economic divides and isolation experienced by many women."
Grace has an extensive background working in local government, social housing and public health spanning over three decades. As a Housing Practitioner she has specialised in the development of housing services, policies and initiatives for women and young people. In the health arena, Grace specialises in community based participation, improving access to clinical research for ethinc minority within ethinic minorities communities, and informatics.
As a strategic influencer, Grace holds positions as a non-executive with Mosscare St Vincent Housing Group and Manchester Clinical Research Facilities. As an advocate for equality and equity she continuously strives to be a conduit for change to fight inequalities in housing and health across Greater Manchester and beyond.
The pride she shares with Jan Tasker Co-CEO in building Collaborative Women UK is a testament to their friendship, strength and self belief that women of any age can accomplish great things.
“WHEN I DARE TO BE POWERFUL, TO USE MY STRENGTH IN THE SERVICE OF MY VISION, THEN IT BECOMES LESS & LESS IMPORTANT WHETHER AM AFRAID” - Audre Lorde
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Georgia Hart
Senior Housing Coordinator
Georgia Hart is our Lead Housing Coordinator and heads up the Moving Forward Programme for our residents in the Collaborative Women housing projects. Coming to us with a background in Nursing & Medical Research, Georgia has a wealth of experience that helps all our residents in their time of need.
Her favorite quote is taken rather aptly from RuPaul “if you can’t love yourself, how the hell can you love anyone else”.
She feels her career with Collaborative Women is just like a rollercoaster and you never know what challenge will face you in the morning but overcoming them is one of her specialities.
Our Board of Trustees
Chair Of The Board
Shuff Tariq
Shuff is the lead Homeless Prevention Officer for Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Policy and strategy creation & implementation.
S.W.A.T
Stretford Women's Action Team
Coming together from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, our skilled team of professionals is the backbone of Collaborative Women. Their ideas help shape the direction and mission of our organization as it continues to develop. Read on to learn more about some of our incredible team members.
Community Engagement Officer
Pearline Storer
With us since our founding, Jesse Neimus is one of our veteran team members. They bring their years of experience and skills to the forefront in helping our organization grow and succeed.