Meet the Team

Teresa is the founder of The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation in Northampton, a charity that she established during the COVID-19 pandemic to tackle food poverty, social isolation and loneliness within the community.

Teresa grew up in a small fishing village in Ireland. The youngest of seven children, Teresa’s parents were Dairy Farmers which is where Teresa’s love of food started, and from a very young age.

Teresa pursued a career in cookery and has been a chef for over 20 years, having cooked all over Ireland as well as on the QE2 cruise ship. Since moving to Northampton from London in 2006, she became the landlady of the Swan & Helmet Pub which she has strived to make a hub within the community.

On a personal level, Teresa has two children and with her youngest daughter being autistic she has invested a lot of effort in learning about and understanding autism and how to support those impacted by it.

The COVID-19 outbreak drove her to work tirelessly to continue and grow the support available within the community. Teresa was nominated for and presented with many awards, including the “Northampton’s Inspirational Woman of the Year”, for her outstanding contribution and passion to improve the community’s standard of living.

Steve has over 35 years experience in the voluntary, community, faith-based and statutory sectors as a qualified Youth & Community Worker, Teacher, manager, trainer, researcher, volunteer and trustee.  Former roles have included Chair of Trustees of YMCA Northamptonshire, Executive Committee member of the Northampton & County Council for Voluntary Services, Neighbourhood Manager in Spring Boroughs for Northampton Borough Council and Youth Officer for two Church of England dioceses. He has been employed for the past 22 years as the Development Worker for Church-Related Community Work around Britain with The United Reformed Church.

Steve’s experiences as a charitable trustee for almost 30 years with the Resources in Community Trust and for 12 years as a Grants Adviser with the Northamptonshire Community Foundation have provided particular insights into how many local people and families are challenged by poverty, homelessness and the lack of decent housing, unemployment and low aspirations. However, he is also well aware that there are many excellent local organisations and charities, such as the Teresa McCarthy-Dixon Foundation, who are working in partnership to alleviate poverty, to confront injustice and to work towards the Common Good and an even-more flourishing Northampton!

He combines his family commitments as an adoptive parent with 4 children alongside volunteer roles with The Friends of Northampton Racecourse, the Action for Happiness local group, the Northants Parents Forum Group, the Friends of Bethany, with Abington Lawn Tennis Club and as a member at St. Giles Church, Northampton, but ensuring that there is still time to enjoy the countryside, go biking and to support the Saints and Cobblers!

Marie is a Primary Headteacher and Mother to three young children; she has worked as a Teacher and School Leader for almost 20 years. Marie set up a primary free school in Northampton and was head of primary in a large British international school in Spain.

Born in Northampton, Marie attended local Catholic schools before gaining a first-class degree in psychology and a PGCE from the University of Manchester.

Marie has always been actively involved in school PTAs and governing bodies – working with the community and all stakeholders to ensure the best interests of the children are served. Marie is experienced in safeguarding, strategic planning, budgeting and ensuring compliance with all statutory educational policy.

Marie’s Irish heritage and connections with Northampton inspire her to help and give back to the community, particularly to help those with hidden needs as well as children and families not being supported by other agencies.

Jackie was born in Northampton to Irish parents who came over in the 1950s and settled into the community.

Jackie works locally as a Finance Manager for a scaffolding company and was involved for many years in the Good Shepherd Primary School’s Parent Association. She has also served as Treasurer and Trustee for other charitable organisations for several years ensuring adherence with all finance and accounting regulations pertinent to this sector.

Personally, Jackie has seven children/stepchildren and ten grandchildren who keep her busy!

Mab has a long history of involvement in the charity world facilitated by his placement at Mind (Wolverhampton) during his student days. Subsequently, he became involved in international development (e.g. Oxfam), Health & Wellbeing (e.g. Solar) including advocacy, campaigning and sometimes disruptive intervention in public policy affairs.

Mab has delivered a number of talks, workshops and training sessions as well as running charity events and conferences.

As a Journalist, Mad focussed on international affairs, which included interviewing high profile foreign figures (e.g. head of states). He worked within the fashion industry with one couture design house, as head of communication. From developing the strategy, including developing the social media profile of the house, to training models on self-presentation on the runway (catwalk), sharing his skills in getting media attention, and non-verbal communication i.e. how to profile themselves during photo-shoots. They subsequently haemorrhaged talent losses as their models were then recruited to sign up for bigger modelling agencies).

Mab has lectured at college and university levels in communications and has given public talks at several universities. He currently keeps busy with independent tutorials; mostly second year to masters-level students.

Pam has a background in education and after an early retirement from teaching Sociology and Health Studies. She started working in the voluntary sector with the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) as an adviser.

For many years, Pam lived in the North-East of England in an area that suffered greatly from the deindustrialisation of the 1970s and 80s. After being widowed she moved to Northampton in 2002 and continued with that work, becoming a Trustee and then Chair of the local CAB before retiring in 2018. Pam has also been heavily involved with the local Credit Union, being a Director from 2008 until its merger with a larger Credit Union in 2020. She has also been a Trustee of various education charities and a Director of several Community Interest Companies.

Throughout her life, Pam has been deeply interested in those groups outside of mainstream society who are often disregarded by policy-makers and seeks ways to improve their situation both through practical support and education, as well as through more obviously political intervention.

Born and raised in Northampton, Vince is a local legend who is always willing to help anybody in the community. He is a kind, generous, giving man who always puts others before himself.

Vince is a huge part of the charity and regularly volunteers many hours to our food bank and gardening services. These services would be nowhere near as efficient as they are if it wasn’t for Vince and people like him being involved in our charity.

Mick took early retirement in 2017 having spent nearly 40 years in banking with Barclaycard. His early years were spent in the operational side of the business, before moving into more senior roles in Project Management and Risk Management.

Mick is married to Debbie and has two daughters- Shawna and Micha. He is a sports fanatic, particularly football, and enjoys running and cycling.