Samantha James
Current Role
Working at NAVCA
Samantha currently works with NAVCA, the national membership body for local voluntary and community organisations. Her role is centred on building stronger partnerships between communities, the voluntary sector and public services, with the aim of creating healthier and more connected neighbourhoods.
A significant part of her work involves collecting evidence, case studies and insights from inspiring examples of community-led spaces and grassroots projects across the country.
She collaborates with academic institutions, national charities and think tanks including The King's Fund and Re:State, and speaks at policy roundtables and national events — including at the Houses of Parliament and Windsor Castle — to champion community-led spaces and approaches to health and wellbeing.
Her work is centred around
Background
Former Co-CEO, CVS Cheshire East
Samantha previously served as Co-CEO of CVS Cheshire East, supporting local voluntary and community organisations, building partnerships and helping communities access support, funding and opportunities.
Through this work, she saw first-hand how important local community spaces are, not just as buildings, but as places where relationships, support and community life happen.
Find out more about CVS Cheshire EastResearch & Academic Work
She completed a Master's degree in Social Innovation at the University of Cambridge. Her research focused on the power of grassroots and community organisations within healthy, thriving neighbourhoods and integrated health systems.
The research explored how local voluntary and community organisations often provide the foundations of prevention, wellbeing and social connection, but are too often overlooked in decision-making and investment. She also peer reviews articles for the International Journal of Integrated Care, and was part of the scientific committee for the 2026 International Conference on Integrated Care, where she presented a workshop on community-led approaches to health and wellbeing.
COMMUNITY SPACE EXPERIENCE
Creating spaces that feel welcoming, accessible and genuinely useful.
Alongside strategic and policy work, Samantha has also helped pilot and develop community-based spaces and projects focused on connection, wellbeing and long-term sustainability.
Art and Creative Wellbeing
Art theory and creative wellbeing sessions, within Mencap, Whitechapel Mission, and Richmond Fellowship
Mental Health Cafe
Runing a cafe and Catering business as part of Mosaic Clubhouse London
Practical Skills Workshops
Furniture restoration and practical skills with Aspire Oxford
Find Aspire on YouTube
Sonas
A community space for new parents, supporting connection, peer support, wellbeing and reducing social isolation
Why Brookfield Hall Matters
Brookfield Hall represents an opportunity to create something genuinely community-led for Nantwich — not just another building, but a shared space for connection, support, creativity and local life.
This cannot be achieved by one person alone. For it to succeed, it will need local support, shared leadership, community involvement, partnerships, and the skills, time and ideas of local people.
This is about exploring whether the community wants to come together to protect and shape this space for the future.
Read the Vision