Our
Trustees

Steve has been the Executive Director of the Manor Royal BID Company, the largest “industrial” Business Improvement District in the country, since it was created in 2013. He has over 20 years economic development and BID management experience as well as experience of the private and public sector in disciplines from finance and performance improvement to corporate policy and planning.  

Steve has a Masters in psychological research, design and analysis, and a Merit in the British BIDs Certificate in BID Management a course on which he now teaches.  

Steve was born and raised in Crawley, where he still lives having raised his own children Ben, Jake and Sam (triplets) and is a Crawley Town FC season ticket holder. 

Mark Dunford is senior editor of SussexWorld.co.uk and is editor of the Crawley Observer, West Sussex County Times and the Mid Sussex Times.

He has 26 years' experience as a journalist and a lot of that has been spent covering Crawley Town Football Club, with the highlight being the League Two Play-Off campaign in 2024 which culminated in that magnificent day in Wembley.

This is Mark's second stint as a Trustee with the Crawley Town Community Foundation and is always in  awe of the incredible work the Foundation does.

Mark also loves cricket, theatre and cinema and spends most of the summer as an umpire in the Sussex Cricket League.

Before joining Crawley, Alan was involved as a referee 1970 – 1991 in the Southern League and Football League. 

In 1991 he was invited by the then chairman to join the Crawley Town FC administration, 

where he served as the Company Secretary and Director.  

Thirteen years ago, Alan was invited to join the Community Foundation as a Trustee where he has served ever since. 

Away from Crawley, Alan also serves as the Company Secretary of The Southern Football League Ltd 

Mike has recently retired from law enforcement, during his career he investigated a wide variety of offences and latterly he was head of professional standards.  Not content to rest, he is currently a senior internal investigator for a large media organisation. 

Away from work Mike referee's football and has held several administrative roles within local clubs.  Mike's son attended the foundation's education academy. 

Mike is a Crawley Town supporter but refereeing clashes with too many games.  Mike is the safeguarding trustee and has been a trustee since 2022 

Zoe’s day job is as HR Director for First Central Group, an Insurance and Technology business based in Haywards Heath, where she has worked for the past 5 years. Before that Zoe was Group Director of People at The People’s Partnership based in Crawley.  She has worked in the field of HR for over 25 years and has a MSc. In Human Resource Management as well as being a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

James May is a Chartered Accountant born and raised in Crawley, studying at Holy Trinity before the London School of Economics.  

Currently living in Pound Hill he works in Haywards Heath as a Head of Financial Reporting and relishes the challenge of trying to solve the numbers.  

James works within the travel industry and has a breadth of experience from 10 years as an auditor and is a Trustee on two other charity boards within the town.  

Father of two daughters he doesn't get to as much football as he likes, and certainly no longer plays it despite competing for over 20 years as a goalkeeper in the local leagues. 

Wendy Bell, Director and Chair of CGC Co Ltd and is a visionary senior leader and event strategist with a passion for community empowerment and inclusive growth. 

As the founder of The Events Group (UK) Ltd, she brings over two decades of experience in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and operational transformation to deliver high-impact festivals, fayres, and market experiences across the UK.  

Wendy has held prominent leadership roles including CEO of Crawley Town Centre BID and General Manager of Sussex Enterprise, where she drove innovation, compliance, and service excellence. 

Deeply committed to social equity, Wendy serves as a trustee of the Crawley Town Community Foundation and Ten Little Toes Baby Bank, championing grassroots initiatives that support families and strengthen local communities. Her work blends creative direction with rigorous governance, always guided by values of inclusion, sustainability, and purposeful leadership. 

Mark is founder of club first team sponsor Eden Utilities, brings a wealth of professional experience and a passion for community engagement to Crawley Town FC Foundation.  

With a focus on building strong partnerships and supporting long-term growth, Mark is committed to helping the Foundation expand its reach and impact across Crawley and beyond.  

His strategic mindset, combined with a genuine enthusiasm for local development and supporting the community.