Experienced community and social impact leader to help shape the charity’s next chapter
As Local Solutions enters an ambitious new phase of growth and community impact, the charity has appointed Helen Heap as its new Chair of Trustees to help shape its next chapter.
Helen has been a valued member of the Local Solutions Board of Trustees since 2019 and takes on the role as the charity continues delivering its strategy to End Homelessness, Transform Social Care and Empower Communities across the Liverpool City Region and North Wales.
Her appointment comes at a significant moment for the organisation. Following the opening of its new Community Hub on Boaler Street, Local Solutions is expanding opportunities for local people to access support, connect with services, build relationships and play a greater role in shaping the communities in which they live. The Hub reflects the charity’s growing focus on place-based working, prevention and partnership, bringing organisations together to improve outcomes for local people.
The appointment also follows another landmark year for Local Solutions. During 2025/26, the charity supported more than 35,000 people, delivered almost 400,000 hours of home care, welcomed more than 11,000 participants to Liverpool Watersports Centre and generated £23.5 million in social and economic value, reflecting the growing impact of its work across local communities.
Helen brings extensive experience in finance, social investment and community development. After a successful career managing investment portfolios, she has spent more than a decade supporting charities, social enterprises and purpose-led organisations across the Liverpool City Region to create lasting social impact. She is also a co-founder of Kindred LCR CIC and holds a number of advisory and non-executive roles.
Helen said:
“What inspires me about Local Solutions is that it doesn’t simply provide services – it works alongside people and communities to help them build better futures. Whether that’s supporting an older person to remain independent at home, helping someone experiencing homelessness rebuild their life, supporting an unpaid carer or creating opportunities for young people and communities to thrive, the organisation makes a real difference every single day.
“I feel incredibly proud to become Chair at such an exciting point in Local Solutions’ journey. The charity has a long history of responding to the changing needs of communities by listening, building strong partnerships and finding practical solutions that make a lasting difference.”
Helen believes charities have an increasingly important role to play in bringing together communities, public services, businesses and voluntary organisations to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges.
She said:
“We’re living through a time when demand for support continues to grow. No single organisation can meet those challenges alone, which is why partnership working is more important than ever. Local Solutions has built a strong reputation for working alongside communities and partners, and I’m excited to help strengthen those relationships even further.”
As Chair, Helen will support the organisation’s continued focus on influencing the future of social care, preventing homelessness, strengthening communities and ensuring people can access the right support earlier.
She is particularly excited about the continued development of the Community Hub on Boaler Street as a place where people can connect, access support, build relationships and help shape the services and opportunities that matter most to them.
Chief Executive Tom Harrison welcomed Helen’s appointment.
He said:
“I’m delighted to welcome Helen as our new Chair. She brings a wealth of experience, insight and compassion, but above all she shares our belief that lasting change happens when we work alongside people, communities and partners.
“Helen becomes Chair at a particularly exciting time for Local Solutions. As we continue growing our partnerships, expanding our community presence and developing our Community Hub, her leadership will help us build on the strong foundations we’ve created and reach even more people across the Liverpool City Region and North Wales.”
Helen succeeds former Chair Hazel Snell DL, whose leadership and commitment helped guide Local Solutions through an important period of growth and development.
Looking ahead, Helen says her ambition is simple.
“Success for me isn’t simply about growing the organisation. It’s about ensuring more people know Local Solutions is here for them, more communities have a voice in shaping what we do and more partners choose to work alongside us to create lasting, positive change. Behind every statistic is a person, a family or a community whose life has been changed for the better, and that’s what will always matter most.”
