
Tackling disadvantage; changing lives
Starting as a small charity in Salford in 1989, we’ve grown and diversified, helping tens of thousands of people over the past 35 years. As society and our communities have changed, we’ve also learnt, innovated and adapted to meet evolving needs and respond to new opportunities.
Unfortunately, our work is not finished. Injustice, inequality and disadvantage still prevent many from overcoming challenges and reaching their full potential. So, we’re determined to help more people and make an even bigger impact across Greater Manchester by 2030. We’re ambitious, passionate and determined to play our part in tackling disadvantage and changing lives.
Key Staff Contacts
Senior Management
Mel Goddard
Chief Executive Officer (2026-present)
Mel has over eleven years’ experience in senior leadership roles within the charity sector, including two years as Chief Executive Officer of the Roberts Centre in Portsmouth from 2024 to 2026.
Her background includes extensive operational and strategic leadership, with a strong focus on services supporting homeless families, children and young people. Her current position includes close partnership working with statutory services, voluntary organisations and community partners.
Mairi Palmer
Business Manager (2018-present)
Mairi is our Central lead for Business Support functions including Finance, IT and HR and nominated DPO for the charity. She provides governance support to Trustees for CEO, Board, Audit and HR Sub Committee.
Professional qualifications and training
- Msc in Voluntary Sector Management (Distinction)
- Diploma in Charity Accounting
- BA Hons French & Management Studies
- Chartered management accountant (CIMA)
- ACMA qualified finance professional with 30 years’ experience in accountancy, management accountancy and transfer pricing gained working in private (17 years) and voluntary sectors (13 years) including Trafford Carers Centre, Association of University Administrators, eSave Accountancy, KPMG UK and SSL International PLC.
Maggie Langhorn
Senior Operations Manager (2017-present)
With a career spanning over four decades, Maggie brings deep operational expertise and a values-led approach to service development and delivery. She leads the delivery of inclusive, high-quality support in our Women’s & Survivor’s centre, which supports women who have experienced domestic abuse, have been involved with the criminal justice system, or face disadvantage due to mental health challenges.
Beginning her career at just 21 years old managing a 10-bedded children’s home, Maggie has since held a series of senior management roles across the housing, mental health, criminal justice, and social inclusion sectors. Her professional journey reflects a consistent commitment to supporting people facing adversity and promoting positive, lasting change in their lives.
Maggie studied at Dunfermline College (part of the University of Edinburgh) and later gained a management qualification through the University of Derby. She is particularly passionate about co-producing services with those who use them, ensuring that lived experience informs and shapes practice. She is equally committed to supporting and developing her teams—empowering staff to grow, lead, and deliver the best outcomes possible.
Outside of work, Maggie is a keen gardener, gym member and enjoys walking and DIY. Her work is underpinned by a strong belief in equity, dignity, and the potential for everyone to thrive when given the right support.
Helen Garry
Business Development Manager
Helen is our lead on Income Generation and Communications, as well as the charity’s EDI champion. She has 30 years Fundraising and Bid Writing experience gained within the charity, education, social care and housing sectors in London and North West.
She is a passionate advocate for collaboration, partnership working and capacity building to sustain the VCSE sector. A Steering Group Member of the Salford Social Value Alliance, her key skills include Business Development, Digital Marketing, Procurement, Project Management and Contract Management.
Professional qualifications and training
- Level 7 Leadership for Women in Management (CMI)
- BA Economics 2.1 & Post Graduate CIM Diploma in Marketing
- Professional training completed in Mental Capacity Act
- Neurodiversity Awareness
- Menopause Awareness
- Mental Health First Aider
- First Aid at Work
- Fire Safety at Work & Hate Crime Ambassador.
John Damen
Senior Operations Manager
John is our lead for Universal Youth Services, Targeted Adult Services, Health and Safety, Facilities Management and Deputy Safeguarding Lead for the organisation.
A competent programme manager of complex funding contracts with experience of designing, mobilising and delivering high impact, innovative community and youth work programmes across Greater Manchester. Youth work experience gained working at Valley Youth Club, Rathbone, Trafford Council and Nacro. Over 15 years strategic stakeholder engagement, operational experience and performance management of payment by-results for grants and contracts to achieve KPIs and performance targets.
Steering Group Member of Salford’s Strategic Transitions Group. Extensive partnership working with VCSE sector and commissioning partners including BNY, Careers & Enterprise Company, GMCA, JD Foundation, National Citizens Trust and OFCOM.
Professional Qualifications
- BA Hons Sociology & Criminology
- Level 3 Diploma in Youth Work
- Safeguarding Level 3
- Health & Safety in the Workplace Level 3.
Jack Ward
Targeted Youth Services Manger
Jack is our Operational Lead for targeted youth mentoring programmes including STEER, Blocks, Engage Trafford, and College Community Connector, as well as Deputy Safeguarding Lead for the organisation. He is also our Strategic lead for school attendance, YP NEET, youth violence and stakeholder engagement including, Community Safety Partnerships, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit, and Prevention, Prosecution, Intervention, Education & Diversion (PPIED).
He has over 8 years’ experience of designing, delivering and managing early intervention and prevention youth services within Greater Manchester, in addition to 3 years volunteering youth work experience within criminal justice and community settings.
Professional Qualifications
- BA Hons Sociology with Criminology 1st Class.
- Level 3 Designated Safeguarding Lead Training
- Trauma Informed Practice
- Vicarious Trauma
- Hate Crime Reporting Ambassador
- PREVENT
- Child Criminal Exploitation
- Neurodiversity
- Unconscious Bias
- Self-Harm.
Jordan Cooper
Youth Services Project Manager
Jordan is the Operational & Evaluation Lead for our Manchester Blocks Mentoring Programme supporting young people at risk to have positive transitions and support into high school.
He has over 6 years’ experience of designing and delivering youth programmes including developing therapeutic and trauma-informed programmes to improve young people’s emotional resilience. Voluntary experience includes providing pastoral care and support to Year 7 students and supporting children with Autism/ADHD and SEND.
Professional Qualifications
- BCS in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Board of Trustees
Our trustees are skilled volunteers who monitor Salford Foundation’s activities and set our strategic direction.
Our Trustees bring skills, experiences, and expertise from beyond our organisation and use them to ensure that help the people of Salford and Greater Manchester effectively tackle disadvantage and change their lives. The Board of Trustees gather frequently to evaluate Salford Foundation’s activities, to navigate the complex challenges we face, and to collectively set our future goals.
Outside of the Board, Trustees sit on one of two committees which take deeper dives into specific topics: the Finance, Audit, Risk, and Governance Committee and the People, Performance, and Resources Committee.
Our Mission
To provide opportunities, support and training to children, young people and adults in Salford, Greater Manchester and the North West – helping them overcome disadvantage, change their lives and reach their full potential.
Our vision
Communities free of disadvantage, in which everyone has the opportunities and resources to change their lives and reach their full potential.
Our values
Welcoming
Our doors are open to anyone who wishes to contribute to or use the service. Whatever your issue or situation, we welcome you and want you to feel at home.
Leading by Example
We aim to change the lives of young people and adults by inspiring and empowering them to succeed with confidence, through good leadership.
Working Together
We believe that real results come from people working collaboratively and creating solutions together… and by having some fun while we do it.
Professional & Responsible
We aspire to be the very best we can be. We provide a consistent experience, operating quality systems and standards.
Proud & Passionate
We are hugely passionate about our Foundation, and want to do great work that we all feel immensely proud of.
Proactive & Dynamic
We are solution-focused and use creativity and proactivity to constantly find better ways of working.






























