Rev. Dr Stephen Skuce

Chairperson

Rev. Dr. Stephen Skuce is the Methodist Church’s District Superintendent for the North Western District.  Focussing on the Methodist churches in Tyrone, Fermanagh, Derry, Armagh, Down and the border counties; the North Western District  includes an area from North Donegal to Ballina in the west and Warrenpoint in the east.  Stephen is married to Marlene, a Methodist Deacon, and they have two daughters. He has previously worked in Fermanagh and Dublin, as well as further afield in England and Sri Lanka.

Liam Milligan

Mission Director

Liam works as Mission Director with North West Methodist Mission.

Liam has worked as a senior manager in the commercial retail and statutory sectors and has over twenty-five years’ experience working in the community voluntary sector.  He has particular experience in delivery of services to adults in a community setting, cross border development work, community-based capacity building, reconciliation, training and rural development. He has also been involved in trans-European co-operation programmes and international exchange programmes.

Liam holds an Honours Degree in Business Studies and is a qualified trainer.

He has been an Associate Lecturer with the North-West Regional College on their HND, Chartered Institute of Management, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Programmes and bespoke programmes to industry.

Liam holds a number of voluntary positions including current Chair of Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland and North West Community Network.

Liam lives in Derry with his wife Fiona and four children Aoife, Conor, Ryan and Tara.

Mrs. Tracy Hegarty

Vice Chairperson

Mr. Mark Johnston

Treasurer

As an independent Commercial Finance Broker, Mark has over 30 year’s experience in the Financial Services Sector. He is qualified as a Chartered Banker, a member of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and a member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB). Marks professional experience helps Northern Ireland businesses source and secure funding to support business growth, stability and profitability.

Currently, he holds the finance position on the Board of Directors for the North West Methodist Mission having been involved with our work since 2016.

Marks’ consultancy work in the private and public sector is varied. Clients include Intertrade Ireland, local enterprise agencies and a number of Councils across Northern Ireland. Delivering mentor support for businesses with the development of strategic growth plans on projects such as the Business Boost programme, and the Alchemy Business Support programme.

Mark has also volunteered as a Business Mentor with the Princes’ Trust for several years  providing business mentoring support for young people. Helping them obtain and maintain focus on the key aspects of their business development such as sales line development, cashflow, profit & loss and funding structures.

Mrs. Joan Doherty

Company Secretary

Mrs Joan Doherty, a retired School Principal, has served on a number of Boards including: the North West Regional College; the Independent Monitoring Board; the Verbal Arts Centre; the Churches Trust; and the Western Health & Social Care Trust. She also served on several committees whilst at the Western Health & Social Care Trust such as Governance, Appointments of Medical Consultants, Audit, and Renumeration to name a few. She is also involved in several charities in the city and is an Honorary member of a number ofseveral organisations. She currently serves as company secretary to the North West Methodist Mission board as well as being Circuit steward to the North West Methodist Circuit. She has also served on The Governance Working group for the Methodist Church in Ireland.  Mrs Doherty was awarded an MBE in 2014, and she is also a Deputy Lieutenant of the city. She is married to Ken and they live in the North West.

James Jennings

Homeless Service Manager - Men’s Hostel

James holds a Foundation Degree in Responding to Alcohol & Drug Misuse. He is presently completing a BSc in Health & Wellbeing.
James has worked in the homeless sector for over 20 years. He has played a crucial role in helping to build the service that exists today within the Mission. He is a advocates strongly and works diligently to promote all aspects of physical and mental wellbeing at the hostel.

James feels privileged to work with the staff and is inspired seeing the positive outcomes for our service users.

Joanne Tracey

Deputy Manager Hostel

Dr Peter Leeson

Director

Dr Peter Leeson has served on the Board of the North West Methodist Mission since its inception in 2012 and previously he served on the Mission Committee. Dr Leeson is a retired General Medical Practitioner and works in primary medical care. He has experience in the care of patients presenting with acute and chronic medical issues, patients with mental health and drug and alcohol problems. During his career he was involved in GP education and took a lead role in clinical governance and has transferable skills in leadership, problem solving and quality improvement.

Ann Barr

Homeless Service Manager – Clarendon Shelter

Ann holds a Foundation Degree in Responding to Alcohol & Drug Misuse. She is presently completing a BSc in Health & Wellbeing.

Ann has worked in the homeless sector for 15 years. She worked as a Support Worker in the North West Methodist Mission Men’s hostel from 2006, before taking up a Team Leader position at Clarendon Shelter in 2017. Ann has recently taken up the post of Homeless Services Manager at Clarendon Shelter and is looking forward to continuing the development of services following the merger with the North West Methodist Mission.

Mr John Gibson

Director

Mr John Gibson was a member of the Mission Committee for several decades, continuing as a member of the board of the North West Methodist Mission that superseded the Mission Committee. He  upholds the values of the Mission and continues to support the work of the hostel for homeless men . He was also a member of the Clarendon Women’s Shelter board before its merger with the North West Methodist Mission.

As a former chemistry graduate from Queens University Belfast, he is currently retired following a career spent in the chemical industry. He has served his Church in various leadership roles such as a Sunday School teacher, Superintendent and Junior Boys Brigade officer.

Miss Jane Given

Director

Miss Jane Given previously served as a Vice- Principal for 33 years and acting Principal for one year at a Post Primary School. She has been Secretary of the Mission committee for 35 Years and is acutely aware of the needs of homeless men in the city. Miss Given has good communication, leadership, administration and people management skills as well as a B.A. (Hons),  Diploma in Advanced Studies in Education, and a Licentiate from Trinity College of Music in London.

Ms Janice McCandless

Director

Miss Janice McCandless was a member of the Mission Committee prior to joining the Board of the North West Methodist Mission in 2012. She is employed by Coolkeragh ESB for the past 18 years and works in The Finance and Administration Department. She has several Leadership roles in her Church. She is a Member of the Accountant Technicians in Ireland.

Mrs Maureen Young

Director

Mrs Maureen Young has been a member of the North West Methodist Mission Board since its inception in 2012 and its predecessor – the Mission Committee. Mrs Young is a retired Home Economics Teacher who taught for 8 years full time and 3 years part- time in Post Primary Schools and for 15 years as a substitute teacher in Primary Schools. She has served in various leadership roles in the Local Methodist Church, is a Pastoral visitor and is an Accredited Local Preacher.

Mrs Marion Hamilton

Director

Marion is a retired Personnel Manager following a long career in the manufacturing sector. She was a Director of Clarendon Shelter for many years and joined the Board of North West Methodist Mission in April 2021 following the merger of the two groups. Marion holds a number of voluntary positions including Chairperson of Churches in Co-Operation and the North West Volunteer Centre. She is also an active member of her Church being a member of the Church Council, Property Treasurer and Communion Stewart.

Marion is married to Roy and enjoys knitting, playing bridge and singing in the church choir.

Joe Lusby

Director