David Bransby, Fundraising Officer for local children’s charity PhysCap, chats to JLife’s Laura Sefton about being cheeky and achieving the ultimate goal.

David Bransby had never intended to become one of the key fundraising officers for a local children’s charity. Ten years after being asked to referee a football match in a bid to raise money, he has been nominated in three categories at the Yorkshire Evening Post Community Awards for his fundraising achievements and gone on to establish himself as a leading committee member of PhysCap, the organisation that buys specialist equipment for children with physical disabilities in the Yorkshire region. “It’s been quite a journey,” says David. “What started out as doing a favour for a friend has become such a big part of my life.”

JLife chats to Sheila Saunders, the Chief Executive of Leeds Jewish Housing Association who is retiring this month, about past success and future plans.

For over two decades, Sheila Saunders oversaw two organisations that are vital to the Jewish community in Leeds – the Leeds Jewish Welfare Board (LJWB) and the Leeds Jewish Housing Association (LJHA). She retired from the position of Chief Executive of LJWB in 2005, and this month she retires from her role as Chief Executive of the LJHA.

“While working as the Day Centre Organiser at the old Queenshill Centre, the forerunner to the MAZCC, I was headhunted in 1987 to take up two separate job roles as the Chief Executive of the LJWB and the LJHA,” explains Sheila. “They were new roles that were created to oversee the two organisations. It was amazing to be able to help so many people in the Jewish community who relied on us so much for the services we provide.”

Jonathan Huglin, General Manager at one of the city’s top hotels, speaks to JLife’s Katherine Howard about his South African upbringing, new life in Leeds and who he would like to see in the World Cup final.

Liverpool born and South Africa raised, Jonathan Huglin feels right at home in Leeds, having moved to the city in December 2008 to take up the role of General Manager at the city’s Radisson BLU Hotel: “Although I follow Liverpool Football Club I think that it’s fantastic Leeds FC got promoted. I think it’s great for the city, and from my point of view as a hotel manager, it’s great for business,” says the self-acclaimed football fanatic and assistant coach for Leeds Maccabi under 10s. He’s keeping an eager eye on the World Cup, more than slightly envious of his Cape Town-based family and friends’ experiences: “I’m getting quite nostalgic what with all the TV coverage and I’m pretty sorry to be missing the tournament but I would have loved to see England V South Africa in the final.”