CEO of local Charity – Positive Action in the Community (PAC), which was born in Nelson and now employs over 60 staff. Claire has over 24 years of experience working locally in Pendle and across East Lancashire within the voluntary sector with extensive experience in the areas of Youth Homelessness, Domestic Abuse and Emotional Health and Wellbeing.

Claire is a Pendle resident, and as such is fully immersed in and committed to community development, and proactively addressing socio-economic disadvantage. Claire’s experience and skills are focused on identifying local gaps in provision and services for local communities and developing innovative responses and provision to meet that need using a collaborative approach wherever available.

Claire sits on, and in some cases chairs, a number of local and Lancashire wide strategic groups including; Youth forums, Domestic abuse, Child Exploitation, Nelson Town Deal, Lancashire Housing Reference Group, Community Safety, Suicide and Self Harm Prevention, VCFSE Alliance.

My name is Sajad Ajmal Butt, but (no pun intended) everybody calls me Saj. I have lived, worked and played in Nelson for over 50 years.

I am a former student, Lecturer and Governor at Nelson and Colne College.

I am one of three brothers running 3B Systems Ltd, one of the oldest IT companies in the country

I am a:
Board Member and Former President / Chairman: East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
Member of Pendle Vision Board
Recipient and Fellow of the Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship Award
Founding Member of the Roof of the World Charity
ex semi Pro Footballer; Captain and Manager of Paak United F.C.
Former student, Lecturer and Board Member at Nelson & Colne College; the best College in the whole world.
TV Presenter - Check out "Saj Mahal" on YouTube
I love living in Nelson, as it has the tastiest, cleanest drinking water in the whole world.
The cleanest and freshest, air in the world, the most beautiful views at the top of Pendle Hill. The friendliest people in the whole world and I feel safe, secure and welcome.
Some of the most successful, pioneering and award winning SME’s in the whole country
I am a committed, enthusiastic and positive person who loves to help others succeed and fly the Nelson / Pendle Flag.

To follow

Dean is the Chief Executive of Pendle Borough Council and has over 30 years’ experience in local government. Originally from Huddersfield and professionally trained as an accountant, he has held senior roles across several councils, combining financial leadership with a strong focus on regeneration and place based development.
Dean has worked in Nelson for more than 15 years in senior leadership roles, giving him a deep understanding of the borough, its communities, and the opportunities and challenges facing the area.
His expertise spans local government leadership, public sector finance, regeneration, strategic planning, partnership working, and education and skills.

A passionate advocate for raising aspirations and improving educational outcomes, Dean leads on All Age Skills, Education and Employment for Lancashire Chief Executives. He is committed to improving life chances, strengthening community pride, and supporting long term economic opportunity across Nelson and Pendle.

In the Pride in Place programme, Dean brings strategic leadership, financial insight, and a borough wide perspective, helping ensure that priorities align with Council strategy and that community voices help shape projects and decision making.

Dean also contributes to local education and community organisations, serving as Vice Chair of Craven College’s Board of Governors, a Governor at Pendle Enterprise Trust, and a co optee on Nelson and Colne College’s Audit Committee.
Outside of work, Dean enjoys time with his family (and cats), is a keen runner with more than 140 Park Runs to his name, and is an enthusiastic—if frustrated—piano player.

Azhar Ali OBE is a County Councillor representing the Nelson East division and has served on Lancashire County Council since 2013, where he is currently the Leader of the Opposition.
Over his career, Councillor Ali has also served as a Town Councillor and as a District Councillor on Pendle Council, where he held the position of Leader. He has previously been a Non Executive Director and Chairman of Burnley NHS Trust, and from 2005–2010 he worked as a Senior Advisor to the Government on Communities following the events of 7/7.
Azhar has held Director-level roles in HR and has undertaken consultancy work both nationally and internationally.

Faraz is a lifelong Nelson resident and currently serves as a Borough Councillor for the Walverden and Whitefield Ward. He is also the Chairman of Nelson Town Council, where he plays an active role in supporting local communities and neighbourhood initiatives.
Faraz began his professional career at Abbey National Bank in Nelson before progressing into roles in Marketing, School Liaison, and Student Services at Nelson & Colne College. His time at the college strengthened his understanding of local education, training needs, and the challenges faced by young people across the borough.
He later joined Pendle Borough Council, contributing to collaborative research across East Lancashire. His work supported a range of important projects, including the Local Plan, Bradley Big Local, and local town centre research.
Most recently, Faraz worked with Liberata at the Number One Market Street Advice Centre, where he became a key first point of contact for residents. This role gave him a broad insight into the everyday needs and concerns of local people and further shaped his commitment to public service.
Faraz is passionate about hands‑on community improvement and has been involved in a wide range of local initiatives, such as improving green spaces, leading “Clean the Canal” campaigns, supporting Nelson in Bloom, organising town centre events, and helping to enhance local parks and playgrounds.
Born and bred in Nelson, Faraz brings a deep understanding of the area, its people, and its priorities. He is committed to working hard for the community and continues to pursue positive change where it matters most.

I’m the MP for Barnoldswick, Barrowford, Clitheroe, Colne, Earby, Nelson and Whalley. I grew up in a local village and still live in the constituency today. After attending Clitheroe Grammar School, I studied History and Politics at university before joining the police.
I spent nearly a decade in frontline policing, working as a constable, sergeant and inspector, mainly in emergency response. I left the force to focus on becoming the MP for Pendle and Clitheroe.
Whether you voted for me or not, I’ll always do my best to stand up for you in Parliament. I look forward to meeting you on the doorstep, at one of my surgeries, or out and about locally.”

With almost 25 years working in Pendle and Nelson, including extensive experience supporting voluntary, community and faith organisations, she brings deep local knowledge and a long standing commitment to community development. Her career began in banking, where she spent over 20 years in roles including mortgages, debt advice and risk management, alongside managing finance for her family business. After retraining as a person centred counsellor, she moved into the voluntary sector, first volunteering with Pendle Family Support before joining CVS in 2002. She became Chief Officer in 2014 and also serves on the boards of the Lancashire Association of CVS and NAVCA, the national body for local infrastructure organisations.

Her expertise includes community development, volunteering, leadership and management, training, quality standards, and supporting VCF organisations to thrive. She has worked closely with hundreds of local groups, contributed to the development of social prescribing in East Lancashire, and helped secure funding for countless community activities.

Having worked in the town for decades, she has strong relationships across local neighbourhoods and a deep appreciation of Nelson’s resilience and community spirit.

A passionate advocate for community voice, she is committed to ensuring people are empowered to shape decisions about their lives and future. She joined the Board to represent the wider VCF sector and champion health, wellbeing and inclusion.

She brings a strong community development perspective, helping ensure engagement is meaningful and that local groups are supported to participate fully in the programme.

Trustee roles include: Lancashire Association of CVS, NAVCA, Blackpool Citizens Advice, and Homewise. She has supported hundreds of local groups and played key roles in health and wellbeing partnerships across Pendle.

She enjoys time with her family, travelling, and reading — especially thrillers and drama.

Currently the Deputy Leader of Pendle Borough Council and Lead for Economic Growth, he brings extensive experience from both public service and frontline healthcare, working as a Radiographer within the NHS. She

He has previously served as Mayor of Pendle, Leader of the Council, and is a board member of both Nelson Town Deal and PenBrook, giving her a strong foundation in local decision making and regeneration.

Areas of expertise include community development and engagement, housing regeneration, economic growth, and health, supported by years of hands on experience working directly with residents and local organisations.

A lifelong Nelson resident, he has a deep understanding of the town, its strengths, and its challenges. He is passionate about helping shape a brighter future for Nelson and ensuring local communities remain at the heart of regeneration.

He is committed to ensuring that Nelson Pride in Place delivers meaningful, community led change. His priorities include revitalising the town centre, improving safety, reducing empty properties, expanding cultural activity, and strengthening transport and connectivity so Nelson becomes an even better place to live, work and visit.

He brings strong local insight, a clear understanding of community needs, and a commitment to community safety, helping ensure decisions reflect the lived experiences of local people.

He is passionate about serving his community and ensuring residents’ voices shape Nelson’s long term future.

Information to follow

Rauf Bashir is an experienced community development practitioner with a strong background in social cohesion, interfaith engagement, and grassroots initiatives.
He has led and supported a wide range of local and national programmes designed to promote dialogue, inclusion, and positive community action. Rauf remains deeply committed to strengthening partnerships and building strong, trusting relationships within communities.
Passionate about grassroots work, he strives to create meaningful and lasting positive change at a community level.

Project Manager & Founder of Bodies in Motion
Well-travelled and culturally diverse, with a passion for rackets sports, fitness, and hiking. Dedicated to promoting health and wellbeing through sports initiatives. Bodies in Motion aims to empower communities through accessible sports programs, fostering inclusivity and wellbeing, especially in Nelson.

Vice Principal – Partnerships & Engagements / Chief Information Officer at East Lancashire Learning Group (comprising Nelson & Colne College, Accrington & Rossendale College, and Lancashire Adult Learning).
Trustee and Treasurer at Positive Action in the Community charity.

With over 25 years of experience spanning advanced aerospace, nuclear, IT, and digital transformation, I bring a strategic and innovative approach to education, technology, and community engagement.

Rob is the Geographic Inspector for Pendle for Lancashire Constabulary which covers Nelson and surrounding areas

Karen Arciniega is a Director of Nuestra Familia Restaurants Ltd which operates a number of McDonald’s franchises across East Lancashire and Cumbria, including the Nelson restaurant which opened in March 2023. Additionally, Karen is a board member for the Burnley and Penrith Business Improvement (BID) boards.

With a bachelor’s degree in Sports Science, Coaching and Development, and currently working towards a master’s in Sports Nutrition, I am deeply passionate about using sport and healthy living to improve the quality of life in our local community. Having been involved in sport from a very young age, I was inspired by Nelson’s working‑class roots to start my own sports clothing brand — a brand that is now growing rapidly. I’m confident that, with continued dedication, it’s only a matter of time before it appears in major retail stores.
With the right steps and structures in place, Nelson has the potential to become a safe, inspiring space for everyone — a town that nurtures sporting talent, entrepreneurs, academic achievers and so much more.