Top Church Training
An award winning, dynamic, community charity working every day to reduce isolation, increase participation and improve the outcomes for isolated, lonely and vulnerable people across Dudley
Registered Charity No 1062241
Formed in 1997
Top Church Training was formed in Brierley Hill in the borough of Dudley in March 1997 with the mission to support local people to reduce their isolation, build social connections and participate in community life, provide access to specialist services when required and to empower them to move on to better outcomes in their lives.
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Although we were first formed by the vicar of a local Christian church community, we are not a religious group and are open to people of all faiths and of no faith.
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Through our Connect project, we remain at the heart of our community. Our office and community cafe, Harry's are both located on the High Street in Brierley Hill, though we also support people and families from all across Dudley.
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Our specialist support workers provide 1-2-1 confidential support, crisis intervention and on-going help and advice to individuals and families with housing matters, welfare benefits, and family support. We can also provide specialist mentoring and coaching to help people to move on in life, aspire to achieve more, and learn some practical techniques to improve their employment prospects. Make a referral.
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As well as being open to the public for tasty food and drink and great company (donations only, not prices), our community cafe, Harry's is the venue for our calendar of group activities to encourage people to participate, build new social connections, and learn new skills. ​Harry's is supported by our nearby community allotment which is looked after by our volunteers, and led by a Master Gardener.
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Our volunteering programme provides a range of opportunities for people to learn new skills, make new social connections, build their confidence and make a positive contribution to their community and other people's lives. All of our volunteers are provide with high quality vocational training. Many go on to volunteering roles with other organisations or secure paid employment.
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We were honoured to be awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2021. The King's Lord-Lieutenant presents our Volunteer Awards each year at the historic Himley Hall.
Open to people of all faiths and no faith
Specialist Support Workers
Volunteering programme
Award winning charity
Meet the Team
We couldn't do the work we do without the support of our amazing volunteers, including our Trustees. Meet our small team of staff who provide their expertise to help make everything run smoothly.
Karen Fielder
Chief Executive
Karen has worked in the voluntary sector for much of her career and has held a variety of senior positions. She has been with Top Church Training since 2008 and CEO since 2021. She has a degree in Youth Work, a Cert Ed in Education, and a Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management. Karen is taxi driver for her two teenage boys and can often be found on the sidelines of a muddy football field cheering them on.
Tahira Ali
Projects & Volunteer Coordinator
Tahira's goals in life are to achieve the best outcomes for the charity and its clients to change people’s lives for the better. She loves photography and being creative, and being involved with the community. She believes a smile and a positive attitude goes a long way on the road to success. She is a proud mother of her 2 beautiful children.
Amanda Crook
Support Worker
Amanda has had a varied career in the voluntary, public and private sectors and has worked with families since having her own children. She has 3 wonderful daughters. She enjoys gardening in her spare time.
Simone Rudge
Operations Manager
Simone has devoted her career to support work and project work in the voluntary sector and similar fields for over 25 years. She holds a number of qualifications and has a wide range of knowledge and skills. She is also a proud Nanny to two boys and mommy to two Cocker Spaniel puppies, which keeps her very busy.
Neale Pilkington
Senior Support Worker
Heidi Brookes
Harry's Cook
Kevin Pace
Business Manager
Neale is a JNC Youth Worker and Support Worker and has a huge amount of experience in both the statutory and voluntary sector. He is passionate about challenging social inequalities and advocating for clients rights with a particular focus on welfare benefits and housing issues Away from work Neale is a club deejay who also trades in vinyl and can often be found leafing through a crate of records at local fairs.
Heidi has worked in the catering and hospitality industry for several years, including coffee shops and commercial kitchens. More recently she has worked as a teaching assistant supporting children and young people with additional needs. She loves cooking and baking and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and skills with others to improve their confidence and independence.
Kevin started his career in the voluntary sector with Citizens Advice and then spent many years as a college lecturer and as a senior leader in education and the public sector. He is proud to have raised over £14m for various projects in the public and voluntary sectors. As well as working for TCT, he has a training and coaching business and is a musician. He is also passionate about sport and spending time in the countryside.