12 June 2025

New Chief Operations Officer appointed at Community First to strengthen charity’s impact

We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Alex Barrett as our new Chief Operations Officer, helping us grow, adapt and support even more people.

Alex outside Community First’s Fareham Office on West Street.

Community First works in partnership with local authorities, health services, and voluntary groups to improve the lives of people in Hampshire. We support hundreds of community organisations every year, helping them access funding, recruit volunteers, develop services, and build stronger, more connected local networks. We also run vital services directly, including community transport, youth and wellbeing projects, training, and volunteer development across towns and villages from the New Forest to Havant and beyond.

Alex joins the team with more than two decades of commercial experience, having held senior roles at Merlin Entertainments and Quidos, a government-approved accreditation scheme for the energy efficiency sector. Most recently, he spent nine years helping to grow a marine engineering business. Originally from Dorset, he moved to Hampshire in 2022 and became a trustee in his local community group – an experience that inspired his move into the charity sector, and we’re happy to have him!

Alex said: “I’ve worked in high-growth businesses and built strong teams, but I wanted to apply those skills to something that really matters to people. Community First stood out because it’s all about making life better for everyone and there’s a real opportunity here to make lasting change.

“My focus is making sure our wide range of services are sustainable, better connected, and more accessible, especially through smarter use of technology and partnerships. We want people to know what support is available, no matter where in Hampshire they live.”

Alex in Community First’s Fareham Office Boardroom. (Room hire starts at £12.50 per hour)

Alex’s appointment comes at a time when demand for support is increasing across the voluntary sector. He is keen to explore how Community First can diversify income, broaden access to services, and grow its impact, while keeping people at the heart of everything it does.

With Alex’s expertise, the organisation also hopes to create more mutually beneficial partnerships between businesses and charities through our ‘Building Connections’ programme.

This connects local businesses with voluntary organisations through volunteering, skill-sharing, donations and training.

Chief Executive of Community First, Tim Houghton, said: “Alex brings a great mix of commercial insight and community spirit. With the pressures many local groups are under, from rising costs to changing funding models, it’s more important than ever that we think sustainably, act collaboratively, and continue evolving.

We’re thrilled to welcome Alex as we take the next step in strengthening the voluntary and community sector across Hampshire.”