Meet the Trustees
Our trustees bring together a wide range of experience, knowledge and passion to help guide the East Lancashire Community Foundation. They have a shared commitment of using rugby and community sport as a force for positive change, they provide strategic leadership, governance, and support to help the Foundation grow sustainably and make a lasting impact across East Lancashire.
To ensure fairness, representation, and collaboration across the region, the Foundation includes a representative trustee from each of our partner rugby clubs. This approach helps ensure all clubs have a voice within the Foundation and supports an equitable, community-led approach to decision making.
With backgrounds across sport, education, business, and community development, our trustees are committed to creating inclusive opportunities that strengthen communities and improve lives both on and off the field.
John Dickinson - Chairman of the Foundation
John is a Director of IDC Architecture, an architecture practice based in Accrington. He went to school in Blackburn, where neither his primary nor secondary schools played rugby, and only took up the game aged twenty after a friend from his cricket club persuaded him down to Blackburn to give rugby a try. He went on to play for the best part of twenty years. He later served as club Chairman and chaired the Blackburn Youth Zone / Blackburn Rugby Club Beer Festival committee in its early days. His wife is head of a primary school in Accrington.
As Chair, John will lead a board of trustees drawn from across the five partner clubs Blackburn, Burnley, Clitheroe, Colne & Nelson and Rossendale with responsibility for the Foundation's governance, strategy and long-term sustainability.
Alan Clifford - Trustee
Alan currently serves as a Trustee and Executive Committee member at Burnley Rugby Club.
Professionally, he is the retired Managing Director of First Class Childcare Group, where he held responsibility for HR, property management, and staff procurement.
His roots in grassroots rugby run deep, he is a former Junior Chairman and coach of the Under-19s, and a former Chairman of Burnley Rugby Club, where he also organised Colts tours both at home and abroad.
Having grown up and worked within a predominantly football-focused region, he understands the challenges clubs face in reaching wider audiences and is passionate about helping grow rugby union's presence across schools, colleges, and the wider community through the Foundation. His experience as Chairman and Trustee of Burnley RUFC brings valuable insight and credibility to the Foundation's board.
Outside of rugby, he is a member of the Burnley & Pendle Rotary Club, plays golf at Clitheroe Golf Club, and remains a devoted supporter of Burnley RUFC.
Andrew Bullock - Trustee
In my current role as a Senior Technology Consultant, I specialise in Industrial Networks and Industrial Cyber Security, areas that occupy much of my professional life. Outside of work, however, my passion lies firmly within the rugby community.
I serve as Vice Chairman of Colne & Nelson RUFC and remain actively involved as a qualified coach, referee, and player. Rugby is very much a family commitment for us. My wife is the club's Safeguarding Officer, our two sons play for the first team, and our daughter manages the club's social media, provides first aid support on match days, and works as a Programme Lead for another Rugby Community Foundation.
Interestingly, my sporting background was not in rugby but in martial arts, where I hold three black belts across different disciplines and grades. While it is often children who follow their parents into sport, my story is the reverse. Inspired by my children's involvement in rugby, I found myself embracing the game and becoming deeply involved in every aspect of the sport.
I am a passionate advocate for grassroots sport and firmly believe that community sport forms the foundation of strong, connected communities. Rugby should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background. From toddlers taking their first steps in the game to centenarians remaining connected through volunteering and support, everyone should have the opportunity to participate. As a trustee of the East Lancashire Community Foundation, I hope to contribute to making these opportunities more widely available and help strengthen communities across East Lancashire.
Andrew Thornber - Trustee
Andrew Thornber is extremely proud to have built a textile printing company over the last 23 years, which now employs 19 people in the Ribble Valley.
Bringing his commercial background to grassroots rugby, Andrew has served Clitheroe RUFC in numerous roles over the years — as a past 1st and 2nd XV Captain, as Chairman, and latterly as President. As Honorary Past President, he is now one of two trustees responsible for the club's long-term viability.
His current, hands-on roles at CRUFC include being a founder and "Captain on the Field" of the East Lancs Barbarians (a veterans' initiative), as well as a specialist coach within Clitheroe's thriving junior set-up. Off the field, Andrew created the President's Challenge, through which he and fellow veteran players undertake extreme challenges to raise funds for worthy causes such as Alzheimer's Society and Mind — raising in excess of £60k in the name of CRUFC to date.
Andrew hopes to bring both his commercial experience and his energy and passion for sport as a force for good — across all ages and demographics — to the East Lancashire Community Foundation.
He considers it an honour to be one of the ELCF's founders and trustees, helping take this initiative forward in the furtherance of shared goals through rugby and sport for all ages.
Danny Collins - Trustee
Danny Collins is a passionate advocate for using sport to drive positive change across East Lancashire.
His background spans education, sport and youth development. Danny has worked as a teacher, Head of Year, Alternative Provision Lead and is also a qualified sports coach and mental health and exercise coach. He currently runs Rise & Regulate, a specialist provision supporting young people through sport, physical activity, and personal development.
Rugby has shaped much of Danny's life. He has played and captained at a high level, and remains actively involved in community rugby through Rossendale Rugby Club and wider grassroots initiatives.
Danny joined the Foundation because he believes rugby clubs can be powerful community hubs places that improve wellbeing, create opportunities, and help young people reach their potential. He is especially passionate about supporting disadvantaged communities, improving mental health, increasing participation in sport, and strengthening the pathways between schools, clubs, and local organisations.
He brings experience in education, safeguarding, community engagement, programme development and partnership working to the Trustee Board.
Outside of work, Danny spends time with his family, trains in the gym, practises Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, walks in the countryside and supports others on their health, fitness, and wellbeing journeys.
Mark Bullen - Trustee
Mark is a retired Programme Manager, having spent more than 40 years working in the telecommunications sector. Alongside his professional career, he has been actively involved in grassroots rugby for over 46 years, primarily with Blackburn Rugby Club. This lifelong involvement has given him a strong appreciation of the positive impact sport can have on people's health, wellbeing, and sense of community.
He currently serves as a Trustee of Blackburn Rugby Club, Chair of the Mini & Youth Section and a coach and team manager for Blackburn Vikings.
Mark believes the Foundation plays a vital role in connecting grassroots rugby clubs with the wider communities they serve. As a Trustee, he is proud to support the charity's mission and help create opportunities for people of all ages to experience the many benefits that rugby can offer, both on and off the field.