Our Year 2015

our year 2015
Devon Community Foundation

inside giving more locally
summary of last audited accounts 2014-15
But the need is still great, over the year we
received 453 funding requests for a total
of £2,452,432, just over five times what we
had available to give. Our funding tackles
disadvantage and deprivation, from families
in need to people struggling to keep a home.
Thanks to the hundreds of voluntary and
community groups we support, over 53,000
people have been helped this year.
This is why we have bold ambitions for the
Foundation going forward, we are proud
of what we have achieved so far but it’s
not enough. Our current strategic goal is to
distribute a minimum of £1,000,000 every
year. That means we must continue to
demonstrate the value of supporting local
communities to attract more donors and
partners, helping us to build our permanent
and immediate funds.
Devon is our home and we all want it to be
the best it can be – full of inclusive, resilient,
vibrant and caring communities. Thank you
to my fellow Trustees, staff, our amazing
volunteers and most especially the generous
donors that make the Foundation’s work
possible: together we create the magic we
see every day.
Steve Hindley CBE DL
Chairman
In 2015 giving through Devon Community Foundation continued to grow, with individuals, families,
businesses and charitable trusts all choosing to give through the Foundation to help support local
people and communities.
“Our funding tackles
disadvantage and
deprivation, from
families in need to
people struggling to
keep a home. Thanks
to the hundreds
of voluntary and
community groups we
support, over 53,000
people have been
helped this year.”
Devon Community Foundation | annual review 2015
1
1 giving more locally
2 the difference we make
3 philanthropic services
4 our programmes
5 for example...
6 assist families in need
8 encourage safety and
resilience
10 bring people together
12 promote access to arts,
culture and nature
14 enable disabled people
16 provide access to
services in rural areas
18 help people to find and
keep a home
20 develop life skills
22 offer training and work
opportunities
24 keep people safe
and well
26 m on a mission
28 our people
Summary of Accounts
Total Grant Making £504,528
Total Income £2,953,803
Endowment at 31st March 2015* £6,743,442
Grants Awarded 2014-15 236
Income Grants Programmes £345,206
Income Other £2,608,597
Cost of generating voluntary income £117,073
Administration of grant making
and governance £104,673
If you would like to request a full set of accounts, please call us on
01884 235887 or email info@devoncf.com or visit www.devoncf.com
*Consolidated accounts including other assets
We exist to encourage ‘Giving More Locally’,
and the following pages tell just some stories
of those who choose to give back to their
communities through us.
For instance, we can help Trusts that have
decided to wind up their charitable affairs
because they are no longer able to pursue
their charitable objectives, their income is
not sufficient to continue grant making, or
their Trustees are considering retirement. In
fact, the Charity Commission has published
revised guidance on setting up and
registering a charity. It hopes that this will
encourage people to think carefully about
alternatives, such as setting up a named
donor fund with a Community Foundation. It
is vital that we make any existing or dormant
charitable funds work as hard as possible in
these austere times.
Over the last year we have also supported
a number of new fund holders to help them
develop a plan for their giving. Through a
series of project visits, discussions, and
research we have supported these donors to
make informed decisions about their giving,
secure in the knowledge they are meeting
local needs.
£ endowment

the difference we make
32
The outside section shows the amount given
to each theme and the inside section shows
the number of beneficiaries.
philanthropic services
Devon Community Foundation is a catalyst for local giving, contributing time, leadership and financial
support to local initiatives.
Contact the team today to discuss your charitable giving on 01884 235887.
In 2015 thanks to generous donations we were able to fund 183 local projects by investing
£369,842 in grants, helping to support 53,460 people in need.
Want to give locally?
anyone can be a donor to the
Foundation, on any scale,
and make a real difference to
local lives.
Philanthropic advice
we work with donors to develop
and realise their philanthropic
goals, matching their interests
to community needs.
Create a personal fund
donors can choose to establish
a new permanent fund or
distribute all funds immediately:
many choose both!
Permanent gifts
donations are pooled with the
Foundation’s other assets,
invested through careful
stewardship, and income
is used to make gifts to the
community.
Distribution
grants are distributed to a
wide spectrum of projects
across Devon to tackle local
disadvantage and nurture our
thriving communities.
Learning
every gift distributed generates
valuable learning about what works
best and has the most impact. We
share this widely with our donors
and partners and use it to inform
our collective strategy.
Why give through Devon Community Foundation?
Community Knowledge
unparallelled knowledge of local groups and needs.
Expertise
it’s hard to know where to start on your giving journey, the Foundation has learned a lot
by distributing over £10m since we began: we’ll help guide you with our years of experience.
Trust
the Foundation is at the heart of our county, expected by donors, groups and partners to use
limited funds to maximum effect. You can trust us to apply the highest standards of
governance to everything we do.

our programmes
4
for example...
5
Individual and
Family Donor
Funds
Activistock
Arnold Family
Chiggy Pig
Devon Ripple
Earth to Earth
Greg Matthews
(legacy)
Hely-Hutchinson
Kate Gurney
Laurie Conner
(legacy)
Mildmay-White
Mumme Ackford
Ray Miles
Steve Hindley
Family
Wace Family
Collective Donor
Funds
Blackdown Hills
Countryside
Blundell’s School
(pupil’s fund)
Crimebeat
DCF Community
Grants
Rural Devon
Surviving Winter
Trust and
Foundation
Donor Funds
Devonian
(trust transfer)
Millfields Trust
Plymouth Drake
Foundation
North Devon Flood
Relief (trust transfer)
Plymouth Drake
Foundation
Royal British
Legion Plymouth
Drake Foundation
Throwleigh
(trust transfer)
Tiverton Educational
Foundation
(trust transfer)
Trinity House
Plymouth Drake
Foundation
Immediate
Impact Funds
Clare Milne
Comic Relief
Crimebeat
Devon Flood
High Sheriff of Devon
HSBC
Thorne Farm Wind
Turbine
Will and his family decided to set up the Chiggy Pig Fund to support community groups
in and around Torridge, tackling disadvantage and deprivation while making a positive
difference to the lives of local people.
there is little for young people to do
and funding a home visiting service
in Torridge, giving social contact for
lonely, isolated older people helping
them to manage appointments,
finances and ensure they are eating
and keeping warm during winter
months.
They were keen to start making an
impact at once, so decided to create
an Immediate Impact Fund, meaning
they began giving locally just a few
months after their initial donation.
So far they have supported projects
such as the start up of a new Brownie
group in an isolated rural area where
Being introduced to DCF by a friend got us thinking about how we give
money to charity, how much we give, where it goes, how much satisfaction
we get out of it.
Having thought about our family finances and how much we give to charity,
we realised we could and should probably give more and DCF could be a way
to be more organised about it.
After research and meeting Scott, we got a really good feel as to how flexible
and targeted we could be with donations. But at the same time we didn’t really
have a particular strategy.
Our strategy evolved and with the DCF theme of ‘Bringing people together’
we targeted the district of Torridge, as it’s where we live and where my wife is
from - it’s a very rural and poor region with many challenges but with wonderful
causes. We started the fund and were able to Gift Aid our donations.
It’s great to be able to see and visit the places, knowing that we’ve made a small
difference. It’s also helped us get even closer as a family because it’s given us a
common purpose and we talk about something different to the usual family stuff.
We all get incredible satisfaction and a warm glow feeling when we make that
decision together as to which particular causes we are going to give money to.
That feeling stays with us as we can see directly and clearly how it has helped.
So much more than walking down a street and putting money in a bucket,
walking away and forgetting about it soon after.
“I give more locally
because it’s a much
more rewarding way to
give. You can visit the
places you’ve helped
and talk to the people
you’re supporting. You
can see, touch and
get involved in those
projects you’ve been
asked to fund. It’s a
much more fulfilling
experience than
putting money in a tin
and walking away.”
The Chiggy Pig Year
So far Chiggy Pig has invested £12,184 into nine projects across Torridge
supporting 2,041 people in need.
Corporate Donor
Funds
Arbuthnot Latham
Aviva - Friends Life
Diptford Community
Fund
Eagle One
Foot Anstey
Kitsons Solicitors
Philip Milton
& Co Plc
Royal Mail
Plymouth Drake
Foundation
South West Water
Plymouth Drake
Foundation
University of
Plymouth
Plymouth Drake
Foundation
Police Property
Stags
Two Four Group
Wales & West
Western Morning
News

assist families in need
Comic Relief
Devon Community Foundation has
been working in partnership with
Comic Relief for over 10 years,
distributing both small and large
grants across Devon, Plymouth
and Torbay. During this time Comic
Relief has channelled over £700,000
through the Foundation to empower
local people, enabling them to create
lasting change in their communities.
“UK Community Foundations use
their local expertise and networks
to help us ensure our smaller grants
make the maximum impact in
communities all over the UK.”
Balloons in Exeter assists families
in need
Sadly, children and young people do
not always receive the support they
need. This can have a profoundly
negative impact on children and
unresolved grief can lead to a wide
range of problems later in life, such
as poorer health and educational
outcomes, being more likely to
engage in anti-social behaviour and
crime, higher teenage pregnancy
rates, social isolation, anxiety,
depression, self-harm and suicide.
Balloons is the only group in the local
area that offers bereavement support
to children and young people after
the death of someone significant
in their lives, helping them to
understand their feelings and come
to terms with their loss.
There is nothing which impacts upon a child’s or young person’s life quite like the death of a
loved one. Left alone to cope with traumatic loss can leave families struggling at the very time
that they are at their most vulnerable.
“I missed my
Mummy and I was
afraid because
she was gone. My
Balloons lady let me
talk about Mummy
when no one else
could.”

encourage safety
and resilience
Crimebeat
“It is important to us to work with a
charity that aims to build safer and
stronger communities. With our fund
we aim to assist projects that support
people at the risk of criminal or anti-
social behaviour. Thanks to Devon
Community Foundation we are able to
achieve this and ensure this money is
put back into the community where it
belongs.”
On Track Education Services in
South Hams encourages safety
and resilience
A lack of education, opportunities and
low self-esteem all have an impact and
young people who have offended tend
to have very little hope for their future.
This lack of education is significant, with
47% of prisoners saying they have no
qualifications in comparison to 15% of
the working age general population.
On Track Education Services
works with ex-offenders and young
teenagers who have been excluded,
or are on the verge of exclusion,
from school. The project offers the
opportunity to establish a social
enterprise business in bee keeping,
helping to develop invaluable new
skills and knowledge while building
confidence and earning an income
from selling the honey they produce.
This encourages a sense of pride in
their achievements while creating hope
for the future and a positive path away
from offending, helping to reduce the
likelihood of crime and anti-social
behaviour in the community.
After a crime has been committed young adults can get caught in a pattern of re-offending,
and once trapped in the cycle it is hard to get out.
“I was given a
chance to make a
difference with my
life. I now want to go
to college and have
plans to start my own
business. I want to
stay out of trouble and
know I don’t need to
make those stupid
choices I was making
before.”

bring people together
Our Community Grants
Eligible applications to Devon
Community Foundation are all viewed
by volunteer community grant panels
which help to decide where funds
should be directed, to maximise
the benefit to local communities.
These panels help ensure decisions
regarding grant funding are
knowledgeable, collaborative,
transparent and guided by local need.
Seaton & District Memory Café in
East Devon brings people together
In rural areas these issues tend to
be more acute. Friends, family and
service providers are more distant,
transport links are often poor and
many community hubs have closed.
Nine in ten carers for people with
dementia experience feelings of
stress or anxiety several times a
week – and a further 80% find it
difficult to talk about the emotional
impact of caring.
The Memory Café in Seaton helps
people suffering from dementia and
their carers with practical information
and support, reducing their seclusion
and fear. The project also offers a
relaxed and friendly environment to
meet others in a similar situation.
Dementia can impact all aspects of a person’s life and often those affected tend to
withdraw from social contact. For those diagnosed with dementia and their families, there
can be a lack of support leaving them feeling isolated and alone.
“A truly wonderful
place to be part of,
we’re welcomed
with smiles and
laughter, everyone
takes part and we’re
given two hours of
pure joy. Meeting
other people is so
important.”

promote access to
arts, culture and nature
Greg Matthews
The Greg Matthews Fund is a
memorial fund dedicated to Greg
who tragically died in a car crash
in March 2012, at just 20 years old.
Dance was Greg’s real passion and
he used to teach classes for the
local children in his spare time. His
family set up the fund in order to
create a memorial to Greg that would
continue to make a difference and
enable children living in hardship to
attend dance classes.
“Greg was always so loving to his
friends and family, he always made
people happy.”
Unlimited Dance Company in
North Devon promotes access to
arts, culture and nature
Research shows that the
employability of students who study
art subjects is higher, and they are
more likely to stay in an working
environment.
Unlimited Dance Company
enables children from deprived or
disadvantage backgrounds in North
Devon to attend dance classes
encouraging them to build their
skills and confidence, while raising
their aspirations for the future.
In Memory
We can help you set up a memorial
fund in commemoration of a loved
one, providing family and friends
with a personal focus for special
memories.
Having access to arts such as dance, theatre and music is an essential part of a child’s
education and a lack of opportunities to enjoy these can adversely affect people later in life.
“This gave us that
opportunity to
give Summer the
experience of dance,
which has always
been her dream.
It has brought her
lots of confidence
and social skills,
without the Fund she
wouldn’t be dancing
today.”

enable disabled people
Kitsons LLP
“Our commitment to Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) is a key
aspect of our operation, from the
way we conduct our business to the
ways in which we contribute to the
Devon community. We try to make
participation in CSR fun, informative
and rewarding for staff. We have
been closely involved with Devon
Community Foundation for a number
of years and know that it plays a vital
role in supporting local causes. Having
a fund that assists community groups
supporting local people in need
fits perfectly with what we hope to
achieve with our giving.”
Jasmyn House Technology Team
in Torbay enables disabled people
Nearly half of blind or partially sighted
people report feeling cut off from
people and things around them and
over one third of older people with
sight loss live with depression. Many
visually impaired people find that a
lack of access to, and experience
of using IT equipment means they
struggle to feel part of the community
and have limited contact with friends
and families.
Jasmyn House Technology Team is
run by trained volunteers to enable
blind and visually impaired people
to gain knowledge on computers,
iPhones and iPads, all with speech
software helping to increase the skills
and confidence of partially sighted
people living in Torbay. The use of
this assistive technology encourages
people to feel more independent and
opens up new ways of communicating
to reduce isolation and loneliness.
Sight loss can happen to anyone at any time: people of all ages and across all communities.
There is a strong link between the loss of sight and reduced well-being.
“Because of my sight
loss I never thought I
would be able to use a
iPhone, but I am now
able to skype, text and
call my friends and
family. I live alone and
this has helped me feel
so much closer to my
grandsons and become
more independent.”

provide access to
services in rural areas
Arnold Family
“We like to give locally because
we can see first-hand what a
difference our grants make to our
local communities. In a world where
there is so much need, we feel that
by working with Devon Community
Foundation we can connect with
our philanthropic giving. We get the
chance to see where our money goes,
and witness what a huge difference it
can make to someone’s life.”
Moretonhampstead Association
for Youth in Teignbridge provides
access to services in rural areas
Youth work can make a big
difference to the lives and future
employability of young people. In
terms of accessing information and
support, young people in and around
Moretonhampstead suffer from
isolation with the nearest towns both
12 miles away and no public transport
in the evening or on Sundays.
Secondary school children have a
daily 26 mile round trip to and from
school, making attendance at after-
school clubs even more challenging.
Moretonhampstead Association
for Youth runs a club on the edge
of Dartmoor, giving the local young
people a safe and welcoming
place to socialise as well as learn
new skills outside of the academic
or home environment. They offer
young people the chance to feel less
isolated as they build friendships
and confidence, helping to give them
a sense of belonging and access
opportunities they otherwise might
not have been able to.
Young people living in rural areas face a number of barriers including access to transport,
careers advice, employment opportunities, training support, and youth services.
“I love youth club.
The activities are
really surprising and
we can talk about
anything.”

help people to find and
keep a home
Devon Ripple
“We enjoy giving locally through
Devon Community Foundation as we
know that they work with effective
projects, supporting vulnerable and
disadvantaged young people to
reach their potential and raise their
aspirations. It is very rewarding to
meet the inspirational people running
these projects, and hear directly from
those benefitting about the difference
our support has made to their lives.”
Community Housing Aid in
Exeter helps people to find and
keep a home
Youth homelessness can lead to
social exclusion, poor physical
health, unemployment, emotional
distress and mental illness. Without
safe accommodation, vulnerable
young people either ‘sofa-surf’ with
friends, remain in an unsafe home
environment, or are forced to sleep
rough. This increases their risk of
harm, lessens their opportunities and
means that they face uncertain and
unstable lives.
Community Housing Aid aims to help
reduce poverty and homelessness
for young adults in Exeter. Trying to
break the all too often inescapable
cycle of hardship, unemployment and
homelessness. They offer all round
support relating to accommodation,
debt and benefit advice, giving local
young people facing homelessness
the opportunity for a better future.
Each year, hundreds of young people in Devon find themselves at risk of homelessness. Often
as a result of family breakdown, the loss of employment or tenancy failure, 8% of under 25’s
have been without a home at some point in the last five years.
“I would have killed
myself. I was on the
streets for over three
months and I didn’t
speak to my family
except my brother
but he works 12
hours a day.”

develop life skills
Mumme Ackford
“We wanted to set up a fund with
Devon Community Foundation as
they have the skills and infrastructure
to enable us to support a variety of
projects across Devon, which need
funding to support young people
to fulfil their potential and bring
about positive social change. The
sustainable long-term nature of the
fund ensures that this support will
continue into the future as a legacy,
which does good and feels good.”
Unite - Carers In Mid Devon
develops life skills
It is a sad fact that young carers are
twice as likely to not be in education,
employment or training, and for those
who do manage to stay in education,
meeting the costs when their parents
are unable to help out can make it a
constant struggle to stay afloat
financially. Many young carers are unable
to do the usual things most children
do, such as spending time with friends,
enjoying hobbies, or going on holidays.
Unite Carers provides educational
environmental activities that young
carers would not normally have the
opportunity to experience. A residential
weekend helps to build self- esteem
and enables them to learn new skills
and gain knowledge. Time away with
other young carers encourages them
to share their worries with those facing
similar issues and offers opportunities
to consider future career and education
options, helping to raise their confidence
and aspirations.
There are around 3,500 young carers in Devon providing regular on-going care and
emotional support to a sick or disabled relative. Most have spent four years caring before
they receive any support and give over 50 hours a week.
“I care for my mum
who has mental illness
and depression,
my sister who has
autism and other
illnesses that I can’t
remember. The best
thing for me about
young carers is having
a bit of a break and
time out to meet
new people.”

offer training and work
opportunities
Royal British Legion
Plymouth Drake Foundation
“The Royal British Legion was
founded in 1921 to give support,
advice and guidance to the Armed
Forces community and enable them
to access the support they need.
Although we are a national charity with
strong local roots we acknowledge
that working with Devon Community
Foundation strengthens our
effectiveness within the community.
With their deep local knowledge and
expertise they are perfectly positioned
to assist us in achieving our goals,
thus enabling us to make a real
difference to the lives of anyone who
is, or has served, in the Armed Forces
together with their families who find
themselves in need.”
Volunteer Plymouth offers training
and work opportunities
58% of service personnel believe that
most employers don’t understand
them and won’t give them a chance,
and 48% of Early Service Leavers
are still unemployed six months after
leaving. Volunteering can give people
confidence when applying for work
positions, and many employers look
favourably on applicants who have
gained skills from volunteering.
Volunteer Plymouth offers a range
of local volunteering opportunities
enabling ex-service personnel
and their families to explore what
employment suits them and increase
the likelihood of them being short-
listed when applying for work.
Volunteering with local community
organisations and charities provides
individuals with the chance to
use their wealth of knowledge
and expertise, or gain new skills.
Volunteering also benefits the whole
community, promoting integration
and a greater understanding between
service and civilian communities.
The transition from army life to civilian life can be full of challenges and many feel anxiety
about what the futures holds. Finding a job is an essential first step but can be a stressful
and isolating experience.
“If it wasn’t for
Volunteer Plymouth
giving me the
support I needed
I wouldn’t be
where I am today.
Volunteering has
given me a part of
my life back which
I never thought
I’d get.”

keep people safe
and well
Kate Gurney
“I value the opportunity to be
able to give locally through Devon
Community Foundation. I have been
involved in the charity for over 12
years, and know that my gift will go to
essential local organisations who help
the vulnerable within our society. Each
time I give, I hear about the difference
our support has made to the lives of
those involved. It’s like planting an
acorn from which I know a sturdy oak
tree will then grow.”
North Devon Forum for Autistic
Spectrum Conditions and ADHD in
Torridge keeps people safe and well
Daily life for people who have
Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC)
can be confusing and frightening.
They often find understanding
and communicating with others
particularly difficult, which can
leave them feeling isolated and
misunderstood.
North Devon Forum for ASC and
ADHD provide dedicated social
evenings for adults with these
conditions and their families.
Sometimes people forget that
Autism doesn’t just effect children,
and often any support that a young
person receives disappears when
they leave the school environment,
they also have fewer opportunities
to socialise. The social activities
offered by the Forum reduce
isolation, increase social inclusion
and build confidence for adults with
these conditions as well as helping
them to gain independence.
Autism is often a hidden disability which seriously affects around 700,000 people in the UK and
touches the lives of 2.8 million people every day.
“Events like this are a
vital and rare opportunity
for our daughter to meet
others and learn how
to socialise in a safe,
autistic friendly but age
appropriate way. It was
brilliant and gave her the
chance to live more like
people her age without
disabilities or autism,
who take a night out for
granted.”

m on a mission
26
27
Bike Bank
A recurrent theme for many vulnerable
adults, whether they are in recovery
from substance misuse, or trying to
re-establish their lives after a period of
homelessness, is the negative impact of
boredom and isolation.
In 2015, Bike Bank in Exeter was
awarded £4,612 from the Ray Miles
Fund to offer opportunities to
unemployed people suffering from
mental ill health, helping to increase
their skills and build their confidence by
providing structured activities to learn
practical skills.
Bikes are donated to the project and
restored by those involved, helping
them to develop and improve their
employability through communication
skills, team working and being in a
working environment.
A tribute to Ray Miles
1944-2015
Ray believed passionately in the work
of Devon Community Foundation and
became a Trustee in 2002, later becoming
Chairman from 2006 until 2008 when he
retired from the Board. Ray continued
to be very much involved with the
Foundation. He built his Fund to support
both new and existing Social Enterprises
in Devon and felt it was important to
develop the life skills of vulnerable young
people living difficult lives.
It was with much sadness we heard
of the death of Ray Miles on Friday 6
November aged 71.
His memory lives on…
“Without funders
such as the
Devon Community
Foundation we
would never be able
to get our ideas off
the ground and
into reality.”
Matt Bell CEO
this year’s help ranging from reviewing
applications through to data analysis, from
event planning to tweeting!
At the heart of DCF is the idea that
everybody has something to give to help
make a difference to local lives, and that
is as true of the Foundation itself as it is of
the communities we serve.
So as you can see, my role is made
immeasurably pleasurable by being
surrounded by these friends, past and
present. I have the great privilege of
working with donors, groups, my team
and Trustees, businesses, individuals and
colleagues from other voluntary sector
organisations.
What is very clear to me is that collective
action works: for individuals, for local
groups and organisations and for
communities generally. It’s a win, win, win
but it shouldn’t surprise us. In the famous
words of Margaret Mead, “Never doubt
that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s
the only thing that ever has.”
I cannot begin to thank everyone enough
for the success that they have built for DCF,
illustrated in this review.
Martha Wilkinson
Chief Executive
Today’s success rides on the shoulders of those who have come before us. They established the core
principles of the Foundation and saw a bright future for local action and local giving.
“It is rare to find a
team so dedicated
to what they do and
so willing to go the
extra mile to make
sure that the funds
we have are used to
best effect, always
willing to take time
to help groups apply
and support donors
in their philanthropic
journeys.”
These friends of the Foundation have
made a significant contribution to the well-
being of thousands of lives across Devon,
often behind the scenes and invisible,
giving of their time and commitment.
Sadly, two of these passed away this year,
our highly valued former Trustee, James
Bullock and our former Chairman and fund
holder, Ray Miles.
We also said a reluctant farewell to Sir
Eric Dancer KCVO CBE JP FRSA as
our President although welcoming him
back with open arms as a Patron of the
Foundation. He has given many years of
stalwart support to Devon Community
Foundation and one of his final gifts was
the introduction to David Fursdon, HM Lord
Lieutenant of Devon who, to our delight,
has stepped into Eric’s shoes as our
President.
Our current Board of Trustees, led by
Steve Hindley, are an essential part of
the Foundations’ present and future and
I could not be more grateful for their
leadership and guidance. Trustees often
get a pretty raw deal, wrestling with the
strategic direction and robust governance
necessary to keep the show on the
road, but without much of the immediate
gratification that we in the office feel seeing
the day to day impact of our work.
And on the subject of the staff team,
they are a joy. It is rare to find a team
so dedicated to what they do and so
willing to go the extra mile to make sure
that the funds we have are used to best
effect, always willing to take time to help
groups apply and support donors in their
philanthropic journeys, whatever that takes.
We also have truly exceptional volunteers,

28
our people
29
DEVON COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION
President
HM Lord Lieutenant of Devon
Mr David Fursdon
Patrons
Sir Ian Amory DL
Lady Aran DL MBE
Sir Eric Dancer
KCVO CBE JP FRSA
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Nigel Arnold
Trustees
Christine Allison
Bishop Robert Atwell
Robin Barlow DL
James Cross
John Glasby
Caroline Harlow
Caroline Marks
Staff
Chief Executive:
Martha Wilkinson
Deputy Chief Executive:
Sarah Yelland
Development Director:
Scott Walker
Finance Manager:
Theresa White
Marketing Manager:
Laura Hewitt
Programme Manager:
Lyn Sheppard
Grants Administrator:
Claire Lavery
Administrator:
Gillian Francis
Laura Hewitt
Marketing Manager
Sarah Yelland
Deputy Chief Executive
Scott Walker
Development Director
Theresa White
Finance Manager
Chairman
Claire Lavery
Grants Administrator
Gillian Francis
Administrator
Martha Wilkinson
Chief Executive
Nigel Arnold
Vice Chairman
Christine Allison
Trustee
James Cross
Trustee
Caroline Marks
Trustee
Bishop Robert Atwell
Trustee
John Glasby
Trustee
Robin Barlow
Trustee
Caroline Harlow
Trustee
And, of course, the
volunteers across the
county, too numerous
to mention but just as
important!
Steve is the Executive
Chairman of the Midas
Group, which is a
privately owned group of
companies operating in the
Construction and Property
Services Sectors. He is a
Chartered Civil Engineer
by profession and a Fellow
of both the Institution of
Civil Engineers and the
Chartered Institute of
Building. Steve is Chairman
of the CBI Construction
Council and of the Heart
of the South West Local
Enterprise Partnership.
Martha has 30 years’
experience in the private,
public and social economy.
Passionate about the value
of strong communities,
she has previously been a
retailer, business advisor,
communications specialist
and founding Director of
a social enterprise in East
London. Martha was self-
employed for nearly ten
years helping communities
of all kinds identify the
change they wanted from
their public services.
Lyn Sheppard
Programme Manager
Lyn worked for many years
in Welfare Reform delivering
government contracts for
‘return to work’ training,
then moved to the voluntary
and community sector to
head a project supporting
people with sensory loss.
Prior to this she worked
for a local radio station
and in the dark and distant
past lived in the Bahamas
working for the British
High Commission in
Nassau. She joined DCF
as Programme Manager
in 2014.
With brief a brief spell
working in the Housing
Department of the South
Hams Council and for
the Herald Express
Newspaper in Torquay
James finally decided that
the law was for him. After
completion of his Solicitors
Final Exams James trained
as a solicitor in Torbay
before moving to Exeter in
1992 and then in 2002 to
Kitsons LLP where he is
Managing Partner.
The former acting Chief
Constable of Devon and
Cornwall Constabulary,
Nigel now lives in East
Devon. He has extensive
experience of the
voluntary and public
sector and is a former
Trustee of Connexions
Cornwall and Devon
and The Gurney
Fund. He is currently
a member of the
North and East Devon
Advisory Committee
and Vice Chair of Devon
Communities Together.
Sarah has worked in the
community and social
care sector for 25 years.
Having studied for a
degree and master’s
degree in Disability in the
90’s, she has worked
in supported housing
and community support
in area and regional
management posts
across the South West.
At DCF, Sarah’s talents
lie in measuring and
reporting on quality and
impact.
Laura graduated from
Bath Spa University
with a degree in English
Literature in 2007 and
began her career in
HR but was left feeling
unfulfilled. For a year
she worked as a painter
and decorator and was
accepted on a course to
become a teacher. There
was one slight problem,
she had started working
as a temp at DCF and
fallen in love with her job
and DCF.
Trained as an economist
and accountant, John has
worked in public services
for almost 40 years. He
was Treasurer and then
Director of Resources for
Devon County Council
and has also served as
Treasurer to the Devon
Probation Service, The
Devon Magistrates Service,
Devon Community Council,
Dartmoor National Park
and Devon Fire and
Rescue Service.
Christine has a long
career in international
development. Having
relocated to the South
West she is applying that
experience to challenges
closer to home. With work
in both the financial and
social sectors, Christine
has a particular passion
to bring the two closer
together and to find
business solutions that
serve the interests of
poor and disadvantaged
people.
Building trusted
relationships with clients
has been the common
theme that has run
through Scott’s career.
With 12 years in financial
services, 4 years in dot.
com start-ups and then
10 years as a Director of
an Advertising Agency
he has gained a varied
and extensive experience
of business and people.
Away from the office
Scott tries to keep fit with
running and cycling.
Claire joined DCF in
September 2014 after
returning to Devon when
her husband finished
23 years in the Armed
Forces. She has 15 plus
years of administration
experience and now
loves being submersed
in the world of grants.
When Claire is not
working she enjoys being
with her family, cooking
and walking in the
countryside.
Caroline trained as a
Speech and Language
Therapist, she worked
with brain injured clients
and their families. Since
2010 she has been
involved in TEDxExeter,
St. Petrock’s centre
for the homeless,
Schumacher College
at Dartington and most
recently The Shannon
Trust, an organisation with
a vision to make every
prisoner a reader.
The Rt Revd Robert
Atwell was installed as
the 71st Bishop of Exeter
on 5 July 2014. Bishop
Robert Spent his early
years in Ilford, Essex,
then read theology at St
John’s College Durham.
After ordination training
in Cambridge and at the
Venerable English College,
Rome, he served as a
curate in North London
before returning to
Cambridge as Chaplain to
Trinity College.
Theresa has over
twenty five years of
experience in accounting,
she has worked in
practise, industry
and charity sectors.
Theresa is a member
of the Association of
Accounting Technicians
and Association of
Chartered Certified
Accountants. When not
at work, she loves being
with her family.
Gillian has been with
DCF since October 2011.
She comes from a varied
office based background
including a private school
and estate agency.
She also works in local
vineyard, Yearlstone,
where she enjoys
organising the owners,
events and wine tasting.
When not working Gillian
likes to spend time with
her daughters, reading,
cooking and crafts, and
is hoping to ignite a new
interest in gardening.
After studying Geography
at Exeter University,
Caroline worked in Market
Research, New Product
Development and as a
Training Manager. Over
the last 20 years, she
has been involved in
numerous grassroots
projects in varying roles,
and as a Trustee of grant
making trusts with a
focus on youth projects in
Devon and nationally.
Robin is a self-employed
Fine Art Consultant with
over 35 years in the
business, being variously
a director and Chairman
of Bearnes Fine Art
Auctioneers. He served as
Chairman of the Society of
Fine Art Auctioneers and
Valuers (SOFAA) and sat on
the Fine Art Faculty Board
of the RICS. He is deputy
Lieutenant of Devon and
served as High Sheriff of
Devon 2012 - 2013.

our year 2015
join the conversation
get involved and have your say
give more locally today!
make a donation online at
www.justgiving.com/devoncf
speak to our team about leaving a gift in your will
call us on 01884 235887 or email info@devoncf.com
tweet to
@devoncf
find out more at
www.devoncf.com
send an email to
info@devoncf.com
send a letter to Devon Community Foundation,
The Factory, Leat Street, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 5LL
call us on 01884 235887
we’d love to talk more about the Foundation with you
A company limited by guarantee, registered in England
and Wales, Company No: 03236918
Charity no: 1057923

Our Year 2015

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (12)

Similar to Our Year 2015

Similar to Our Year 2015 (20)

Our Year 2015