More than one million people across the UK play a vital role in the decision making of almost 200,000 charities by being a trustee.
Trustees Week recognises the great work these people do voluntarily and aims to encourage more people from all walks of life to get involved and to make a difference in their community.
Cumbria Community Foundation has recently welcomed two new trustees to its board: Kevin Walsh and John Wilson.
Kevin Walsh has been involved has been involved in traffic and transport in the county for many years, starting at Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council before moving to Cumbria County Council. An active Rotarian for over 25 years, Kevin was District Governor for Cumbria and Lancashire in 2013/14. He is also a trustee of Age UK Carlisle and Eden, Chairman of the Carlisle Dementia Action Alliance and a member of the Foundation’s grants panel.
Kevin said: “Having received a number of grants for Rotary led projects over the years, seen first-hand the impact that the Cumbria Flood Fund had on those in desperate need, and being acutely aware that communities are increasingly having to fend for themselves, I am delighted to have been asked to become more involved with the Community Foundation.”
John Wilson is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer and business adviser. He is the former Managing Partner and founder of Baines Wilson LLP, the specialist commercial law firm based in Cumbria and Lancashire.
He set the firm up in 1999 having moved back to Cumbria in 1996. John remains involved with Baines Wilson as a senior consultant. John is also a non-executive director of Penrith Farmers’ and Kidds plc and was Founder and former Chair of West Cumbria Rivers Trust, an environmental charity. He is also involved in various other charitable and sporting bodies.
John said: “CCF is a superb organisation and I’m proud to say that I, and Baines Wilson, have been involved since its formation. Coincidentally, my own business was founded at the same time meaning both CCF and Baines Wilson celebrate their 20th anniversaries next year. Now having some more time available, I was honoured to accept the opportunity to help the charity as a trustee with its extremely important work and I will do my best to make a significant contribution.”
Cumbria Community Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Any Beeforth, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kevin and John to the board and look forward to seeing how their knowledge and expertise will contribute to the success of the Foundation.”
