Charity Bank has made a series of appointments to its first Welsh Advisory Board to guide its growth in Wales. Appoints are senior figures from Welsh civic society and business.
The Advisory Board members are;
- David Melding AM, Conservative Party Assembly Member for South Wales Central and Shadow Minister for Economic Development.
- Gerry Holtham, the leading banker and economist and a public policy specialist, who was chair of the independent Commission that recently reported on funding and finance for Wales.
- Simon Gibson, Chief Executive Officer of Wesley Clover, the venture capital specialist, chaired by Sir Terry Matthews. Simon chaired the Welsh Assembly Government’s independent review of higher-education commercialisation activities.
- Sir Roger Jones, former WDA chairman and BBC Trustee and current chair of governors of Swansea University and member of S4C Authority.
- Adele Blakebrough, a pioneer of the social enterprise movement and a member of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Social Enterprise Ministerial Advisory Group.
- Tom Davies, currently Commissioner with the Independent Police Complaints Commission, with responsibility for Wales and former Big Lottery Board Member and the inaugural Director of the Princes Trust in Wales.
Commenting on the appointments Ian Courtney, the Charity Bank’s Regional Director for Wales said:
“I regard the quality of these appointments as an endorsement of the Charity Bank proposition. Every member has that special understanding that distinguishes the work of the sector. The combination of some of the sharpest entrepreneurs in Wales, enlightened fund management practitioners and progressive thinkers will be invaluable in developing our business. Charity Bank is indebted to our Board members for agreeing to volunteer their time to serve Wales and its social enterprise movement.”
The Bank established a permanent presence in Wales in the summer of 2009 with the appointment of a regional director for Wales. The Advisory Board has been established to guide the development of the Bank’s business in Wales. Members of the Advisory Board will not hold governance responsibilities.
The appointment of the Advisory Board comes at a key time for the development of Welsh social enterprises and charities. The Comprehensive Spending Review of public expenditure will sets the Assembly Government’s future level of funding is expected to report in the Autumn. It will influence the shape of the sector in Wales. Charity Bank is eager to support the sector in developing innovative ideas for the delivery of services and products.
More details on Charity Bank’s work in Wales can be found within the Charity Bank in Wales section of this website.
Charity Bank in the North moves to York
Charity Bank in The North, which empowers organisations throughout Yorkshire and Humber to become entrepreneurial in their outlook, has become the first tenant to move into St Clements Hall, York’s own community-managed centre.
Azlina Bulmer, Programme Manager, who lives in York, said: “We are excited to be relocating our northern offices to St Clements Hall. We are ourselves a charity, and to be working from a community-managed centre fits the bill perfectly. York is vibrant and culturally rich city so we are excited by our new surroundings.”
Since its founding in 2007, Charity Bank in the North has been working to assist charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises in the Yorkshire and Humber region to become more sustainable.
The team has helped about 900 organisations across the region through a series of workshops, looking at financial sustainability issues. It has awarded loans and grants of almost £13.5 million in the region, and rolled out of an investment readiness programme.
With more demands expected from the charities and voluntary sector, Ms Bulmer is confident it will continue to grow and provide vital financial and business support for the sector.
She said: “The team is enabling charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations to carry on their work, offering vital services to the most vulnerable people in the region, and creating jobs and income for communities.”
Learn more about Charity Bank in the North
Learn more about Charity Bank’s Loans
Learn more about Charity Bank’s Saving Accounts