Our Team

Lisa Milburn spent the majority of her career in banking, with various managerial and community roles under her belt before starting with the Foundation in 2023 as Development and Partnerships Director. She quickly strengthened the charity’s connections, support offering and activities, and it was therefore a natural choice for her to take over the Foundation’s reigns when Murray retired. Lisa represents a new, exciting direction that further builds on the charity’s grassroots support and which expands its professional relationships, donor base, notoriety – and most importantly – its positive impact on the lives of people in need across the entire Wakefield District.

Diane Hall has worked for many charities, enjoying roles at The Prince’s Trust, The National Trust, Tang Hall Community Centre, Twinkleboost CiC, Goole Youth Action, and with local charity, Speak With I.T.

Diane will support the Community Foundation with the grants they give to those in need. She’s looking forward to helping people in her local area access crucial support. Having walked in the shoes of many of our beneficiaries, she’s particularly passionate about reducing poverty in any way she can.

I began volunteering at The Give Box as a way to fill my time after taking early retirement from my job as a manager for a high street bank. It was a big change after 40 years of corporate working but I have always enjoyed the interaction with the public.  I was pleased to accept the offer to co- manage the shop and have seen it go from strength to strength. We now have a wide circle of regular customers and donators, and we support many local small charities- from baby banks and schools to elderly people’s care homes and everything in between. Every day is different, and we are amazed at the generosity of people. I look forward to the continued development of the Foundation!

“The work of the Community Foundation in Wakefield has a growing importance in assisting people who are finding life difficult in these increasingly challenging times. Their role in attracting greater financial support to enable them to provide assistance is something I am keen to support.”

Before my retirement I was honoured to be asked to be a trustee of the Foundation, especially as I discovered that the Foundation had assisted a colleague of mine and his friends visit the battlefields of WW1. They were extremely grateful to the Foundation for its support, which convinced me that I ought to be become involved in an organisation which can have such a positive impact on peoples lives.

As MD I ensured my firm supported the Foundation as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility and the staff got behind the Foundation enthusiastically through many fund raising activities.

I feel privileged to have been associated with the Foundation as a Trustee for over 10 years, especially as the Foundation has been able to have assisted so many individuals and organisations who work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, for their local communities across the whole of the Wakefield District.

Jenna Fan, founder of Ossett-based music school Fanfare Music is a musician with a passion for wellbeing and communities. As well as managing the day to day activities at the music
school she also teaches piano, leads several choirs and delivers singing for wellbeing workshops in communities around the Wakefield District. She set up Go Pop CIC in 2021
with the aim of changing perceptions about, and increasing diversity in, choirs. As a member of two bands – Amber Falls and Our Parallel Lives – Jenna writes and records original music
and performs live regularly.

Natalie is an Associate with Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors, running a team of 16 people across two sites in Wakefield and Horbury. Chadwick Lawrence is a long-standing supporter
of the foundation, so when the opportunity arose for Natalie to join the foundation she was delighted to help.

“WCF is such an amazing organisation to be a part of; it’s diverse range of initiatives really touches so many areas of the community, from fuel poverty to celebrating the Unsung
Heroes of the district; it is so much more than just a charity, it’s a chance to really make a difference. I am excited to be a part of a great team who are dedicated to the people of Wakefield and the wider district.”

Jonathan is a digital marketing professional with over 25 years’ experience. He is currently a director at Northern Media, which was established in 2009 and employs 17 staff. In 2022,
Northern Media won Wakefield’s Employer of the year, as recognition for their commitment to helping develop creative talent in the Wakefield area.

“I joined Wakefield Community Foundation for two reasons. As a father of four and a committed employer of young talent I am passionate about giving children and young adults within the Wakefield community equal opportunities to thrive and become successful. I see the Foundation as playing a key role in being able to support that goal. In addition, as an agency owner, I understand how digital marketing can help charities reach and communicate key information to their beneficiaries, donators and stakeholders, so I really feel I can help the Foundation realise their ambitions”.