Lisa Milburn enjoyed a career in banking, in various managerial and community roles, before joining the Foundation in 2023 as Development and Partnerships Director. She took over the reins as the Foundation’s Executive Director in January 2024, strengthening the charity’s relationships, donor base and processes. Lisa, with the support of the board, has steered the charity in a new direction that further builds on the organisation’s grassroots approach.

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. (now Aphasia Support). She also has her own social enterprise, Evolve3 CIC.

Diane has a varied role at the Foundation, predominantly in marketing and fundraising. She enjoys 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.

Julia began volunteering at The Community Give Box as a way to fill her time after taking early retirement from her job as a manager for a high street bank. A big change after 40 years of corporate working, but Julia has always enjoyed interacting with the public.

She has seen the shop go from strength to strength, with a wide circle of regular customers and donors, supporting many local small charities, from baby banks and schools to care homes and everything in between.

Caitlin Hall is the Foundation’s Marketing Manager. With a keen eye for design and a passion for storytelling, she creates engaging marketing materials and manages the Foundation's social media presence.

Beyond her work with the Foundation, Caitlin is the founder of Cyanide Mysteries, which offers a range of immersive tabletop puzzle games. Her experience in social media management and digital marketing enables her to craft compelling narratives and engaging content across a variety of platforms.

“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 his retirement, Richard was honoured to be asked to be a trustee of the Foundation, especially as he discovered that the Foundation had assisted a colleague of his, as well as a friend's visit to WWI battlefields. This convinced Richard to get involved with an organisation that has such a positive impact on people's lives.

As Managing Director, Richard ensured his firm supported the Foundation as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility and the staff got behind the Foundation enthusiastically through many fundraising activities.

He feels privileged to have been associated with the Foundation as a Trustee for over 10 years, especially as the Foundation has 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 a Partner 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 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”.

The Community Foundation supports people across the Wakefield and Five Towns district.