We are delighted to welcome three exceptional new Trustees to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF). Each brings a wealth of experience, passion, and commitment to supporting our communities, and we are excited to have them join our Board.
Vanessa Shahani
Vanessa Shahani joins HIWCF as a member of our Finance, Investment and Risk Committee. With over 30 years’ experience across local government, the NHS, and the voluntary sector – much of it in Hampshire (and particularly Southampton) – Vanessa has worked in community development, grants management, equalities, and corporate services. She also serves on the Healthwatch Southampton Strategic Advisory Group.
In her spare time, Vanessa enjoys walking and arts and crafts.
Reflecting on her new role, Vanessa says: “I was excited about the opportunity to apply to be a Trustee at the Foundation because of the range of causes its grants support and the impact that it has across the region. Having worked in community development for many years I know what a significant difference small charities and community groups make, and how much they do with so little!
“I’m keen ‘to spread my wings’ and learn more about the region and its diversity of local charities and I’m looking forward to working with, and learning from, the other Trustees and making a difference to local people via the local organisations providing so much support.”
Kirsty Rowlinson
Joining our People Committee, Kirsty Rowlinson is CEO of Citizens Advice Southampton and has dedicated her career to the charity sector. Her experience spans frontline services such as residential care, domestic and sexual abuse support, Sign Language interpreting, and employment and learning, as well as providing support to strengthen the wider voluntary sector.
Outside of work, Kirsty can often be found on the rugby touchline cheering on her son and daughter and is a caller for a Ceilidh band.
Passionate about tackling inequality, Kirsty explains her motivation for joining HIWCF:
“I chose to become a Trustee for HIWCF because my local community is really important to me. I see a huge amount of poverty, deprivation and inequality in my working life, and funders such as HIWCF can have a huge positive impact. I believe local funders are particularly important because they can target funding using deep insight into the challenges of their own place.
“I’m excited to be able to bring my knowledge and experience of Southampton to the Board, and hopefully find other ways to contribute to making HIWCF the most impactful funder it can possibly be.”
Lucy Tennant
Lucy Tennant joins the HIWCF Grants Committee. They are currently developing a £2 million grant-making programme for Southampton Hospitals Charity and previously worked with the National Lottery Community Fund, where they often collaborated with HIWCF. With over a decade of experience in fundraising and grant making, Lucy is deeply committed to equitable, open funding practices and ensuring that communities are at the heart of decision-making.
Lucy is a drummer, Lego enthusiast and proud parent of a naughty Cavapoo.
Lucy says: “I have worked alongside HIWCF for a number of years through my role at the National Lottery Community Fund, and always admired the approach to funding across the region. Priorities and open rounds were clearly communicated with the sector, the Foundation was visible at events and provided as much opportunity to speak to the team as possible. This ensures funds are accessible to all community groups, which help empower smaller organisations, and those led by minority communities.
“There is also a focus on impact and evaluation, collecting data from projects and sharing the outcomes of the work. I believe that HIWCF utilises its position and connections to make the biggest positive impact to support vulnerable communities, through networking, convening and collaborating. This aligns with my own values of open and transparent grant-making, with a focus on access and impact to inform future decision-making.”
Looking Ahead
We are thrilled to welcome Vanessa, Kirsty and Lucy to the HIWCF Board of Trustees. Their insight, experience and passion will strengthen our work and help ensure that we continue to deliver lasting impact for communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Interested to find out more?
Read our ‘Strategy: Enabling Communities to Flourish 2024 – 2029’
Find out more about our impact in the community
Read the HIWCF Annual Review for 2024 and our Isle Wight Annual Review for 2024