Meet Margaret

I’m an interloper from Wiltshire - originally from Hull, via London, I’ve lived in Bradford on Avon for nearly 20 years.

I’ve been active with Bath Women’s Fund since our inception. I had worked with Emma Beeston in various ways and she encouraged me to get involved in the initial planning group. As part of Bath Women’s Fund's Grants Group, I’ve helped to shape and support our grant application and assessment process for the last four years.

Professionally I see myself as a researcher and connector, I’ve adapted my skills and worked across sectors. I’m now proud to work in, and be an advocate for, the voluntary sector. For nearly five years, as Director of Research and Engagement at Wiltshire Community Foundation, I’ve led the Foundation’s partnership and insight work. I do my best to ensure we are well connected and informed, I have fingers in many pies, seeking insight to understand local needs, challenges and priorities. My work helps inform Wiltshire Community Foundation's philanthropic activities and our grant-making across Wiltshire and Swindon. Prior to working at Wiltshire Community Foundation, I volunteered with the team for about five years on grants panels and the policy committee.

I have a wide range of grant-management experience, with Wiltshire Community Foundation, and also as part of BBC Children in Need’s South West Committee and in the Cabinet Office where I was the South West Voluntary Sector Policy Lead. I led the delivery of government voluntary sector and community programmes and policy outreach across the south west.  Prior to this, my introduction to the civil service, was to lead the Home Office’s South West Research Team.

The first ten years or so of my career were in the private sector, though I changed direction on doing a Masters in Urban Regeneration, specialising in deliberative democracy and community engagement, this steered me into the pubic sector, first to Southwark Council and then into the civil service.

I have two daughters, one at Sussex Uni in Brighton, and one soon to sit her A levels, my husband is an engineer and when not designing things, he’s on his bike or gardening. I thrive when on the footpaths of Wiltshire and Bath and North East Somerset, and love to explore new walking routes, when I can I hike in mountains too, I also love to ski and swim, my other passion is pottery, mostly hand-building. I also love a good TV drama or box-set and am quite partial to local cider and gin (though generally not at the same time).

I’m proud to be involved with Bath Women’s Fund, it’s lovely to meet new people, to learn more about the activities of local groups, and to contribute my skills and experience away from work.