Speaker Meeting, 1st July, 6.15 for 6.30pm

In the picture:  Oliver Selfe with Club President Steve

Oliver Selfe joined the Wiltshire Community Foundation (WCF) in March 2024 after 5 years as Chief Executive Officer at Wiltshire County Football Association.   He said his career has been predominately spent in the not-for-profit and third sector, having held leadership roles for The English Football Association, and British Universities and Colleges Sport.  Oliver said he was attracted to the Philanthropy Director role at the WCF as he could see it was an opportunity to continue making a difference to people and communities, something he feels he feels very passionate about.

He said: “I am very excited about being able to use some of the skills and experiences I have acquired over the past 23-years in the sport and leisure sector, to support the Foundation’s vision to see more people thriving across Wiltshire and Swindon.”

WCF is an independent charity that exists to tackle disadvantage and strengthen local communities by supporting, in particular grassroots voluntary and community groups, in Wiltshire.  Its mission is to maximise the impact of charitable activity by connecting people, information and resources.  Over the next five years, it will continue to develop its understanding of local needs and invest £10m to help people and communities thrive across the County.

It is one of the UK’s leading accredited community foundations with the expertise and local knowledge to help individuals, families, businesses and charitable trusts invest in their communities and in causes that are important to them.  It is the largest grant-giving organisation in Wiltshire and Swindon. Each year it awards around £2m through hundreds of grants.

It manages over 150 funds on behalf of its donors and since 1975 has awarded over £22m across the county.  The grants go to small local charities and community groups.  And through its individual grants programme it gives grants to young people to help improve their development, education and future employment.

Rotary Club of Swindon North and Thamesdown celebrates 24 years of endowment

Our Rotary Club has a named endowment fund at WCF.  Named funds are subject to a minimum investment of £5,000 and a commitment to support the WCF's general grant making.  Funds reaching £20,000 or more, such as ours, can be used to support issues and areas of the investor's choosing.  We have stated that ours is restricted for use in the Swindon area only.  A total of £22,955 in donations was made to our Fund between 2001 and 2023 and the balance of our Fund at 31 March 2023 is £27,443.09.  Grants totalling more than £5,000 have been made from it since 2015.

Oliver wanted to mention one donor in particular.  John and Sue Phipps set up the John Cowe Memorial Fund, a  fund to support groups providing advocacy and supported employment for people with Asperger’s Syndrome. This fund has provided grants for DASH, Swindon Advocacy Movement and the Olive Tree Café.  John Crowe, Sue’s brother, had Asperger’s Syndrome and tragically committed suicide in 2012 at the age of 54. Despite the difficulties he faced he had a successful career as an accountant.

More information about the Wiltshire Community Foundation

More information about our fund at the Wiltshire Community Foundation