This is a role where you can really make a big difference to small and vital charities, to the wider charity sector, to communities and to many lives.

I join as Chief Executive in September and so this is a really important appointment for me and it’s a very exciting time for the Foundation. It is of course also a critical time for the country with a General Election taking place. We have a new administration in Wales and a range of new posts and people in government nationally and locally. Whoever takes power, our country, communities and people face huge and urgent challenges including a severe lack of housing, increasing rates of poverty and mental ill health, stretched public services and inadequate support for asylum and immigration. All of this is felt even more deeply by people who already face complex issues and barriers.

The Foundation turns 40 next year and we are proud that across these last 40 years we have stood side by side with 1000s of small and local charities that have shown up time and again to help people overcome complex issues that don’t have simple solutions and societal barriers stopping people from fulfilling their potential. Too often under-funded, under- pressure and ignored, charities tell us they value our funding, relationship based approach and capacity building support. They also value how we have spoken up with, and alongside, them on the issues affecting them and the people and communities we serve. Through aggregating and leveraging their experiences, learning and generating solutions to influence policy and practice we can benefit many more people, charities and communities.

Over the last decade we have developed a distinctive and market-leading role, bringing insight directly from the ground to the corridors of power and the Boardroom of one of the UK’s largest corporations. We have achieved real influence on policy, practice, legislation and funding around criminal justice, domestic abuse, social security and accommodation, always championing small charities, their role and value.

Building on the many successes achieved by Duncan Shrubsole, who leaves us to become Chief Executive of St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, we now need an ambitious values- driven leader who is restless for change and determined to make a tangible difference. You and we will need to lead from the front – making our case directly to Ministers, Parliamentarians and officials – but collaboration is essential and our work involves funding, supporting, advising and shaping others, through a range of partnerships, formal and informal. You will actively look for new opportunities to seize and flexible approaches to do so, but be focused on a key set of influencing priorities, informed by our charity partners. Whilst experience of policy and influencing is essential, you will also need to be confident in leading our communications and being the champion of how to evaluate, capture and communicate our impact across all of our work and programmes, ensuring we are greater than the sum of the parts. We have an important story to tell and I want us to communicate that to the public as well as opinion formers.

Whilst we are independent of Lloyds Banking Group we both know there are many areas where working together we can achieve more for mutual benefit and that of those we each serve.

You will be very experienced in bringing out people’s strengths, working with teams across the organisation, and with external stakeholders, building an inclusive culture. We are acutely aware that being a funder gives us immense power and privilege, so we are committed to share that power and involve directly those we fund and people with lived experience in shaping our programmes.

Finally, as we come to the end of one strategy, this role has an essential role in shaping our next strategy as part of our dynamic Senior Leadership Team and with our committed and passionate Board. Our staff and Trustees at the Foundation come from a wide spectrum of sectors and experiences but all relish an unrivalled opportunity to make a tangible difference to people, communities and to influence national and local policy and practice.

If this sounds like you and you are excited by the prospect to make a major difference then please do get in touch.