Wiltshire Community Foundation has appointed John Rendell and Dame Elizabeth Neville DBE QPM DL as patrons.
Foundation joint Chief Executive Fiona Oliver said: “We are absolutely thrilled to announce John Rendell and Dame Elizabeth Neville as patrons of Wiltshire Community Foundation.
“Alongside Lord Lieutenant Dame Sarah Troughton DCVO, we are proud have a group of patrons who are passionate about the county and the communities that live within them, understand local need, and are dedicated to improving their lives by connecting people who care, with causes that matter.”
John Rendell has been associated with the Foundation for over 35 years. During this time, he has been involved with the charity in a variety of roles including a period on the Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2012, and is currently a fundholder.
Passionate about Wiltshire, John grew up on a farm in the Southwest of the county. He attended Dauntsey’s School before studying at Bristol University.
He then qualified as a Chartered Accountant, which led to him working in London and overseas for 14 years. John returned to the county in the late 1980s, and was introduced to Wiltshire Community Foundation while working in the same building as them in Swindon.
Since the turn of the Millennium, John has been working as a private investor and has always kept a close relationship with the Foundation.
Dame Elizabeth Neville DBE QPM DL also has a long association with Wiltshire Community Foundation, having raised funds for their High Sheriff’s Fund during her time as High Sheriff of Wiltshire from 2010 to 2011. She was then a Trustee from 2011 to 2020.
Dame Elizabeth arrived in Wiltshire as Chief Constable in 1997, having previously served in every rank of the profession across four different police forces. She held this post until 2004.
With her countywide responsibilities, both as Chief Constable and High Sheriff, Elizabeth developed a great love for Wilshire and is currently a Deputy Lieutenant. She also participated in the formation of the Bobby Van Trust, before becoming a Trustee, and was also a school governor at Stonar School in Atworth.
Both join Wiltshire and Swindon Lord Lieutenant Dame Sarah Troughton DCVO, who was appointed as a patron in 2012, following a period as a trustee for the Foundation from 2004 to 2012.
Dame Elizabeth said: “I consider the Wiltshire Community Foundation to bean outstanding organization which brings huge value to the county, and I feel very privileged to be a Patron.”
Reflecting on the moment he was asked to be a patron, Mr Rendell said: “I am very pleased and very honoured to be a patron of Wiltshire Community Foundation.
“My involvement with the Foundation started in 1989. I liked the idea of the community foundation approach, and I particularly liked the permanence of it, and that it is going to be long-term. I liked the focus on Wiltshire, which is my home county, and is a county which I feel a strong connection with.
“I feel that community foundations are very important as they are locally based, with professional people working on the ground, who can assess need and prioritise the available resources.”
Wiltshire Community Foundation is the largest grant giving organisation in Wiltshire and Swindon, dedicated to tackling disadvantage by inspiring philanthropy and supporting the voluntary sector.
The charity is approaching its 50th year, and last year awarded over £2.1 million in grants, which supported over 72,500 people across Wiltshire and Swindon.
People can find out more about Wiltshire Community Foundation, and the new patrons by visiting wiltshirecf.org.uk
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