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Our Ambition

Our ambition is to create positive and lasting change in the communities that need it most. Our funding is targeted at communities located in the top 20% of the Index of Multiple Deprivation or Scottish Index of Deprivation and focused upon the North East of England and the City of Glasgow. We have learnt from organisations in these communities about the issues that if addressed would result in positive change for the local community. One of these issues is digital exclusion.

Tackling digital exclusion can result in a range of positive consequences for the communities we seek to champion. These include education and employment outcomes, financial inclusion and economic outcomes, healthcare outcomes and social outcomes.

We seek to build supportive and lasting relationships with the charities we fund and to partner with them in creating change.

Meet the Team

Nancy Doyle-Hall DL - Executive Director

Nancy worked in the charity sector for 15 years – most recently as Chief Executive of Oasis Community Housing - before joining Virgin Money Foundation in 2016 as its Executive Director.

She brings extensive knowledge of how charities effect change within local communities. Nancy is a Visiting Fellow of St John’s College, Durham and Trustee of The Common Room of the Great North. She graduated from Oxford University and has a postgraduate certificate in Charity Finance and Accountancy.

Richard Walton - Programme Manager

Richard is responsible for managing the application process and building positive relationships with our beneficiaries.

He has over 20 years’ experience in the sector - working for both charities and funders - and has a particular interest in social investment, having sat on the board of Key Fund in Sheffield. Richard holds an honours degree from Leeds University, a masters in Urban Policy and Regeneration from Northumbria University and a postgraduate certificate in Financial Inclusion from Sheffield Hallam. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Rachel Kyle-Barclay - Grants and Learning Manager

Rachel provides a range of grant management support to the Foundation and leads on the #iwill Take Action Fund and the Young Change Makers Fellowship Programme.

She previously worked at Future Builders England, a social investment fund, before spending eight years at Northern Rock Foundation. Rachel is also Vice Chair of Mortal Fools, an arts organisation based in Northumberland.

Rachel holds an honours degree from the University of Northumbria and a postgraduate certificate in Grantmaking, Philanthropy and Social Investment from Cass Business School, London.

Amy Williams - Programme Coordinator

Amy manages our administrative systems, communications activity and our ‘beyond the grant’ support, organising and running a range of workshops and training courses available to Foundation-funded organisations. Amy also manages our small community grants programme and looks after our volunteering programme with Virgin Money employees.

She previously worked for Virgin Money and brings a range of administrative experience, including roles within the North East charitable sector.

Leanne Watson - Community Manager

Leanne manages our internal communications activity and provides grant management support.

Leanne brings a range of expertise having worked for Virgin Money for the last 18 years, most recently she has been responsible for running the Virgin Money enterprise education programme, Make £5 Grow.

Helen Richards - Administrator

Helen manages our core administrative systems, supports the wider team as well as our board of trustees.

Helen previously worked for Virgin Money and brings a wealth of administrative experience.

Meet our trustees

Overseeing the Foundation, our Trustees bring a wealth of experience and skills to the team.

Find out moremeet our trustees