Who we are
In its early years, the Foundation was operated entirely by volunteers. In December 2004, in order to respond to the growth of the organisation, the Board of Trustees took the decision to recruit a small team of paid staff. As the organisation has continued to expand, the staff team at the Foundation has increased to five people, some full time and some part time. All other people involved continue to work on a voluntary basis for the Foundation.
The President, Patrons, Trustees and Chair of the Foundation are all volunteers. They are actively involved in promoting the work of the Foundation, in business planning, fundraising, and performance management. They also take a lead in the annual selection of students who receive bursaries. The list below shows the people involved with the Foundation.
President:
Founder and Chair:
Staff Team:
- Ellen Dawson: Director
- Rachel Watters: Bursary Scheme Manager
- Jo-Anna Jackson: Student Support Manager
- Sheila Hill: Communications Co-ordinator
- Viv Wootton: Finance Co-ordinator

Trustees:
- Hilary Anslow OBE
- Nirmal Borkhataria
- Dr Geoffrey Copland CBE
- Richard Eve
- Anne Faulkner
- Kat Fletcher
- Jacqui Mace
- Frank McLoughlin CBE
- Dr Julie Mills
- Folarin Oyeleye
- Sue Rimmer
- Don Rowe
- Dr Margaret Spurr OBE DL
- Carole Stott
- Maxine Room
Patrons
- Ade Adepitan MBE
- Sonita Alleyne OBE
- Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell CBE
- The Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
- Lord Bragg
- Dame Julia Cleverdon CVO OBE
- Dame Judi Dench
- Ian Duncan Smith MP
- Will Hutton
- Digby Lord Jones of Birmingham
- Joanna Lumley OBE
- Baroness McIntosh
- Baroness Neuberger
- Lord Ouseley
- Baroness Perry
- Lord Puttnam
- Heather Rabbatts CBE
- Gail Rebuck CBE
- Alan Tuckett OBE
- Baroness Wall
- Baroness Walmsley
- Harriet Walter CBE
- Julie Walters OBE
- Baroness Warwick
- David Willetts MP




