Building stronger communities in Yorkshire and The Humber
BETTER TOGETHER!
About Us
How We're Helping
How We're Helping
How We're Helping
We are a grant-awarding trust funding projects in Yorkshire and the Humber. Our aims are
the breaking down of barriers in society, the integration of marginalised groups in communities and a concern for the natural environment. We have an interest in interfaith dialogue, social cohesion, exclusion and environmental sustainability and a focus on grassroots and youth-oriented projects. .
Get Involved
How We're Helping
How We're Helping
As a charity we are completely dependent on donations from supporters plus income from our investments. Our supporters (or Friends) are a vital part of the work that we do. Becoming a Friend is an opportunity to get more involved in the foundation, meeting the projects we fund at our AGM, and doing something really worthwhile.
Photograph: Doncaster Conversation Club
Project Grants
How We're Helping
Project Grants
We support initiatives that bring people together to gain understanding of other faiths and cultures and to work in partnership to improve the neighbourhoods in which they live. We aim to fund projects that address the divisions in our society by developing greater understanding of social justice and diversity.
Photograph: The Cellar Trust
Our Story
The Wharfedale Foundation has its origins in Scargill House at Kettlewell in Wharfedale, North Yorkshire. The house was sold at auction to the Church of England and from 1959 the charitable company Scargill House Ltd. operated as a Christian residential community with a particular ministry to guests coming to Scargill for individual teaching and spiritual refreshment or on parish weekends.
From the early 2000s the direction of Scargill House began to change to focus on issues of social justice, inclusivity and the environment. When financial difficulties forced the closure of the house in July 2008, it was again sold, the proceeds used to establish a grant making foundation, and Scargill House Ltd, whilst remaining the same charity and limited company, was renamed The Wharfedale Foundation.
The house was purchased by a newly formed registered charity, The Scargill Movement (supported by the community at Lee Abbey), who are committed to furthering the original vision, ministry and mission of the house as a Christian community.
The two charities The Wharfedale Foundation and The Scargill Movement recognise their common ancestry and maintain contact and an appreciation of their complementary roles.
In 2019, as The Wharfedale Foundation reached its 10th anniversary, we were pleased to celebrate both that milestone and also the fact that, through the continuing activities of The Scargill Movement, the ministry of Scargill House has now been in operation for 60 years.
Photograph: Steven Craven CC BY-SA 2.0
Who We Are
Iain Cloke - Trustee
Stewart Graham - Trustee
Hannah Dobson - Trustee
Iain is a community development worker based in South Yorkshire. He has a background in voluntary, community and faiths sector infrastructure and is currently leading a later life engagement strategy with Age UK Rotherham. Iain is an experienced charity trustee and has volunteered and led local community and faith based responses to poverty and social exclusion for over 30 years.
Hannah Dobson - Trustee
Stewart Graham - Trustee
Hannah Dobson - Trustee
Hannah is a photographer based in North Lincolnshire with previous experience in customer service, complaints and compliance. Hannah coordinates the running of a food bank together with being a trustee for another charity. She is passionate about the voluntary sector and is excited to be asked to join the trustee board and support all the interesting and community inspiring projects going on across the area.
Stewart Graham - Trustee
Stewart Graham - Trustee
Stewart Graham - Trustee
Stewart is the Director of Fundraising for the Archbishop of York Youth Trust which empowers young people to transform their communities. He has been fundraising for over 10 years and has a particular interest in strengthening local communities and including those who would normally be excluded. He lives in York with his wife and family.
Uell Kennedy - Trustee
Uell Kennedy - Trustee
Stewart Graham - Trustee
Uell worked in business finance for many years (he is qualified as a Fund Manager) before giving up the corporate life to work for the church. As a Chuch of England priest he had a diocesan wide role advising on fundraising, stewardship and governance until his retirement in 2018. Uell is member of the Institute of Fundraising.
Nickie Prior - Trustee
Uell Kennedy - Trustee
Nickie Prior - Trustee
Nickie is a self-employed PR and marketing consultant. For more than 30 years she has specialised in media relations, communications and marketing advice for a wide range of organisations from multi-national companies to local charities. She has many years’ experience of volunteering with a particular interest in serving young people.
Sajda Shah - Trustee
Uell Kennedy - Trustee
Nickie Prior - Trustee
Sajda has spent nearly 20 years as a public health manager at North Lincolnshire Council with a focus on addressing health inequalities. She has wide experience in the voluntary sector both locally and regionally, including supporting women’s groups and south Asian communities. In the South Humber she is Chair of governors of a primary school and on the board of two youth groups.
Kaye Wilson - Trustee
Rachel Boggs - Administrator
Rachel Boggs - Administrator
Kaye is a funding advice worker at Voluntary Action Leeds supporting third sector organisations. She has worked in the sector for over 25 years, mainly training and supporting voluntary, community and faith groups to access a range of funding sources. Kaye is also involved in the Yorkshire & Humber Funding Advice Worker Network and Yorkshire Funders.
Rachel Boggs - Administrator
Rachel Boggs - Administrator
Rachel Boggs - Administrator
Rachel worked for 20 years as an IT project manager for a multi-national manufacturer. She is a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church, Headingley and since 2007 has supported churches and charitable organisations with their administration and IT.