Charity specialist takes the Chair at St Loye’s

St Loye’s Foundation, the Exeter and North Devon based charity which provides employment, training and care services for people wishing to become more independent, has appointed a new Chair of its Board of Trustees.

Graham Faulkner is a qualified social worker who has had over 40 years experience in the charitable, private and local government sectors including being Chief Executive of the Epilepsy Society, General Secretary and Deputy Chief Executive with the Leonard Cheshire Foundation and Chief Executive of Rehab UK, a charity that, like St Loye’s, specialises in vocational rehabilitation.

65 year-old Graham takes over his new position from Susan Hobbs who has chaired the Board of Trustees since 2007.  Susan will now concentrate on her position as chair of breast cancer fundraising and support charity, the Primrose Foundation.

St Loye’s Chief Executive Christopher Knee expressed his delight at the new appointment, saying: “The role of Chair of Trustees comes with considerable responsibilities. The charity’s senior management team is responsible for day-to-day operations, but our work is overseen by the Board of Trustees who must ensure that we comply with charity law, act in a financially prudent manner and exercise a duty of care in running the Foundation efficiently.

“At a time when we have announced our 2020 Vision and how we intend to grow and enhance our life-changing services, we could not have hoped for anyone with more experience to undertake this important position than Graham Faulkner.

“I would also like to acknowledge the immense contribution that Sue Hobbs has made to St Loye’s. During her tenure as Chair she helped see us through some difficult times with great leadership, skill and care, and now leaves the charity in an excellent position to further develop and grow.”

St Loye’s Foundation supports and empowers individuals to overcome a range of disadvantages including lack of skills, unemployment, learning difficulties, long term health conditions, including autistic spectrum conditions, and mental health issues.  The charity has headquarters in Exeter with regional hubs across North Devon, Cardiff, and Warrington.