Julia is Chief Executive of the Milton Keynes Community Foundation and the Executive Director of the Foundation’s property company, MK Community Properties Ltd. The Foundation supports the Milton Keynes community by developing local philanthropy, providing grants to the local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS), community engagement and leadership, property ownership and management and related services. She is a member of the Community Local Infrastructure Partnership (MK CLIP) a consortium of voluntary organisations that represent the sector, and is also a member of the MK Economy and Learning Partnership Board and the Local Strategic Partnership.

 

The Foundation makes grants to support local groups and charities throughout the unitary authority area of Milton Keynes. In the financial year 2009–10 the Foundation’s work of providing grants and subsidised rents has benefited the local community in excess of £1.1m.

 

Milton Keynes Community Foundation is one of 57 Foundations in the UK and Julia works closely with the umbrella organisation – Community Foundation Network (CFN), which supports the development of Foundations in the UK. She Chairs CFN’s Quality Accreditation Committee, which oversees the ‘Quality Mark’ and reviews recommendations for Foundations to receive the accreditation, which is endorsed by the Charity Commission.

 

The Milton Keynes Community Foundation’s vision is to create a culture of giving that strengthens and supports the local community. Julia’s role includes promoting philanthropy to encourage individuals to support their growing community, and encourage companies to commit to local giving as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies; to champion VCS issues; taking forward the development of its city centre office block – Acorn House into a flagship building to support the sector in increasing its capacity to meet the challenges of growth.