Chief Executive

Andy Beeforth OBE DL

Andy joined the Community Foundation in September 1999 as the first and only member of staff.  Before then he had various roles as a Researcher with the Forestry Commission, Social Care Worker, Community Transport Researcher and immediately before joining the Foundation was a Rural Community Officer and then Deputy Director with Voluntary Action Cumbria (now ACT).

Andy studied at the University of Bradford where he gained a 1st Class honours degree in Environmental Science.  His first connection with Cumbria was through his late wife Dora who grew up in Bowness on Windermere.  He has become a leading figure in philanthropy in the UK leading the Foundation and its fund development for over 25 years. Promoting philanthropy and engaging donors with many of Cumbria’s inspirational volunteers and groups is what motivates him most. He was made an OBE for services to the voluntary sector in 2010.

Telephone: 01900 820822  Email: andy@cumbriafoundation.org

Finance Director 

Helen Mackman

Helen moved to Cumbria in 2012. She has worked for Cumbria Action for Social Support (CASS), Gen2 and McMenon Engineering Services Ltd before embarking on her role as CCF’s Finance Director in 2023. Helen’s role is to manage the finances of the Foundation, along with servicing several committees and looking after the IT provision. She loves to travel the world and skiing is her passion. But when she is home, she loves to walk in the fells and enjoy her garden.

Telephone: 01900 820829 Email: helen@cumbriafoundation.org

Finance and HR Officer

Lynsey Stokes

Lynsey joined the team in October 2014 after relocating from North Wales. As finance and HR Officer, Lynsey produces the management accounts and works with the Finance Director to monitor and control the company’s finances. She also provides the team with HR support.

Outside work, Lynsey enjoys the gym, spending time with family and friends, and exploring the local area.

Telephone: 01900 820823 Email: lynsey@cumbriafoundation.org

Finance Administrator

Lauren Melville

Lauren joined the team as Finance Administrator in January 2025. She was born in Cumbria and has lived here all of her life.

Lauren graduated from Lancaster University in 2013 with a degree in Business Studies and has worked in Finance since 2019. Her role is to help monitor and control the Foundation’s finances, working with the Finance Director and Finance & HR Officer.

Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking her Spaniel, Chester, and reading books on her Kindle, aiming to complete the book a week for a year challenge!

Telephone: 01900 825220 Email: lauren@cumbriafoundation.org

Development Manager

Caroline Adams

Caroline joined the team in May 2021 after having spent the last 13 years working in business support programmes. As Development Manager she supports the work of the CEO, as well as coordinating events and managing membership.

Caroline moved to West Cumbria in 2014 with her partner and his two sons. A relative newcomer to the area, she is still exploring Cumbria, finding new places to visit, enjoying a new found love of walking and the fresh air.

Telephone: 01900 820825 Email: caroline@cumbriafoundation.org

Relationships Officer

Jackie Blacklock

Jackie joined Cumbria Community Foundation in May 2022 as Development Assistant. She has lived in Cumbria for most of her life and has a background in administration, executive support and education. As Relationships Officer she is responsible for raising awareness of the Foundation with potential donors and engaging with individuals,  businesses, professional advisers and trusts to support their charitable giving.

Jackie is passionate about Cumbria, its heritage and the people who live here. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being outdoors walking on the fells and is currently completing the Wainwrights.

Telephone: 01900 512392 Email: jackie@cumbriafoundation.org

Development Assistant

James Bainbridge

James joined Cumbria Community Foundation in August 2024. Originally from Keswick, James came to the Foundation following work as a caseworker. As Development Assistant he supports the work of the Foundation by assisting with events, managing membership and researching opportunities.

Outside of work James enjoys visiting auctions and has recently commenced researching a book on local history.

Telephone: 01900 825760 Email: james@cumbriafoundation.org

Director of Programmes & Partnerships

Dr Jenny Benson

Jenny was appointed Director of Programmes & Partnerships in September 2020 and leads the Foundation’s grantmaking. Passionate about working in partnership and encouraging collaborative working she draws upon extensive fundraising and fund programme management experience from the private, public and third sectors.

She previously led the successful delivery of the Foundation’s £10.3m Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund 2015, which helped over 3,100 households and 200 community groups to recover from the devastating floods. Sharing her experience of disaster grantmaking, Jenny delivered a series of joint disaster fund workshops nationally with colleagues from the London Emergencies Trust and We Love Manchester Emergency Fund and helped inform the development of the National Emergencies Trust.

Jenny also volunteers for different organisations. She loves spending time with her family and friends, biking and exploring the beautiful Cumbrian fells.

Telephone: 01900 829376 Email: jenny@cumbriafoundation.org

Head of Grants Practice & Programmes

Annalee Holliday

Born in Cumbria, Annalee moved away and returned in 2002. She has been with Cumbria Community Foundation since 2009, having previously worked for a social housing provider. In 2014, she completed the Aspiring Leaders Programme, combining formal academic teaching with experiential learning and personal development and gained a BA (Hons) degree in Social Enterprise Leadership.

A member of the Senior Leadership Team, Annalee leads and develops the Foundation’s grant making practice, leads on several strategic programmes, oversees and manages a number of grant making funds and works closely with the Learning & Insights Officer.

Committed to the third sector, Annalee is a trustee of Francis Scott Trust and volunteers for the Henry Smith Charity. In her spare time, she enjoys the gym and getting outdoors with her dog, Joey, and her friends and family.

Telephone: 01900 820827 Email: annalee@cumbriafoundation.org

Senior Grants & Programmes Administrator

Kristine McGlothlin

Relocating from London where she worked as an executive administrator at Middle Temple, one of the Inns of Court, Kristine joined Cumbria Community Foundation in September 2014. She has an MA in Education and Human Development and taught English and British History before managing a university Study Abroad Programme. Kristine has lived and worked as a volunteer in Liberia, has travelled extensively in the UK and Europe as a Tour Director, and is a qualified Blue Badge Tour Guide of Cumbria.

As Senior Grants & Programmes Administrator, Kristine processes the grant applications, manages grants data and the monitoring process,  and organises visits to projects funded by CCF for trustees, committee members, staff, donors and fundholders. Kristine is a keen reader, passionate about the theatre, and happiest when in nature and helping out with the sheep on the farm.

Telephone: 01900 820826 Email: Kristine@cumbriafoundation.org

Grants & Programmes Officer

Sarah Thompson

Sarah joined Cumbria Community Foundation in August 2021 and has lived in Cumbria with her son since 2013. She has worked in various capacities within the charity sector for over 20 years. Away from work, Sarah enjoys time with her family and friends, discovering new places to visit, walking and swimming.

Telephone: 01900 820821 Email: sarah@cumbriafoundation.org

Grants & Programmes Officer

Tracy Cheesbrough

Tracy joined Cumbria Community Foundation in August 2023, after relocating back to Cumbria. She brings over 25 years of experience of teaching Psychology, Health & Social Care and Business Studies in secondary schools based in South Gloucestershire.

Tracy is married with two grown-up children and a dog called Pepper, and she is looking forward to spending more time walking the Cumbrian fells with her family. She has also just taken up wild swimming and is hoping to explore a range of other hobbies and develop some creative skills as she settles back into Cumbrian life.

Telephone: 01900 512395 Email: tracy@cumbriafoundation.org

Grants & Programmes Officer

Lisa Blackwell

Lisa joined the Grants Team in 2022 as a Grants and Programmes Officer. Since graduating from the University of Northumbria Law School in 2007, Lisa has undertaken a variety of roles predominately within the voluntary and community sector. Cumbrian born and bred, Lisa is passionate about improving the lives of vulnerable people in the local community. Her roles within the Third Sector and specifically, within the field of funding and income generation, has enabled her to play a key part in developing projects that provide vital services in the local community, especially for people with a learning difficulty and/or autism.

In her spare time, Lisa is a pianist and voice over artist. She also enjoys playing the Kalimba, keeping fit, reading and spending time with friends and family.

Telephone: 01900 820828 Email: Lisa@cumbriafoundation.org

Programmes Coordinator

Joe Cosby

Joe joined the team in September 2024 having previously worked for a variety of non-profit organisations and in local government. He has held various roles including in community development, grant making and patient engagement, and also holds a Masters Degree in Law. Originally from Cheshire, Joe is a keen supporter of Crewe Alexandra and enjoys spending time with his wife cooking, watching movies on the big screen, or following the cricket. Joe can also often be spotted walking his dog in the Lake District.

Telephone: 01900 825760 Email: joe@cumbriafoundation.org

Learning & Insights Officer

Becca Dunlop

Becca joined Cumbria Community Foundation in March 2024. She previously worked for Cumbria Constabulary as a PCSO in West Cumbria, so has a good understanding of life in our community and the challenges that many people face. More recently, she has been running her own business while bringing up her two young children.

Becca’s role is to gather and provide information and data about particular topics, or areas within the community, and is responsible for researching, sense-making and sharing insights and learning from our funding. This is used to help to inform decision making in many areas of our work.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, running with her local running club, and volunteering with a number of different organisations.

Telephone: 01900 512394 Email: becca@cumbriafoundation.org

Communications & Content Lead

Natalie Rutherford

Natalie first moved to Cumbria in 2001 to train as a journalist, following a spell teaching English in Japan, and went on to work as a reporter and sub-editor on newspapers around the country. More recently, she has worked in communications and fundraising for the NHS and a national cancer charity.

She joined Cumbria Community Foundation in 2024. Her role involves capturing stories of our amazing supporters and the incredible projects we support, and sharing them with the wider world, via the media, our website, social channels and more. In her spare time, you’ll find Natalie swimming in a lake, playing her clarinet or writing stories for children.

Telephone: 01900 820820 Email: natalie@cumbriafoundation.org

Age-Friendly Coordinator

Katie Gatt

This new role aims to create a supportive, welcoming, and vibrant environment for older adults. Katie plays an important role in supporting our ambition to build an Age Friendly community in South Lakeland. Katie works with partner organisations, agencies, authorities and local residents to ensure more people have an opportunity to enjoy a good later life, and to reduce inequalities in aging.

Telephone: 07546 985705 Email: Katherine.gatt@gll.org