Alison joined the Board of Trustees at Cumbria Community Foundation in 2019 and serves as Honorary Treasurer and previously as the chair of the West Cumbria Grants Committee. The Foundation’s positive, practical approach and the difference it makes to communities across Cumbria is the reason she came on board.

Born and bred in Cumbria, her strong Cumbrian roots and years of working with local businesses have given her a real understanding of the challenges facing the county. Alison has also sat on the board, as Treasurer, of BECBC for 10 years and previously as honorary treasurer of the MS Society for over 20 years.

Alison is a Chartered Accountant and Director/owner at Dodd & Co Accountants. Alison specialises in family and owner-managed businesses, legal practices and care homes and helps many clients with their retirement and succession planning. As well as being a Director at Dodds for 27 years, Alison was also a previous Director/owner of a care home for 15 years. She understands first hand the challenges and rewards that come with running a business and particularly enjoys building long-standing relationships with the people and their families working in them.

Away from work, Alison likes to keep busy and sociable. She enjoys travel, horse racing, running 5Ks and the occasional yoga retreat. Having recently taken up cricket and been part of the Cumbria County Cup winners squad, with Wigton Wild Cats, team sport and supporting and sponsoring all local sports events and the wider community is a major part of Alison’s social life, as well as a major part of Dodd & Co’s ethos. She also loves spending time with her dogs, singing with her local singing group and is always happy when socialising involves sport, good company and great food.

Dodd & Co’s involvement with CCF stems way back to the beginning when former partner, Ian Brown was involved in the set up of the foundation and Dodd & Co have continued to support the foundation throughout its entire existence.