Sam Weller CCF Trustee

Sam was introduced to CCF when he was Director of the Kodak European Research Laboratories in Cambridge and set up a Kodak Fund with CCF which was used to make grants to a number of local charitable groups in key areas of interest to the Company. When Sam retired, he and his wife decided to remain in Cambridge and he has utilised his past experience to help the local business and charitable communities. He kept in touch with CCF particularly and was invited by the board to join CCF and to take an active role in developing the grant making strategy of the Foundation.

"I hope, by writing a blog, to draw attention to the great work done by local charities across a spectrum of society, often with very small resources. Also, to show how a Community Foundation, like Cambridgeshire’s, can encourage individuals and organisations, to make charitable donations that reach those most in need."

01-05-2012: Fredericks and CCF Loan Where Banks fear to Tread!

20-03-2012: Skoogs at Papworth Trust and The Connections Bus extends reach

23-02-2012: Warm Homes Healthy People and Children with Special Needs

18-01-2012: Great response to Winter Fuel Fund and Schizophrenia - counselling and medication side effects.

20-12-2011: High Sheriff recognises the contribution of young people and horticulture helps the disabled

20-11-2011: "Surviving Winter" launches and help for young people with learning difficulties

26-10-2011: Guest Blog by our intern, Emma Gilbey

13-10-2011: Child bereavement help and charitable leadership

12-09-2011: Supporting the elderly and young carers

Guest Blog by our intern, Emma Gilbey

26-Oct-2011

Life After University...
Having just finished a Social Psychology degree at Loughborough University, and with all the doom and gloom in the press about graduate job prospects at the moment, I was eager to get stuck into a project and get some experience in the ‘real world’, so to speak. So when I saw the Foundation's advert for an internship vacancy it seemed perfect.

After a successful application process, I started my internship in August. My role within the foundation and specific project focused around social media, an up and coming area of interest for businesses and charities who want to use various new technologies, such as Twitter and Facebook, to their advantage. This meant that my daily routine involved monitoring such sites and putting into use the Foundation's own version. I visited Ellie at Milton Keynes Community Foundation who told me all about how they made social media work for them and how to get the best out of it.

Another integral part of my time as an intern was the new monthly e-newsletter for which I collated and wrote pieces for. A major feature of the newsletter was the interviews with the Foundation's trustees which I conducted. This was a brilliant way for me to meet the trustees, learn more about the Foundation and their work within it.

Towards the end of the 3 months I have become involved with helping organise a photographic exhibition at Ely Cathedral to showcase the work and type of projects which the Foundation helps to support. I am very much looking forward to seeing the end result at the launch evening.

Admittedly, at first I had never heard of the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, and the whole concept of Community Foundations, but my internship has opened up a whole other world of non profit organisations, Community Foundations and voluntary groups to me and sparked a new area of interest. Being involved with the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation and seeing what work goes on behind the scenes has been astounding. Having always lived in the county myself, and having generations of family live in the city, I never realised to what extent there are areas of deprivation and need. I am amazed at how much difference the grants given can make in the community, even a relatively small grant of just a couple of hundred pounds can make just as big difference to a group as a grant of a few thousand pounds. It has been great to see the difference the grants can make through reading returned monitoring forms, detailing how the groups have spent their money, and the difference the grant has made is definitely a thought provoking experience. As well as learning about Community Foundations, and their associated bodies and work, I have learnt a lot about general working life, such as more effective communication skills and team work.

I have no doubt that all I have learnt and skills I have gained as an intern will go on to benefit me in my future roles throughout my post university career. I definitely have food for thought in terms of future volunteering and career ideas.

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