Trustee spotlight: Chair of Trustees, Stephen Catling - Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

We sat down with our Stephen Catling, our Chair of Trustees, to learn more about his journey to Cambridgeshire Community Foundation. From a career in the food industry to leading a local grant-making charity, he shares what drives him, what he’s learned, and why supporting local communities means so much.

With over 30 years of experience in the food industry and a passion for strengthening communities, our Chair of Trustees brings both professional expertise and personal dedication to Cambridgeshire Community Foundation.

A trained food scientist and chemist, Stephen held senior leadership roles before stepping away from full-time work in 2014. Over the past decade, he’s served as a Non-Executive Director for five businesses, including two start-ups, supporting innovation and growth across the sector.

After being Chair of the Board at FoodCycle, a national charity focused on food poverty and social isolation, Stephen joined us in 2022 as Chair of Trustees.

Stephen tells us:

“Three years ago, I was coming to the end of my tenure as Chair of the Board at Foodcycle, a national charity. I wanted to continue working with a charity but with a difference – I wanted to do more at a local level in my county but with a continued focus on the community needs. The Foundation was the perfect opportunity and I was honoured to become their Chair back in 2022.”

Making a difference across Cambridgeshire

Since joining the Foundation, Stephen says the most rewarding part of the role has been collaborating with fellow trustees, staff, and donors to set ambitious goals and deliver meaningful impact.

“The diversity of grants we give – and the impact they make – gives me a real buzz. But what’s surprised me most is the level of inequality and need across the county. Not at a high level, which is well-known, but at a detailed level within the county – how diverse the challenges are between, for example, Cambridge, Peterborough and the Fens.”

Stephen goes on to explain that he is passionate about building visibility and deepening connections with donors – to ensure even greater reach and impact in the years ahead.

“Line of sight of the impact the Foundation makes is super important to all of us. We need to keep developing with our donors – so getting well known in Cambridgeshire, improving our presence and sharing our impact are continuous but important steps that we need to measure for us to achieve our goals.”

Personal and professional growth

The role has led to personal and professional growth for Stephen, as he tells us “I have learnt a lot! Being a Trustee of a grant giving foundation was different to anything else I have done and understanding all aspects of the impact and the required governance was new to me“, he continues to tell us that “chairing a large board of 15 Trustees has been a new experience too, as most of my other Boards are much smaller.”

A personal connection

Having lived in Cambridgeshire for more than three decades, Stephen feels a deep-rooted connection to the area and its people, telling us “This is my home. I love the diversity of our cities and the strength of our communities. It’s a privilege to support the Foundation in building a better future for Cambridgeshire.”

“
The diversity of grants we award, and the impact they make, gives me a buzz.
”
Stephen Catling
Chair of Trustees for Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

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