WCF gains new trustees!
WCF is pleased to announce the appointment of three new trustees to our Board. This is to replace three long-term trustees: former Chair, Nick Wentworth-Stanley, Tamar Thompson and David Shaw who will sadly be leaving us in the first half of 2026.
The new trustees responded to an extensive promotional campaign in 2025, and all bring exciting new knowledge and skills to WCF.
Jonathan Chenevix-Trench, Chair, commented:
‘We are delighted with the response we had to the new trustee campaign that ran for several weeks. We interviewed a number of really strong candidates, and it was quite challenging having to make a final decision. The new trustees were selected for their varied skills and approaches to WCF, and definitely their enthusiasm to be part of our team! We are really looking forward to seeing what they can bring to the WCF table and what the next few years hold with them on the board.’
Our new trustees are as follows:
Melissa Blewitt
Melissa is a passionate communicator and fundraiser, currently working as Fundraising, Communications & Relationships Manager at Worcestershire’s leading homeless charity, Maggs. With a background in events, engagement, and strategic campaigns, she’s spent over a decade championing causes that matter; always with people at the heart of her work.
Born and raised locally, Melissa is proud to be raising her own family in Worcestershire. Melissa said:
‘I have joined the WCF board to help strengthen community connections, support grassroots projects, and ensure funding reaches the people and places that need it most. I’m particularly keen to amplify unheard voices and bring fresh energy to partnership-building across the county.’
Outside of work, Melissa enjoys life drawing, endless reading, baking with her daughter, going to as many gigs as she can squeeze in, and (trying to) keep active through running.
Nick Fairlie
Nick has worked in the UK commercial real estate business for 45 years. He was a former equity partner of Grimley JR Eve (now Avison Young), the co-founder and Managing Director of Mayfair Land & Developments and more recently a co-founder Director of Fairlie Norbury Real Estate. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
Nick attended senior school in Worcester, Oxford Brookes University followed by ten years living/working in Birmingham thereafter returning to live in Worcestershire, currently residing in Malvern. He is married to Susan and has four children.
Nick is a governor at Worcester Royal Grammar School. He is a former rugby player and coach and enjoys all forms of sport including cycling, golf, tennis and padel. He has completed several marathons, cycled Lands End to John O’Groats and completed an ironman event in Cascais, Portugal. Nick told us:
‘I am thrilled to be appointed as a Trustee of WCF to help further the amazing work that the charity already does in making a difference to people’s lives in Worcestershire’.
Caryn Cox
Caryn is a qualified consultant in public health and health protection and has over 35 years’ experience working in the NHS and Government, including time with the EU and the WHO. She is a visiting Hon Assoc Clinical Professor at Birmingham University lecturing on epidemiology and health emergency planning. She recently finished working for the Isle of Man Government as Chief Medical Officer and Director of Public Health.
Caryn has been a volunteer with St John Ambulance for over 45 years and is the Chancellor (Vice-Chair of the Board) for St John Ambulance in Wales. She has supported a wide range of organisations in Worcestershire including as a West Mercia Custody Visitor and as a volunteer Malvern Town Tour Guide with the Civic Society.
Caryn has lived in Worcestershire for over 30 years and currently lives in Great Malvern with her husband, Jason. Caryn said:
‘We know to build a sustainable and productive economy we need to drive our investments and efforts in the direction of underserved communities where inequalities exist. We also know from all the evidence that community and voluntary groups and individuals can make a significant change to their areas; uplifting and empowering them in a range of remarkable ways.
WCF is clearly a strong and well-positioned organisation to drive efforts in this way and I am proud to be part of WCF to support their continued vision and mission.’
For more information on our current Board of Trustees go to: https://www.worcscf.org.uk/about-us/our-team/
For further information on WCF please contact Lucy Wells, Director [email protected]
