Power to Change, the independent charitable trust endowed with £150 million from the Big Lottery Fund to grow community business across England, has named Stephen Howard as its new chair. He will take over from Acting Chair, Carla Stent, who will continue to serve the trust as Vice Chair.
Stephen Howard is stepping down from his role as Chief Executive Officer of Business in the Community (BITC), the Prince of Wales’s responsible business network, to take on a portfolio of activities with a social purpose. He currently holds a number of non-executive roles including with the London Enterprise Panel and The National Schools Partnership. His executive roles pre-dating BITC include CEO of Cookson Group.
Carla Stent, Acting Chair of Power to Change said of this appointment:
“2015 was a year of set-up and learning for Power to Change. We ran an initial grants programme worth £9 million for which we received close to 700 bids worth over £129 million. Through this and other pilot programmes, we have been able to support a diverse range of inspiring community businesses across England through which local people together are creating positive social impact in their communities. The arrival of Stephen will take the trust to a new level. His depth of experience across both the corporate and voluntary sectors will be invaluable in helping Power to Change to raise the profile of community business, deepen our impact and achieve our vision to create ‘better places through community business’.”
Stephen Howard said:
“In recent years my career has been shaped around the positive difference that business can make in society and within communities and I have derived immense personal satisfaction from working in the space where the corporate and voluntary sectors come together.
I grew up in Detroit, a city that is now experiencing a renaissance thanks to corporates and communities making common cause to breathe life back into what was a city dying on its feet. I am really excited to take on the chair role with Power to Change, an organisation that I can see re-shaping and creating vibrant high streets and community spaces across England.”
For more information please contact:
Mark Gordon on 020 3857 7290 or mark.gordon@thepowertochange.org.uk