Volunteer who helped award millions in grants to young people praised

We are paying tribute to a former volunteer who has helped support the educational aspirations of thousands of young people in the county, after his tenure recently came to an end.

Wiltshire Community Foundation is proud to be the largest independent grant giving organisation in Wiltshire and Swindon, and each year we award around £2 million across hundreds of grants. Alongside our education grants programmes, we give grants to grassroots voluntary and community groups doing vital work in their neighbourhoods.

Decisions on grant awards are made by an independent grants panel. Panel members consider the application form and report from the assessor before reaching their decision together. Membership of the panel varies according to the focus of the programme and usually includes people with relevant expertise and experience of the issues being addressed by the programme. Panel members are all volunteers, and their support and expertise are vital in the decision-making process.

Myles Pilling, from Melksham had been on the panel for our University Bursary, Vocational Grants, and Educational Support programmes for almost 12 years. During this time, he played a key role in evaluating applications and, as the numbers applying often outstrip the funds available, help make the difficult decisions about who is awarded a grant.

He was initially appointed in October 2012, and has been part of panels that have collectively distributed over £3 million in grants to over 1,000 children and young people from across Wiltshire and Swindon. Thanks to the dedicated voluntary work from Mr Pilling and his fellow panellists, those from low-income backgrounds across the county have been able to fulfil their ambitions of going to university or studying vocational subjects, opportunities that might have been challenging to access before.

Mr Pilling is an Assistive Technologist for his company, Access Ability Solutions, and has a background of working with children with additional needs and assistive technology throughout his career. His experience and knowledge, particularly with assistive technology, provided a valuable insight for the panel when it came to assessing and reviewing applications.

Reflecting on his time with us, Myles Pilling said: “I was introduced to the Foundation by a friend whose son I previously worked with. She was a panel member at the time, and she said to me about the education panels, and I thought it was such a brilliant idea, and that I’d like to do that.

“I feel absolutely elated and very honoured to have been a part of various panels that have awarded over £3 million in grants to over 1,000 children and young people. I feel privileged to have made that difference.

“If you have an interest in developing young people, then this is the perfect role, because you can really find out what it’s like in some people’s lives, and some of it is heartbreaking as well, but you can feel proud that you’ve made a difference to it.

“I shall look back with a fondness, and a sense of pride that we have been able to help so many students and families go to University when possibly they wouldn’t have been able to, and the sense that we have achieved a great thing.

“It was an absolute privilege and a joy.”

Our joint Chief Executive, Fiona Oliver, said: “We are extremely grateful to Myles for his hard work and support over the past twelve years, and his commitment and dedication to all of the panels that he took part on.

“His experience and insight has been invaluable, as is his passion and care for each individual applicant. Myles symbolises our values as a Community Foundation, and he will be sorely missed on the future panels. We are very sad to see his tenure end, and we thank him for the legacy he has helped create for thousands of young people within our local community.”

If you are interested in becoming a panel member, or supporting young people to fulfil their dreams, contact us by clicking here.

Our Vocational Grants offers up to £1,000 to those who wish to study a vocational subject at sixth form or college, or undertake an apprenticeship. This programme is currently open for applications, so if you are aged between 14-24, have lived in Wiltshire or Swindon for at least two years, and are receiving or parents/guardians are receiving one means-tested benefits, please click here.