Agenda item

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chair in accordance with Standing Order No.30. In accordance with Standing Order 30, paragraph 3a, Alderman Alison Gowman, as the immediate past Chair and being willing to serve, was duly elected as Deputy Chair of the Committee for the ensuing year. On being elected, the Deputy Chair thanked the new Chairman and the Committee for their support during her time as Chair of the Committee.

VOTE OF THANKS

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Members of the City Bridge Trust Committee express their sincere thanks and appreciation to:

ALDERMAN ALISON GOWMAN

for the manner in which she has presided over their deliberations, and the interest and commitment she has shown in all aspects of the work of the City Bridge Trust Committee for the past three years.

Alison has been a knowledgeable, passionate and dedicated Chair of this Committee and an exceptional advocate and ambassador for the City Bridge Trust. Under her stewardship, the City Bridge Trust Committee has awarded over 670 grants, totalling almost £64 million in funding, and recently surpassed the mark of £400 million granted in total. With diligence, ambition and a keen eye for detail, Alison has ensured that the Committee has supported organisations of all shapes and sizes, to the benefit of so many in London and beyond.

Alison’s tenure as Chair began with a quinquennial strategic review, that with careful planning and widespread engagement became Bridging Divides. Alison has been instrumental in developing and embedding the Bridging Divides strategy, fostering a positive environment for the evolution of the Trust, and inspiring a dynamic and collaborative approach that exemplifies the priorities and values of the strategy. As Chair, she has ensured that City Bridge Trust is relevant and alive to the changing needs of Londoners, and maintained a clear focus on maximising and harnessing expertise and experience across the Trust, the City of London Corporation and the wider charitable sector.

Alison has overseen an impressive array of large grants, projects and programmes. Throughout her term, the Trust’s vital partnerships with The Prince’s Trust, London Youth, and Trust for London have gone from strength to strength. Alison has been a great champion of the successful Bridge to Work programme, overseeing grants of £1.2 million for the Centre for Mental Health, and £775,000 for Inclusion London, amongst many others, to narrow the disability employment gap and strengthen links with employers. Her strong advocacy has also brought the environment and green charities into greater focus. Further to this, the Trust has awarded important grants to Women in Prison, for a specialist pan-London service for women in prison with high levels of complex need, to the Federation of London Youth Clubs for the City Leaders Project, and to Age UK, to design and deliver an evaluated model for the prevention of fraud and support for older people affected by fraud.

Furthermore, Alison’s influence and expertise has enabled the progress of important schemes for the benefit of the City Bridge Trust, both now and for the future, further developing our funding offer by directing delivery of the Philanthropy Strategy, Funder Plus, and the flourishing Stepping Stones fund. She has represented the City Bridge Trust at an extensive range of public events, activities, and media engagements, up to and including the Houses of Parliament, where she represented City Bridge Trust at an All-Party Parliamentary Group for London.

The ability that Alison has demonstrated as Chair has been much appreciated by all Members of this Committee, who wish her much success in her continued service, and hope that the City Bridge Trust can continue to depend on her skills and experience as she turns her attention to her future challenges.

By way of response, Alderman Alison Gowman thanked Members and officers for their support and kind words, adding that she looked forward to supporting the new Chairman and to the future challenges facing the Committee.

The Chairman then thanked outgoing Member Alderman Alastair King for his contributions during his time on the Committee, and welcomed new Member Alderman Susan Langley, as well as the charities in attendance, including representatives from INQUEST Charitable Trust and BUPA Foundation. The Chairman also advised that the Committee had also hosted a presentation from Church of England Children’s Society during a working lunch before the meeting.