The volunteer Board of directors
Paul (Chairman)
Paul originates from a trade union background where he trained and then chaired groups, from small committees to national conferences. On moving to Devon thirty years ago Paul became involved in adult education and eventually chair of Devon & Cornwall Wea (south west). Paul then moved on to it education and worked on the clait initiative in the SW with Plymouth university. on taking over the chair of the Devon community banking project Paul was instrumental in taking the company from concept to what it is today also acting for two years as its it manager.
Nora (Manager, Devon Welfare Rights Unit)
Nora graduated with an honours degree in law & politics from Southampton University in 1985. Specialising in social welfare law, she spent 5 years working in the statutory sector in south Wales. In 1992, she joined Devon welfare rights unit, part of citizens advice, the only specialist, second tier welfare rights unit in Devon. Nora has managed this unit since 2003. Nora holds an NVQ level 4 in human resources development and has been a member of the trustee boards of 6 different voluntary and community sector organisations at different times between 1986 and 2008.
Martyn (Chief Executive, North Devon Homes)
A chief executive of North Devon homes with 25 years of social housing experience. Martyn is passionate about tackling financial exclusion and works at both a strategic and operational level to deliver innovative solutions to those in social housing.
David
David is a retired former children’s entertainer based in North Devon and is a board member of North Devon homes. As well as a local councillor David is also a volunteer member with Tawside credit union and has a good background of working with credit unions from collector to a board position.
Simon (Company Secetary)
Simon is the chair of a participating organisation and was a founding director of South West Pound, with 12 years experience of credit unions he looks forward to the next twelve with SWP ltd as the company secretary. It is with some experience that Simon fulfils a number of roles within the company in a voluntary capacity and has been a great support to the development team during the first 2 years of trading.
Kathy (Regional Director(West) Sovereign Housing Group)
Prior to joining Sovereign Housing Association, in July 2006, Kathy worked for the housing corporation as a regulator, regulating a portfolio of medium to large housing associations in the South West. She was also responsible for supervision of associations that got into governance financial or management difficulties. Prior to that Kathy worked for the housing corporation in London, in a variety of roles including regulation, housing policy and investment. She also managed the regulation team. She is now divisional director (west) at sovereign housing association, managing three housing management teams based in Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth.
Graham (Managinig Director D&C Housing Group)
Graham is the managing director of Devon & Cornwall housing association and one of its subsidiaries, part of the Devon & Cornwall housing group. He has worked for the organisation at director level for nearly 20 years. Prior to this he managed the regulation function in the South West for the housing corporation and worked for various local authorities in London.
Colin (General Manager, Money Advice Plymouth)
Colin is the project manager at Money Advice Plymouth which is an independent advice centre with 12.5 FTE offering financial inclusion services in deprived areas of Plymouth and beyond. He has been working in advice and information for over ten years and is also a lead tutor for both the institute of money advisers and the money advice trust in the field of debt and mental health. Colin has been a board member of Devon pound for over a year.
We currently have 7 deliberate vacancies on the board to allow for the expansion of the service and provide a wider community presence.