Community First, Wiltshire and Swindon’s Rural Community Council, has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive.

Lynn Gibson joined the organisation in 2008 taking on the role as Assistant Chief Executive to oversee the merger of Youth Action Wiltshire.

Since then Youth Action Wiltshire has gone from strength to strength, alongside other services developed by Lynn including programmes tackling financial inclusion, improving health and supporting older people.

Lynn said: “I am delighted and proud to have an opportunity to lead such a fantastic charity, one that I believe in and which does such great work locally.

"I want to thank the committed group of Trustees at Community First who have shown faith in me to lead at this important time".

Community First celebrated it’s 50th anniversary this year and has redoubled its efforts to sign up volunteers across a range of our services so those people most vulnerable in the county can be better supported.

Having recently moved into new premises in Devizes at the Hopton Business Park, the charity can now expand its activities and run more development programmes for a range of community groups.

“Meeting the identified needs of Wiltshire’s communities at a time of reducing public services has considerable implications for Community First," said Lynn.

"It will require us to be streamlined and efficient in the way that we operate, in order to provide maximum benefit to the local communities that we serve."

Chairman of the Trustees, Dr Martin Hamer, said:  “We were all delighted that Lynn has accepted this role.

"We are confident that she can build on and develop all the resources of Community First to the benefit of the many diverse and disparate groupse  that we serve”. 

Lynn takes on the baton from Philippa Read, who retired last month after eight years in the role and 23 years at Community First.