Our team

Josephine McCartney

Chief Executive

Josephine lives in Kent and has worked in the charitable sector for more than 20 years. She was previously Director of Fundraising and Communications for Imperial College Healthcare Charity, an independent, grant-making charity raising funds for projects, research, equipment and training at five London hospitals. Before this, Josephine held a variety of strategic positions with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). She is the Chair of the Voluntary Sector Steering Group for Kent and the Kent Children & Young People’s Steering Group. She is the voluntary representative on KCC Strategic Partnership Board. 

josephine@kentcf.org.uk 

Natalie Smith

Director of Grants & Impact and Deputy Chief Executive

Natalie grew up in Kent, and after studying and travelling, has spent all of her working life in the voluntary sector - in campaigning and management roles in London for national charities, including Amnesty International and the Pre-School Learning Alliance, and most recently working for Involve. She has a good understanding of the third sector within Kent and Medway, knowledge she uses every day in her work at KCF. In her hometown of Maidstone, Natalie is a founding member of a local charity and governor at a local primary school.

natalie@kentcf.org.uk 

Sarah Osborne

Director of Governance and Operations

Sarah moved to Kent in 2007 when starting her university studies. She spent a year working as a Project Assistant for Canterbury-based charity, Time Out, whilst studying for a Master’s degree in Applied Theology. She has an active interest in the charity sector; writing her MA thesis on the challenges faced by faith-based voluntary organisations. Sarah has worked at KCF since 2012 in various roles.

sarah@kentcf.org.uk 

Bruce Topham

Grants Manager

Having lived all his life in Kent, Bruce joined Kent Community Foundation in 2014 after 27 years financial services experience primarily in retail and business banking. He admits to being regularly inspired by the actions of individuals and organisations he comes into contact with on a daily basis through working at Kent Community Foundation. Away from work he is a fervent supporter of Maidstone United Football Club attending as many games as possible.

bruce@kentcf.org.uk

Rachèle Verrier

Grants Manager

Rachèle joined Kent Community Foundation as Grants Manager in December 2017 after a long career in Education Management within the Public Sector. For over 23 years, she has helped others in the UK and abroad through a number of charitable projects. She is delighted to be part of an organisation and team that truly care and help to support the communities of Kent and Medway. Rachèle’s main interests include photography, travelling and discovering new cultures.

rachele@kentcf.org.uk

James Horne

Grants and Social Loans Manager

James joined the foundation in November 2016 after working for almost 35 years in the banking sector, working in retail, private and business banking. As part of his role, James loves meeting and working with individuals and organisations who make such a positive impact in their local communities. Outside of work, he enjoys all sports; playing cricket and occasionally hockey and golf.

james@kentcf.org.uk 

Sophie Hosking

Development Manager

Sophie has lived and worked in Kent for most of her life, working largely in the local charity sector, including roles at Canterbury Cathedral, Shepway and Dover District Volunteer Centre and most recently in the Development Office of a local Independent School. She is passionate about working with people and enjoys seeing the difference local giving can make. She has a BA in History from the University of Warwick and an MA in Arts and Culture Management.

sophie@kentcf.org.uk 

Rebecca Wilkinson 

Fundraising & Events Officer

Rebecca is born and bred in Kent and has lived in Staplehurst, Faversham and Ashford. Rebecca recently joined Kent Community Foundation after working in the charity sector for the past 7 years as a Project Manager for a community café and second-hand clothes shop. Having been in receipt of grants from Kent Community Foundation she has seen the difference it makes to small grassroots organisations and is excited to be involved in seeing that impact on wider scale. Outside of work Rebecca has three children, a partner, two stepchildren and a dog. Working over a decade in the coffee industry had made her a bit of a coffee snob and she needs plenty of the stuff to keep her going! If she gets any time to herself in her busy house she loves to read fantasy books, go on adventures near and far and is part of a local community choir. 

rebecca@kentcf.org.uk

Rachel Vinton

Senior Philanthropy Adviser

Rachel joined Kent Community Foundation in December 2023. As the Senior Philanthropy Adviser, she partners with professionals across Kent and London to connect their clients to small grassroot charitable organisations looking for support. Rachel previously worked at BlackRock Investment Management for 14 years in several roles across the fixed income investment business and client business teams. Rachel moved to Kent in 2021 and lives outside Sissinghurst with her husband and two young children. She is on the Parochial Church Council for Trinity Church Sissinghurst and helps to lead the children’s ministry here. She is a committee member of the Woldingham Sacred Heart Association alumni network having attended Woldingham School in Surrey. Outside of work she is a keen runner and enjoys exploring the Kent countryside with her family.

rachel@kentcf.org.uk 

Hannah Hayfield

Communications Manager

Hannah has years of experience in marketing roles, specialising in branding, design, social media, website management, videography and copy writing. Before joining Kent Community Foundation in 2017, she worked at an internship agency in London and in the marketing team at Leeds Castle. She has a BA Fashion Marketing and Communications at Nottingham Trent University.  Outside of work Hannah is a huge foodie and loves to travel.

hannah@kentcf.org.uk 

Stacey Tillott

Head of Marketing and Communications

After years in marketing and communications, Stacey found true professional fulfilment within the voluntary sector when she joined the Kent Community Foundation team in 2019. She is passionate about facilitating the connection between local communities, charitable organisations, and individuals who want to give, and takes pride in the role she plays in being a voice for better social outcomes for all. Though originally from Manchester, Stacey has found a home in the countryside and coastal communities of Kent.

stacey@kentcf.org.uk 

Christina Bowden

PR Consultant, Bowden PR

Originally from Sheffield Christina has lived in Kent since 1994. With over 20 year’s PR experience in lifestyle, consumer, corporate and charity PR, Christina has worked with Kent Community Foundation since 2019 to promote their work in the media. Christina loves working with the dedicated KCF team and sharing the fascinating stories about the huge difference the Foundation makes to volunteer groups, charities and communities across Kent and Medway. Christina enjoys the theatre, long dog walks in the countryside and holidays in Greece.   

christina@bowdenpr.co.uk

Joanne Brown

Grants Officer

After completing a combined degree in History & Religious Studies in 2010, Joanne took a variety of short-term jobs in the retail sector. During that time, she indulged her love of the written word by volunteering at the Ashford branch of Healthy Planet’s ‘Books For Free’ Centres. Her time here (so she claims) is entirely responsible for the fact that she cannot walk a foot through her house without tripping over a book. Jo completed an NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration as part of her apprenticeship with Kent Community Foundation, and is a much valued member of the team.

joanne@kentcf.org.uk 

Grace Thackray Lewington

Grants Officer

Grace has recently moved back to Kent, after living in West Yorkshire whilst completing her Undergraduate Degree in Sociology. As she comes to the end of her MSc by Research in Sociology and previous experience in the retail sector, she has joined the team to work in the charity sector and start her professional career. Outside of work Grace enjoys spending time with her partner and ticking things off of her activity bucket list.

grace@kentcf.org.uk

Georgie MacFarlan

Individuals' Grants Officer

Georgie moved back to Kent in 2004 after working in London for the British Heart Foundation and working and travelling abroad. She then worked for Westwood Global Energy Group for 13 years in various roles including Publications Manager. More recently, at Kent Coast Volunteering, she has spent five years on projects funded by Stronger Kent Communities, the Centre for Ageing Better and Tudor Trust and aims to use knowledge gained on the Kent charity sector in her role with KCF; looking after Individuals’ Grants which offer support to individuals and families in need.   

georgie@kentcf.org.uk

Melanie Venning

Bookkeeper

Melanie moved to Kent in 1989 and worked for Maidstone-based accountants Day, Smith and Hunter until 1998 when she left to start a family. After a short career break to concentrate on her two young children, Melanie set up her own book-keeping business in 2005. She is now busier than ever! Kent Community Foundation has been one of her clients since 2008, where she feels very much part of the team. Melanie is responsible for the day to day running of the accounting systems for the office and the charitable funds.

melanie@kentcf.org.uk

Kathryn Amey

Grants Administrator

Kathy has spent all her working life in Kent the majority of the time in the Arts and Culture sector. After finishing her studies in Business & Marketing, she joined an Arts production company touring European children’s theatre and international opera to major venues across the UK. After spending some years in market research within the UK Hospital sector she returned to the arts as a Business Development Manager for a company providing specialist fine art packing services to the UK’s leading Museums, Galleries and Private Collections. The effect of the pandemic led her to a move to the charity sector joining KCF in 2021.

Outside of work, Kathy loves the outdoors and is happiest gardening and enjoying the Kent countryside with her partner and beloved dog Bow.

kathryn@kentcf.org.uk

Paul Carty

Grants Administrator

Paul has been based in Kent since 1984 and comes from a background in financial technology solutions. A large part of his career has been spent working in South East Asia and the Gulf Region as well as nearer to home in Europe and London. Commencing work with KCF in early 2020 during the COVID pandemic, Paul loves working closer to home and helping to make a difference to our local communities in Kent. Away from the office, Paul enjoys walking, food and investigating the rich local history of Kent

paul@kentcf.org.uk 

Jan O’Donnell

Office Manager

Originally from Lancashire, Jan has spent the last 21 years living in Hythe, Kent where she has raised a family while working in various sectors, in roles which required good organisational and communication skills. Having found her voluntary roles more rewarding, Jan was looking for a more fulfilling career and after a brief spell in education, came to Kent Community Foundation.

jan@kentcf.org.uk