Barchester’s Charitable Foundation has appointed Shannon Cullen as a new trustee to its board.

Cullen joined Barchester in May 2021 as head of lifestyle and enrichment at Queens Manor in Edinburgh and was promoted to her current role of senior head of lifestyle & enrichment in August of the same year.

The charity provides grants to improve mobility and quality of life, and each year distributes over £150,000 to individuals, small community groups and charities across England, Scotland and Wales. 

During Cullen’s time at Queens Manor, she has supported and led local community initiatives and been at the forefront of a number of projects aimed at enhancing community engagement within the Edinburgh area, which benefit both the residents and staff at Queens Manor and the wider community.

“I have always had a strong interest in helping others,” Cullen said. “From a young age, I volunteered at the local primary school, I was a member of my town’s Christmas campaign, then I was on my high school’s volunteering board before going on to represent the school in the Youth Philanthropy Initiative.

“As I have always helped and volunteered in my local area, I believe that being part of the Barchester Charitable Foundation as a Trustee is a great next step for me, not only will I be helping people locally – I will also be assisting in a larger geographical area and truly helping enrich the lives of those in need.”

Dr Pete Calveley, chairman of Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, added:  “We are delighted to welcome Shannon onto the Barchester Foundation board. We are excited to work with her and we are certain that her experience within social care and the community will be extremely beneficial.”