Meet the Team

The Research Team at the Directory of Social Change (DSC)

The Research Team at the Directory of Social Change (DSC) The Research Team at the Directory of Social Change (DSC) The Research Team at the Directory of Social Change (DSC) The Research Team at the Directory of Social Change (DSC)

Our team of eight researchers source, edit and publish all of the information available across DSC’s family of funding websites: trustfunding.org.uk, governmentfunding.org.uk, companygiving.org.uk and grantsforindividuals.org.uk. This includes details on funders, independent grant administrators, companies, funding programmes, community involvement and in kind support, employee led support, commentary on funding policy and practices and news items of relevance to our subscribers.

Their work involves a significant amount of direct contact with funders through emails and telephone calls as well as major surveys, which means they are able to provide the up-to-date and unique information that is most relevant to fundraisers. It's this approach that enables us to provide information such as application rates and awards figures - vital information that you will only find on DSC funding websites.

All of our researchers have strong research backgrounds, as well as a wide range of voluntary sector experience, and many of them have direct experience of applying for and securing funding which gives them a really clear and practical understanding of the challenges our subscribers face in looking for funds. For more on the specific roles, interests and specialist areas of our researchers, see their profiles below.

Ben Wittenberg, Director of Policy, Research and Publishing

I Joined DSC in July 2003 and my current role involves leading the strategic development of DSC's policy and campaigning activity and publishing, including research and development of DSC’s funding websites.

I write regularly on issues affecting the wider voluntary sector, with a particular interest in the impact of policy on smaller and medium sized organisations, and the independence of charities.

Tom Traynor, Research Project Manager

I joined DSC in October 2001. My responsibilities include managing DSC’s trusts and companies research schedule, major trusts research, line management within the research team and managing the content of trustfunding.org.uk, grantsforindividuals.org.uk and companygiving.org.uk

During my time at DSC I have researched, authored and co-authored every publication produced by DSC’s research team, including The Directory of Grant-Making Trusts, The Guide to UK Company Giving, The Educational Grants Directory, The Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need and The Sports Funding Guide.

My main areas of expertise are grant-making by large trusts and foundations and data analysis, and I was the lead researcher and author of The Guide to the Major Trusts Volume 1 and The Funders’ Almanac.

Denise Lillya, Senior Researcher

I Joined DSC in October 2006 and my main duties include research for DSC’s subscription websites and writing various publications. I am the author of Youth Funding Guide, Environment Funding Guide and The Guide to UK Company Giving. I am the co-author of the Sports Funding Guide and have contributed to various other publications.

My other responsibilities include recruitment and selection of research staff, including volunteers and work placement students who I supervise. I volunteer for almost anything including being a mentor for trustees from the BME sector; attending conferences and fairs to keep in touch with our customers and promoting DSC’s services; and keeping up to date with charity legislation.

Jay Kennedy, Head of Policy

I have worked for DSC since 2003 and am responsible for DSC’s policy and campaigns work, including the Great Giving campaign www.dsc.org.uk/greatgiving. I write policy briefings and reports, consultation responses, speeches, media articles, and content for DSC e-news and the DSC website. I am the main liaison with other organisations and networks on policy matters, handle much of DSC’s media work, and coordinate policy and campaigns-related research.

I am the author of Critical Conditions, a report on grant terms and conditions; a chapter on Government Funding in the Complete Fundraising Handbook; and a co-author of the Funders’ Almanac. Previously I managed governmentfunding.org.uk.

Sarah Johnston, Senior Researcher

I joined DSC in August 2006. My main responsibilities include researching and writing DSC’s fundraising publications and updating information for the subscription websites grantsforindividuals.org.uk and trustfunding.org.uk.

I am the author of the Government Funding Guide and I have led research, authored and co-authored the following guides and reports: A Guide to Local Trusts in the Midlands, Directory of Grant Making Trusts, Guide to the Major Trusts Volume 2, The Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need, The Educational Grants Directory and a report on Public Benefit and Fee-Charging Hospitals.

My research interests are focused around arts funding and policy and the relationship between the Government and the VCS. I also act as the main point of contact for events in the North.

Jess Carver, Researcher

I am a Researcher in the Liverpool-based Policy and Research department and have been working for DSC since June 2008.

I have co-authored for the Educational Grants Directory 2009/10 and Major Trusts publications 2010/11. I have also contributed to a number of specialist guides, including the Youth Funding Guide, the Environment Guide and the Government Funding Guide.

I now work in the governmentfunding.org.uk team and am the main point of contact for Central Government funding.

Catriona Chronnell, Researcher

I work for DSCs policy and research department as a researcher for the fundraising publications and subscription websites - trustfunding.org.uk and grantsforindividuals.org.uk.

Since joining the organisation in 2008 I have co-authored the Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need, Major Trusts Volume 1 and Volume 2, the Directory of Grant Making Trusts and the Educational Grants Directory.

I am also the main point of contact for European funding on governmentfunding.org.uk.

Anna Adams, Senior Researcher

I joined DSC in October 2007. Main duties include conducting ongoing research, maintaining information for governmentfunding.org.uk and publishing news on the site. This involves rating funders and updating the local, central, regional and European sections as well as the general help and advice information that the site provides.

I have also been involved in research projects contributing to DSC’s Great Giving Campaign and have written government funding related chapters for various DSC publications.