Interview with Peter Waterman about the setting up of Milton Keynes Community Foundation - 2011

Peter became head of Social Development at MKDC in 1972. The MK Master Plan stated: ‘the social aspects of the plan are as important as the physical aspects’. Social Development Dept. (SD) was the executive body to guide the development of new organisations to meet local social needs. Local councils (County and UDC) did not see the need for setting up and grant-aiding voluntary organisations in a large, rapidly growing urban population, but from 1976, Government & GLC priorities on housing changed and MKDC was pressured to take more disadvantaged people; and therefore create more voluntary organisations to meet their needs. Stephen Little, Chair of the Council of Voluntary Organisations (CVO) proposed to Peter in 1979 the idea of transferring SD’s functions to a Community Trust, based on Wolfenden Report recommendations for creation of intermediate bodies between the voluntary sector and local authorities.

Peter records the development of these proposals by a 1980 Working Party. MK lacked endowment funding which was normally available in established towns; so MKDC accepted in 1984 the proposals for a payroll- giving scheme (a USA idea in origin) and Community Trust. Policies and strategies were approved in 1986 by the Home Office as one of the first ‘pilot’ Trusts, with £25k funding for three years. Peter recounts the Trust’s development by its steering committee and subsequently its Trustees, including Tim Hill, John Horlock, Luing Cowley and Allen Duff. A grant fund was created by the Council and MKDC, totalling £4k, for projects in the area of disability ,in 1988. The payroll scheme, however, failed. Peter notes his difficulty that once the Trust was set up, some MKDC Board members felt that SD should not be involved with it. Asked what he felt his greatest achievement was, he says: I was very proud to be the co-ordinator of the establishment of Community Trust – but it was such a great team. I’m proud of what we did’. He pays tribute to all the people involved in the development from 1978 to 1985 and all those voluntary sector workers. Attending the recent 25th birthday of the MK Community Foundation, he felt very pleased that MKCF has attracted very good staff and has a huge amount of support: ‘ it was great to… be there at that occasion’.