21 January 2000

Barrister to Chair Charities Board in Wales

Barrister Elisabeth Watkins is the new Chairman of the National Lottery Charities Board in Wales. She has been a member of the Charities Board and its Wales and International Committees since 1997. As of January 2000, she succeeds Tom Jones OBE in the Chair of the Wales Committee.

After holding high-profile positions abroad, Elisabeth Watkins returned to the UK in 1993. She is a Special Immigration Adjudicator and was, between 1996 and 1998, a part-time chairman of the Social Security Tribunal.

A fluent Welsh speaker, Mrs Watkins (nee Arfon-Jones) was born in Cardiff and now lives with her husband, Brian, and daughter, Caroline, in Chepstow. She was educated at Bryn Taf, Rhiwbina and Llanbadarn primary schools; Ardwyn Grammar School, Aberystwyth; Grove Park Girls' Grammar School, Wrexham; and received a Diploma in French Literature from the Sorbonne, Paris in 1968. In 1971 she graduated from University College London and was called to the Bar in 1972 by Gray’s Inn, where she was a William Shaw Scholar.

Speaking of her new appointment, she said "This is an exciting time to be Chairman of the Charities Board in Wales. In the new Millennium, and with a Welsh Assembly focusing closely on issues of disadvantage in Wales, I expect to witness a new period of ideas and growth in the voluntary sector. The solid foundations laid by the out-going Chairman Tom Jones, the excellent work by the office in Newtown, as well as the support and feedback from the voluntary sector gives me every reason to look forward to an exciting era for the Charities Board in Wales. I plan to build on Tom’s and the team’s achievements by ensuring that the Charities Board continues to develop its distinct role in public and community life in Wales."

Mrs Watkins’ international experience includes spending several years in Bermuda where, after a distinguished career as Crown Counsel, she was appointed Registrar of the Supreme Court and Registrar of the Court of Appeal. Accompanying her husband on his postings as British Consul General and later High Commissioner, Mrs Watkins moved to Pakistan, Canada and Swaziland working for voluntary organisations in each country including chairing the International Committee of the British Columbia Red Cross and as founding chairman of the Swaziland Hospice at Home.

Her UK voluntary activities include the following appointments:

• A Lay Chairman of the NHS Wales Complaints Procedure since 1995
• a Member of the Charities Board since 1997
• a Member of the ministerial advisory group on the Department of Culture Media and Sport Active Community Initiative since 1999
• Hon. Secretary of the association of Women Barristers since 1999
• a Member to the Ethics Committee of St. Thomas Hospital, London and Chairman of interview panels for the appointment of consultants at St Thomas

Her interests include the performing arts, travelling and skiing.

Notes to Editors

1. For media enquiries, photographs or to arrange a profile interview please call Hanna or Myrddin on 01286 675221.
2. The National Lottery Charities Board is an independent body set up by Parliament to distribute funds to support charitable, benevolent and philanthropic organisations. There are 17 Board members, including the Chair. Decisions on grants are made by the members in grant-making committees for Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole.
3. The Charities Board’s two main grant programmes: Community involvement and Poverty and disadvantage as well as Small grants are assessed by the Wales Committee. Board Members in Wales are Elisabeth Watkins (Chairman), Tom Jones and Jeff Carroll. Co-opted Members to the Board are Margaret Dennis, Aled Siôn and Dr Glyn Williams.
4. The Board’s main aim is to give grants to help meet the needs of those at greatest disadvantage in society and to improve the quality of life in the community.
5. Since October 1995, the National Lottery Charities Board, under the main grants, has awarded over £79 million to 891 groups in Wales. Over £3.5 million has been awarded to 1517 groups under the Small grants scheme. This brings the total distributed in Wales, over five years, to over £83 million.

Note to Designers

1. The National Lottery Charities Board logo is the circular logo that appears on this press release. (The "crossed finger" logo is a trade mark for the National Lottery is therefore not for the Charities Board use.)