DEVIZES based charity Community First has announced that Lynn Gibson has taken over the role of chief executive after Philippa Read stepped down at the end of May.

Mrs Read retired last month, after eight years in the role and 23 years at the community development charity. Mrs Gibson stepped into the new position on June 1.

She joined the organisation in 2008 taking on the role as assistant chief executive to oversee the merger of Youth Action Wiltshire.

Since that time Youth Action Wiltshire has gone from strength to strength with Mrs Gibson developing the charity in other areas including tackling financial inclusion, improving health and supporting older people.

She said: “I am delighted and proud to have an opportunity to lead such a fantastic charity, one that I believe in and which does such great work locally. I want to thank the committed group of trustees at Community First who have shown faith in me to lead at this important time."

Trustee chairman, Dr Martin Hamer, said: “We were all delighted that Lynn has accepted this role. We are confident that she can build on and develop all the resources of Community First to the benefit of the many diverse and disparate groups that we serve”.

For more information about Community First go to www.communityfirst.org.uk/