By Isle of Wight Observer
Wendy Miller, Storeroom 2010’s administrator/funding co-ordinator, retired at the end of March.
Since its inception in July 2010, Wendy has been employed by the charity, which she was instrumental in setting up, and, together with husband, Nick, has worked tirelessly to make the furniture re-use service the success it is today.
During Wendy’s 15 years she has been the driving force in the office, initially on her own, until the charity could afford to employ staff to assist when she trained as a fund-raiser. She has relentlessly applied to funders locally and nationally for grants, with more than 400 bids made, raising more than £750,000 to take Storeroom forward from a run-down shed in Medina Yard to the bright and modern premises it occupies today on the Somerton estate in Northwood.
On behalf of Storeroom, Wendy has also set up two additional successful community projects. Storeroom Education, which provided skills gap training to 678 students over a 4-year period, enabling them to gain qualifications, and helping many find meaningful employment. More recently, the popular Cowes Men’s Shed project, with Wendy’s tenaciousness gained substantial grants and is now in its seventh year and still going strong.
Nick Miller, CEO of Storeroom2010, and Wendy’s husband, said: “Wendy’s retirement has left a hole that will be difficult to patch up, not only for her funding successes over the years, but also for her outgoing and optimistic personality. She will be missed by all!”
