Quartet Community Foundation is delighted to extend its warmest wishes to Sue Mountstevens who has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

The honour recognises Sue’s services to the community in her previous role as Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Avon & Somerset. As an Independent PCC for nine years, Sue championed the voice of the victim, particularly in cases of violence against women and children.

Sue Mountstevens became Chair of Quartet Community Foundation (Quartet) in March 2020 and has continued to lead the organisation through a period of exceptional growth. Quartet is doing more than ever to inspire philanthropy in the West of England and to grow an enduring endowment fund that allows it to meet local needs and aspirations, now and for the future.

Suzanne Rolt, CEO of Quartet, led the congratulations on behalf of the Board and staff team, saying: “This is a wonderful achievement for Sue personally, and for her team. We’re all so pleased that her work has been recognised in this way.”

In her final year as PCC, Sue Mountstevens was invited to become the Chair of Quartet Community Foundation. When Sue became Chair, the Covid pandemic had just struck. She steered Quartet, working through its Board and executive team, to respond rapidly and on a significant scale. Her steady and caring leadership style provided a supportive environment that allowed Quartet to do so much, reflecting her experience gained as Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset.

Since Sue Mountstevens joined as Chair in March 2020, Quartet has been exceptionally busy. Between April 2020-March 2021 Quartet Community Foundation awarded 930 grants worth a record-breaking £5.2m to support community activities.

These 930 projects funded through Quartet during Sue’s first year as Chair supported over 590,000 people in Bristol, B&NES, North Somerset and South Glos. This includes hungry families, people needing mental health support due to the pressures of the pandemic and isolated children.

Through the generosity of its fundholders, Quartet Community Foundation’s Endowment Fund hit £60m in 2021. This money is invested to benefit local communities.