The Shackleton Foundation, the charity which supports social entrepreneurs in Sir Ernest Shackleton’s mould, has appointed Stephanie Wheen, a former grant beneficiary to join its Board of Trustees it has announced today (28th June 2024).
Stephanie Wheen is a highly specialized paediatric physiotherapist based in Bristol. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she founded Gympanzees in 2016, a multi-award-winning charity that provides services for disabled children and young people. Stephanie’s vision was to address the lack of accessible leisure facilities for her clients, who needed exercise and play opportunities.
Gympanzees has grown from an idea, to create inclusive spaces where children with disabilities can engage in physical activities, to the recent purchase of a 43,000 sqft building and the launch of a multi-million-pound capital appeal. Gympanzees has won a host of awards, including a Queen’s Award for Innovation, and Stephanie has recently won a Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award, one of only two awarded in Bristol.
Commenting on the appointment, Charlotte Hatfield, the Shackleton Foundation’s Chair said “Since we introduced Leader Trustees to the Foundation’s Board we have benefited immeasurably from having their experience, knowledge and strategic insight around the table. We are delighted to welcome Steph Wheen who has been a valuable member of our Leader community since 2018 and will contribute even more as part of the Shackleton Foundation Board.”
Founded in 2007 by the descendants of the original Nimrod expedition the charity celebrates the legacy of the great man in a 21st century context. The Shackleton Foundation, provides seed funding and support to early-stage social ventures with a primary focus on benefiting young people in the UK. Since our inception in 2007, we have empowered over 60 leaders to make a substantial impact in their communities, with innovative projects that make a positive impact to the lives of disadvantaged young people.