The Wiveliscombe Area Partnership (WAP) was formed in 2000 with the aim of improving the general and economic well being of all people in the designated area.

WAP was set up as a 'not-for-profit' company limited by guarantee. Its role has been for the most part as an enabling body for Wiveliscombe and its surrounding area, acting strategically whilst providing specific services delivered out of the Community Office for which it is part funded through Service Level Agreements (SLAs) by District and Parish Councils. In 2010, WAP was awarded full charitable status (Registered Charity No. 1132983).

WAP is managed by a group of executive partners, representatives of the Community as a whole. The Community Office and Wivey Link Community Transport are managed and supported by two part-time staff and a team of local volunteer drivers. The Community Office also receives further back-up from a team of volunteer reception/administration staff as the need arises.

The current serving members of the WAP executive are shown below with a brief summary of their backgrounds:

John Harris - Chair

John's main role within WAP is as Chairman of the Executive Committee and CEO which means he is directly responsible for the operational side of the organisation, principally the Services delivered from the Community Office and Wivey Link community transport.

John's background is from business and for most of his working life has owned and run a number of companies in both the service and manufacturing sectors. He has travelled extensively over the years mostly as part of his work but is now officially retired and lives on the outskirts of Fitzhead with his wife Yvette who also acts as a volunteer for WAP, managing its day-to-day accounting activities. John has been and remains extensively involved with a number of outside agencies with which WAP interacts such as Taunton Deane Borough Council and sitting on the Spatial Planning Working Group which advises them on the Core strategy.

Edward Bloxham FCCA; FBMI - Finance Director

Edward, a permanent resident in the area since 2003, is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and also a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

His professional career included time working in the food industry where he held positions in corporate planning and corporate accounting; followed by twelve years in academic book and journal publishing first as Chief Accountant for a UK publisher and subsequently as Finance Director of the UK operation of a US Fortune 500 company. This was followed by a move into the insurance industry where, after a brief period as a senior financial manager with the Corporation of Lloyd's of London he took up the position of Finance Director with a Lloyd's underwriting agency where, after two years, he was promoted to the position of Chief Executive. A move to a larger organisation within the Lloyd's Market as Group Chief Executive followed and it was from this position that he took early retirement in 1998. Following his retirement he acted as a freelance consultant until his move to the Wiveliscombe area in 2003.

His interests include music, particularly opera, travel and motor sport.

Pauline Homeshaw MBE

A Wiveliscombe resident for 22 years, Pauline has a sales and editorial background. She is Chair of the Wiveliscombe Civic Society and also sits on the editorial committee of the Wiveliscombe Messenger and is a presenter on community radio station 10Radio. She is county publicity officer for a SSAFA Forces Help and PCC Secretary for St Andrew's Church. She is Trustee of the Wiveliscombe Town Hall Trust and also runs the biennial 10 Parishes Festival, a celebration of the arts and crafts so prevalent in the 10 Parishes area. Pauline loves theatre and books and she and her husband Bob have a huge interest in gardening.

Eddie Gaines

Eddie Gaines is a director and presenter on 10 Radio, a member of the Wiveliscombe Rotary Club and known to many through his many volunteering activities with the local scout group. He is also chair of the local film society Cinema Obscura . Eddie works in supporting job seekers and employers and also trains older people in using computers & laptops for the first time. Eddie has served the community for three years on Taunton Deane as an Independent - successfully challenging plans to charge for parking in Wiveliscombe. He was an original member of the Wiveliscombe Business group initially set up in the mid 1990's to support the local economy.

Mary Whitmarsh

A former teacher, who brought up her family in Wiveliscombe and ran a small holding for many years specialising in rare breed sheep and poultry. A Parish Councillor since 1978, as Chair led the scheme to give Wiveliscombe a central heart by creating The Square as a focal point in the town. Helped in the creation of Croft Way as a by-pass to the centre of the town and the opening of Croft Way car park. At one time led the Cub Scouts, served on the Recreation Ground Committee and was very involved in the start of the Twinning Association, chairing it for almost 20 years.

Served as Chair of the Community Centre for many years and more recently, kept an eye on the Jubilee Gardens for the Parish Council. A former Mayor of Taunton Deane, served 16 years as an Independent Taunton Deane Borough Councillor.

Currently Chair of the Children's Centre Advisory board and Chair of The Home Furniture Services Trust, providing furniture and white goods to people in need as well as a permanent member of The Taunton Heritage Trust.

Mary has an abiding interest in Wiveliscombe and the surrounding countryside for which she has worked since 1970

Linda Featherstone

Linda has lived in the area for the past 25 years and has been the public face of the Wiveliscombe Community Office for the past 6 years. Initially with a background in merchant banking and stock broking, she then ran her own business until joining the Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton as Facilities Manager from 1993 to 2005. Through her interest in riding she was the Area Rights of Way Officer for the British Horse Society for 10 years. She is a School Governor at Cotford St Luke Primary School

John Bone

Proprietor of Hurstone House, a self catering country house and Hurstone Studios, home to a group of contemporary artists and craftspeople. John has lived and worked at Waterrow since 1965, his interests are Heritage, Conservation, The Arts and Community Issues, particularly those affecting young people. Currently Trustee & Chair of Wiveliscombe Town Hall Trust & Chair of Lister House Patient Participation Group

Roy Barfield

A resident of Wiveliscombe since 2008, having moved after 30 years from Berkshire and taking early retirement from a long and wide ranging career in the IT industry. Background includes project and line management in sales, support and customer service, for private and public sector contracts. Roy is a regular driver for Wivey Link with interests in travel, gardening, walking and DIY.

Wivey Link Office

In addition to the WAP Executive, the person responsible for running the day to day activities for Wivey Link is:

Jill Goodwin

Jill lives in Cotford St Luke and joined in 2010 as a part-time employee in the Community Office. She manages Wivey Link Community Transport bookings and the scheduling of the volunteer drivers. Her background has been in driving, scheduling and delivery of transport services within the Royal Navy where she has spent much of her career.