Meet the team

In October 2025, Lord Brett McLean became the very first Honorary Patron of the Polegate Community Foundation. In this distinguished role, Lord McLean will serve as an ambassador for the Foundation, promoting its charitable aims, supporting community engagement initiatives, and helping to raise awareness and funds for local projects. His responsibilities also include offering strategic guidance, attending key events, and fostering partnerships that strengthen the Foundation’s work across Polegate and the wider East Sussex community. 

Lord Brett McLean is a distinguished business and community leader based in East Sussex, recognised for over 35 years of dedicated service across voluntary, professional, and entrepreneurial sectors. Holding over 30 community positions, he is committed to fostering economic growth, promoting ethical enterprise, and strengthening civic life.

Appointed a Platinum Champion by Her Majesty Queen Camilla (then HRH The Duchess of Cornwall) as part of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Lord Brett was honoured for his exceptional contribution to volunteering and community service. In this role, he actively promotes the work of volunteers across the United Kingdom and supports initiatives that enhance social value and inclusion.

As President of the Hastings Lions Club, he has helped deliver significant local impact, including facilitating a £50,000 donation to the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance for a new rapid response vehicle. A respected public figure, he regularly convenes cross-sector events uniting charitable, commercial, educational, and governmental partners.

Guided by his lifelong ethos “Prodesse Civibus” — to benefit my fellow citizens — Lord Brett continues to advocate for a fairer, greener, and more compassionate society. He is also the founder of MLC Funerals Ltd, established in tribute to his late parents and uncle.

A passionate fundraiser and community leader, Nathan Dunbar has dedicated his time, energy, and creativity to supporting a wide range of charitable causes—both locally and nationally. Over the years, his tireless efforts have generated more than £20,000 for good causes, and his unwavering commitment continues to make a meaningful difference to countless lives.

Nathan’s journey began with a simple yet powerful idea: to bring people together through creativity and kindness. After organising two hugely successful Polegate Scarecrow Festivals, he founded the Polegate Scarecrows Community Fund on 8th November 2019. His 2018 festival caught the attention of the Eastbourne Lions Club, who invited him to take part in their prestigious Young Ambassador of the 21st Century competition—a title he proudly won, securing sponsorship and recognition for his growing community project.

Since those early days, Nathan’s initiative has blossomed into a much-loved local tradition. The annual Polegate Scarecrow Festival has expanded far beyond its original borders, now reaching into Hampden Park, Willingdon, and Ratton, uniting neighbourhoods and inspiring hundreds of residents to get involved.

Always bursting with fresh ideas, Nathan constantly explores innovative ways to generate income for good causes offering supporters the chance to give back while also enriching their own community experience.

Nathan now oversees all aspects of income generation, service delivery, and daily operations for the organisation. His leadership, passion, and dedication continue to drive the Foundation forward proving that with imagination, teamwork, and heart, one person truly can spark lasting change.

As Nathan now takes a back seat so correspondence needs to be sent to -   events@polegatecommunityfoundation.org.uk

Our Head of Income Generation is responsible for overseeing all our income streams whether these are from direct donations or from monies received from supporters taking part in any of our fundraising methods. They also work very closely with our Service Delivery team to ensure we are covering all our outgoings when working towards our visions.

Our Head of Service Delivery is responsible for overseeing our work to ensure we are continuously achieving all three of our visions through our efforts and events. They also work very closely with our events team and our volunteers to empower the communities we support.

Our Events Team is responsible for ensuring we are constantly promoting our organisation, the communities and causes we support along with guaranteeing every event is a success. Every member of our organisation is a volunteer, but our event volunteers are at the heart of our team as they are the ones out and about in the public fundraising to support your local communities.