Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Virginia Lloyd, announced as ambassador for Hebden Bridge based CIC ‘Ask The Question’
Hebden Bridge based community interest company ‘Ask The Question’ (ATQ) have announced Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, and former High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, Virginia Lloyd, as one of their first ambassadors.
‘Ask The Question’, set up in 2017 as a community interest company, aims to improve the educational outcomes of children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, and allows parents and businesses to ‘donate a lesson’ to enable a local, vulnerable child to access high quality tutoring sessions. The fund has already benefited around 80 children, the majority of which have been in local authority care, granting them the opportunity to enjoy a lesson on whatever subject or topic they feel they need a little extra help or support with.
Mrs Lloyd left school aged 16 to work in the family textile business, but returned to education in her twenties before completing a Law degree at the Leeds College of Law and qualifying as a solicitor in 1987. In 1990, along with her husband Clive, she co-founded Design & Display Limited, a specialist manufacturing business that today employs over 85 staff in its Elland factory.
Virginia’s main passion outside work are her children Freddie and Izzy, and she spends a great deal of time on her charitable interests. A music fanatic, she is a Patron of Opera North. She is also a Trustee of the Henry Watkinson Trust, a Luddenden Valley charity, providing funds to local educational initiatives. Virginia is also very much involved with the visual arts and is a Patron of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Hepworth Gallery and West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Virginia was High Sheriff of West Yorkshire in 2013/2014 and is now on the High Sheriffs Association Council. In January 2014 she became a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and is President of the RNLI Leeds Business Branch. She was appointed to the Council of Huddersfield University in January 2015.
In her role as ambassador to ATQ, Virginia will be facilitating a connection between ATQ and Huddersfield University, whilst also providing students with mentorship opportunities.
Virginia Lloyd DL said, “I am delighted to become an ambassador for this local community interest company. Ensuring that every child in Calderdale, regardless of circumstance, is able to reach their potential and achieve the best educational outcome they possibly can is a real passion of mine.”
Jo Austin, founder of ATQ, said, “We are thrilled that Mrs Lloyd will be joining our team as an ambassador. As a local business owner and as a Deputy Lieutenant, she will provide our students with the very best support and act as an excellent role model.”