Karen Hobson - Investment Manager

Growing up in one of the worst areas for deprivation in the Midlands, Karen has personal experience of how community support and positive values can transform lives.
After graduating in Applied Social Studies at the University of Huddersfield, she worked in numerous roles as a Community Development Worker and at UnLtd before joining a charity – DanceSyndrome – supporting individuals with learning and physical disabilities to improve their life chances. She helped it grow to the next level. Following this, Karen went on to manage a town centre partnership. She feels particularly proud of the transformational work of DanceSyndrome and her previous roles gave Karen significant experience on the ground in community development, grant making, and managing third sector organisations.
Karen joined Key Fund in June 2018. Her background supporting social entrepreneurs and charities to improve capacity and growth, matched with her strong values, make her a natural fit. She is committed to creating social impact through all she does, even in the smallest of ways.
Family has always been her compass in life, growing up as one of five siblings and as a twin – now with her own young family. Knowing how supportive, caring structures can really make a life-changing difference, her mission is to make all who she works with to feel part of a family.
As investment manager, she covers central Yorkshire and the Humber.