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Meet the team

Meet the team running The Health Lottery Foundation

The team running The Health Lottery Foundation bring a wealth of knowledge on how voluntary organisations are funded, coupled with a deep understanding of the complex legislative and regulatory requirements of the gambling sector.

Delva Patman FRICS ACIArb Chief Executive

Delva is a Chartered Surveyor and founder of Delva Patman Redler LLP. As well as starting and leading her own company, she has been a Board member and Chair of several charitable and public organisations for over 40 years, covering health, education, housing, community and the military. She has a deep appreciation of the impact funding can make to the voluntary and not-for-profit sectors. Delva is a focused, experienced leader and understands how to get things done. As CEO, she is the person ultimately responsible for how The Health Lottery is run and the grant process.

Donna Cook FCCA Director of Finance & Operations

Donna has worked within the charity sector for over 20 years and has a deep understanding of how voluntary organisations work. Coupled with 8 years in the leisure industry with 3 of those at Grosvenor Casino. She has experience in a broad range of charities focused on the arts, wellbeing and voluntary service as well as experience within the gambling sector.

Donna’s experience as Director of Finance and Administration at Dogs for Good together with her time as Group Financial Controller for the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) means she is well placed to lead a grant giving programme focused on health and wellbeing. Dogs for Good brings dogs and people with disabilities together focusing on building relationships to make life possible. RVS mobilises volunteers to support the NHS and is one of Britain’s largest volunteering organisations working in public health, social care and wellbeing. Donna’s background in the voluntary sector, with a strong track record of financial management brings structure and process to The Health Lottery Foundation’s finances and grant giving programme.

Deborah Roil Compliance Manager

Deborah has worked in the leisure, tourism and gaming sectors for more than 25 years, in business advisory, development, compliance and management roles. Since the 2000 White Paper for review of the gambling industry, Deborah has taken an active role advising clients about the changing regulatory environment. In this period she acted as Development Director for Aspers Casino, followed by roles in the establishment and management of Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds, most recently as Chair of the Compliance Committee.

Deborah established and managed the first ever Responsible Gambling Week in 2017. This campaign was on behalf of the Industry Group for Responsible Gambling, in partnership with specialist charities, GambleAware, GamCare and YGAM. She also led rebranding the campaign to Safer Gambling Week in 2020.

With significant sector experience, Deborah is responsible for managing the regulatory requirements of running a society lottery and grant giving programme.

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Delivering funds into the heart of communities.

Applications open later in 2025

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