A message from the new Chair to manage those funds. The function of the Board of Trustees is to ensure governance of the funds, to authorise spend and to agree the strategic direction of the charity in line with our mission and values. We are very fortunate to have committed and talented Trustees who have volunteered to bring their own skills and knowledge to the Board. The Board has a key role in supporting the Chief Executive. I am interested in working with our volunteers who are the life blood of the I am honoured and delighted to be Charity. They give their time and energy appointed as the new Chair of Trustees of to raise money and we are very grateful Forest Holme Hospice Charity. I have been for their continuing support especially a Trustee since September 2018 and Vice after the last couple of years when we Chair since September 2021. I would like have all struggled with the impact of to give a big thank you to Stephen who covid. A big thank you to all of them for has stepped down as Chair at the end of their loyalty. his term of appointment. ‘Thank you’ is not big enough to recognise his huge Our aim is to be an excellent employer in contribution to Forest Holme since its the third sector. We intend to grow and inception thirty years ago. I have big boots develop our fundraising team who have to fill, and I will do my best to continue his worked very hard to maintain our income. legacy. I wish Stephen and Maureen the It is thanks to them, and all our very best in the future. supporters, that we are in a stable Before I retired my career was as a social worker working for the Local Authority and the NHS. When I became a Trustee, I felt I knew a lot about health and social care but very little about the business of running a charity – and it is a business. The business of the charity is to raise funds and to have the processes in place 18
financial position moving towards 2022/2023. Different ways of working, including working from home and a bigger online presence have proved a challenge and an opportunity for us all. What are my hopes for the future? I am pleased that we have plans for some refurbishment of the Hospice to improve
