A message from the new Chair

I am honoured and delighted to be appointed as the new Chair of Trustees of Forest Holme Hospice Charity. I have been a Trustee since September 2018 and Vice Chair since September 2021. I would like to give a big thank you to Stephen who has stepped down as Chair at the end of his term of appointment. ‘Thank you’ is not big enough to recognise his huge contribution to Forest Holme since its inception thirty years ago. I have big boots to fill, and I will do my best to continue his legacy. I wish Stephen and Maureen the very best in the future.

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 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 Charity. They give their time and energy to raise money and we are very grateful for their continuing support especially after the last couple of years when we have all struggled with the impact of covid. A big thank you to all of them for their loyalty.

Our aim is to be an excellent employer in the third sector. We intend to grow and develop our fundraising team who have worked very hard to maintain our income. It is thanks to them, and all our supporters, that we are in a stable 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

the environment for patients and families. I hope, with the support of Anne and the Board, to ensure the prudent use of funds, to provide good governance so everyone has confidence in the Charity and to continuously improve the end of life experience for everyone Forest Holme cares for.

I wish you all a very happy Spring and Summer and the chance to rest and relax in the sun.

With best wishes,

Angie Smith