Trustees’ Week

Unless you work or volunteer at our hospice you may not realise that everything we do, and all that we stand for, is overseen by a group of experienced and dedicated people who make up our board of trustees.

This Trustees’ Week, we’d like you to join us all in extending grateful thanks to the people who give up their own time for free to make sure that all the legal and operational processes, necessary for the running of our services, run smoothly.

We don’t tend to shout out to the wider world about their contribution to our hospice, mainly because they encourage us to give all the credit to the people who deliver our specialist care and support services and to our whole Wirral community who make it possible.

Working in collaboration with Helen Brown, Wirral Hospice’s chief executive, along with the rest of our senior leadership team (SLT), our  trustees have a statutory duty to be a ‘critical friend’ to the hospice, analysing, questioning and, once agreement is reached, supporting the whole team to deliver hospice care and support services to a level people can be extremely proud of.

There are four full board meetings every year, once a quarter, to check progress against budgets and strategic objectives, scrutinise data, and review updated policies. Their expertise is also called upon at two strategy-building away days where, again, sitting with the SLT, minds will be focused on setting a vision for further years ahead.

There is an awful lot of paperwork and data to read before meetings; the job of a trustee is so much more than being available for meetings. Each trustee has further responsibilities to chair / attend other sub-committees, and to oversee governance in the following areas:

• Clinical & Medical: patient care and support services for patients, families and loved ones
• Workforce: human resources matters, volunteer services, learning and development
• Finance & Infrastructure: finances, IT, catering, domestics and facilities services
• Income Generation & Marketing: retail, lottery, donations, events & companies, communications

So, please can you join us all in saying a grateful thanks to them all. With their direction and support, Wirral Hospice is in a really good position to serve our community.

Many thanks again to our trusted trustees from everyone involved with our hospice!

Tim is chair of our board of trustees, here’s what he has to share about his role:

“I became involved with Wirral Hospice through a friend whose uncle was a trustee. Initially I was in an ambassador role and helped to develop a growth strategy for the hospice’s charity shops. My career had always been in retail, so it made sense for me to do that.

As time went on, I became more involved in the wider work of our hospice and joined the board of trustees. When the chair at the time retired, I was successful in being appointed as the successor.

My role as chair of Wirral Hospice’s trustee board is challenging and rewarding. Being part of a team that supports and provides such fantastic care is a real privilege. Things are always evolving but knowing that I am, with my fellow trustees and our senior leadership team, helping to make the hospice sustainable and resilient for the future gives me an immense sense of pride.

In my spare time I’m a keen gardener, I enjoy walking my dog Tilly with my wife Sheila and – dare I say it – I am a long-time supporter of Tranmere Rovers.”

Julie is our treasurer trustee, here’s what she shares about her role:

“Having experienced ill health myself, I developed a real appreciation for the support and compassion that charities provide to individuals and families during difficult times.

When I saw the opportunity to become a trustee with Wirral Hospice St John’s, I was keen to give something back and contribute to a highly respected local charity that makes such a positive difference in our community.

I find it incredibly rewarding to see the enormous impact the hospice has for our patients, families, and wider Wirral community. I also value the opportunity to contribute to the hospice’s strategic direction, offering support and guidance to help ensure it continues to be sustainable and provide outstanding care for those who need it.”

Lyn is one of our trustees, here’s what she shares about her role:

“When I returned to the Wirral, I wanted to be involved with the local community. I knew of Wirral Hospice St John’s reputation and the care and support it gives to the Wirral patients and their families.

On joining the board, I was welcomed straight away and quickly realised what a privilege it is to be able to support and be part of the team. Along with fellow trustees and the senior leadership team, I contribute to the overall strategy and decisions the hospice makes to ensure it is sustainable and adapts to the evolving needs of our local community.

As a trustee, I am encouraged to be inquisitive often asking the ‘stupid question’. The team work together to ensure that we all understand the background and future benefits of all the decisions we make. We work closely to make sure our actions meet the legal and moral responsibilities of a running a charity, and most importantly appreciate our staff and volunteers.

Like many others I have had firsthand experience of the hospice caring for a loved one. I am, and will always be, struck by the staff and volunteers’ kindness and dedication. I truly believe that the role of a trustee has given me far more than I have contributed. It has made me be a better person.”

Jenny is one of our trustees, here’s what she shares about her role:

“I first learned about the incredible work of Wirral Hospice St John’s during lockdown when I lost a family member. Once you understand what a hospice does for patients and their loved ones, it’s hard not to want to get involved.

As a lawyer, I was also impressed by the hospice’s strong governance. I wanted to contribute my professional skills and experience to an organisation that makes such a meaningful difference to our local community.

What I love about our hospice is that, despite the difficult circumstances people face, it is such a happy place. It is full of meaning, compassion, and kindness. The staff and volunteers are incredibly passionate, humble and dedicated. Their commitment is inspiring.

The hospice also gives me perspective and a healthy reminder on what matters in life.

I also think it’s important to raise awareness that (although the hospice receives some NHS funding), it relies heavily on the generosity of the local community to fund its running costs.

Supporting our local hospice is something we can all play a part in and I’m proud to play a small part. In fact, I’ve even signed up to an overseas challenge event next year to personally help to raise funds for its incredible care.”

Lee is one of our trustees, and shares his story:

“I was born and grew up on the Wirral, and my mum received utterly brilliant care at the hospice in the final weeks of her life in 2007.

Although I no longer live locally, my family and I have always kept in touch with the hospice, and donated through playing the lottery and organising fundraising events.

Once I felt I had enough experience and the right skills, through working for a charity and being a school governor and trustee, I wanted to take the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of an organisation that looked after my mum, and my family, at the most difficult time one could imagine, by applying to be a trustee.

I get the satisfaction of knowing that I am contributing to the continued success of the hospice. I am using my knowledge and skills to help ensure patients and families today receive the same committed, thoughtful, and loving care that my mum, my family and I did nearly 20 years ago. And that the hospice is in a position to sustainably provide such care for years to come.

Unfortunately, we all have to die. The people of the Wirral deserve to die well, when the circumstances are such that they need end of life care. It is a great comfort to me that our hospice continues to be one of the very best at ensuring dignity and respect at the end of our patients’ lives.

I now live in Leicestershire, which is where my wife is from, and have now lived away from the Wirral for as long as I lived there. I’ve still got my accent though, even if my kids haven’t. And Birkenhead will always be ‘home’.”

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You can find out more about our trustees’ backgrounds and the strengths they each bring to our core mission, to put patients and their families at the heart of all we do, at this link:

www.wirralhospice.org/trustees