What does a charity trustee do, and why are trustees important to Keychange?
Charity trustees are responsible for overseeing an organisation’s governance, strategy and financial sustainability, ensuring it remains focused on its charitable purpose and the people it serves.
At Keychange, our trustees play a vital role in guiding the organisation and helping us respond to the changing needs of those we support. Our eleven trustees bring a rich mix of knowledge, experience and perspectives that strengthen our organisation and help us deliver our mission of transforming lives through the power of community.
This Trustees’ Week, three of our trustees sat down with our Executive Assistant to the CEO and Board, Sarah, to discuss their roles, what inspires their commitment to Keychange and the perspectives they bring to the organisation.
Meet Glenda
What inspired you to become a trustee at Keychange?
I am inspired by Keychange’s faith basis, particularly the integration of faith-based principles in the care provided across the organisation’s communities. Supporting an organisation that takes a holistic approach to care by addressing the physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the individuals it serves is important to me.
Being part of an organisation that prioritises compassionate care and upholds strong ethical standards is also incredibly fulfilling. Additionally, the intersection of faith and care enables me to grow professionally and personally, whilst making a positive impact on the lives of individuals living across Keychange’s communities.
What experience do you bring to the Board?
I have been a qualified Registered Adult Nurse since 2002 and bring over 23 years’ experience in health and social care, working across both the third and private sectors. I have supported young adults with complex needs and older adults in health and social care settings.
As Director of Older People’s Services for The Salvation Army, I bring knowledge and a practical understanding of the challenges facing health and social care, as well as the changing needs of an ageing population. I am educated to Master’s level and have a particular interest in dementia studies.
What values and perspectives do you bring to the Board?
Alongside a real passion for social care, I bring a culture of transparency and accountability. I am also always thinking of ways we can improve the organisation and the quality of care we provide.
What do you find most rewarding about being a trustee?
Being able to contribute my skills, experience and passion for social care to further Keychange’s mission is incredibly rewarding. It’s great to be able to support the organisation in delivering high quality, compassionate care to those in need whilst upholding the values and principles that define Keychange. I envisage my role as one of stewardship and advocacy, ensuring that Keychange continues to thrive and make a positive difference in the lives of those it serves.
Meet Stefan
What inspires and motivates you about the work of Keychange?
Keychange places love for people at the heart of its work. Meeting community and staff members always lifts my spirits and reminds me of God’s love for people. Being involved with Keychange as it seeks to show that love and care in practical service is inspiring. It is a privilege to share in that work in a small way.
What experience do you bring to the Board?
I bring insights from a wide-ranging career that has focused on enhancing quality of care and how best to support staff. I have had the privilege of leading NHS organisations as a Board member as well as working with a wide variety of public sector organisations to improve ways of working. I was also a university lecturer specialising in helping people to develop skills and knowledge in organisational change.
I participate as a trustee with a number of Christian charities, giving me opportunities to share learning between them as they seek to honour Jesus Christ in their service.
What led you to become a trustee at Keychange?
When I left university many years ago, I joined the NHS. As a Christian, caring for others seemed an obvious choice for a career and it was a privilege, in particular, to support the care given to older people. This was a much-neglected service at the time.
As a senior manager working in a range of NHS organisations I focused on services for the elderly. I was aware that staying in hospital was not often in their best interests and so began a life-long concern to see improvement of care provision outside of hospital.
My later career took me into the field of organisational development with an interest in how people work with others to deliver excellent care. When invited to express an interest in serving as a Trustee for Keychange, it seemed an obvious fit for me.
What do you gain from being a trustee?
I chair the People Sub-Committee of the Keychange Board. This means I have the privilege to learn about, and support, a range of projects that will add value, we hope, to the way Keychange works with, and supports, its staff. I think this work is vital and allows me to bring all my past professional experience to Keychange.
I’m very grateful that my work as a trustee brings me into contact with many very capable staff who are motivated by values I share. When I add in my own personal Christian faith and values it now seems that a long-term trusteeship at Keychange was ‘meant to be’.
Meet Annie
What inspired you to become a trustee at Keychange?
I am motivated by the core Christian values that underpin the work of Keychange, particularly the integration of faith-based principles into care, and was eager to support this work. My faith and social work values are central to my contribution to the Keychange Board.
The long history of the organisation is also inspiring to me, along with its ongoing efforts to evolve and extend the care that it provides to meet the wider needs of local communities.
What excites you about supporting Keychange?
I am excited to support the organisation as it continues to develop and grow as an important partner bringing added value to the housing market. I am also excited to contribute to discussions and decision making, bringing a perspective on the difference our faith makes to the purpose and aspirations of what Keychange seeks to offer and achieve.
What experience do you bring to the Board?
I have over thirty years’ experience working in local authority social care and have developed expert knowledge of relevant legislation and social work skills in assessing and supporting adults and their families. My work in safeguarding adults involves multi-agency partnerships including statutory agencies in the health and social care sector and third sector organisations.
I bring professional expertise from operational practice, management and strategic leadership roles to help inform the work of Keychange with adults and their families. I am passionate about supporting staff in their care and support functions and helping to develop systems and processes that promote an open learning culture and positive relationships with key stakeholders.
What is your vision for your role as trustee?
My vision is to work collaboratively with fellow trustees to support Keychange in delivering services that are person-centred and compliant with regulatory and legislative requirements. I would like to empower and support managers and staff to apply learning and training in their everyday work, promoting positive wellbeing outcomes and strengthening connections with community assets and partners.
I would also like to play a part in the continuing co-production and co-development of Keychange’s services with individuals and their families, staff and managers, commissioners and with other faith-based groups and professional organisations.
We are incredibly grateful for the dedication, expertise and insight our trustees bring to Keychange. Their guidance helps ensure we remain focused on our purpose, responsive to the needs of those we serve and committed to transforming lives through the power of community.
This Trustees’ Week, we thank all eleven of our trustees for their ongoing support and commitment to the organisation.
Contributions from Glenda Roberts, Annie Ho and Stefan Cantore. Edited by Laura Rose, Marketing & Communications Officer
