Local independent charity Age UK B&NES, which works with and for older people across Bath and North East Somerset, is on the lookout for new trustees to join its board.
The charity supports around 12,000 older people, their families and carers every year, with essential services to promote a healthy, happy and satisfying later life, and needs trustees to help guide its direction.
It’s keen to hear from people from right across the Bath and North East Somerset area, particularly those with some knowledge of the health and social care sector.
Chair of the Trustees Board, Pam Richards, said: “We’re looking for people who have drive and ambition to help us respond to the increasing demands of providing services to older people.
“We need new trustees who can think creatively about how we can support older people and help us develop new ways of raising essential funds.
“Experience of fundraising, events or running a business would be fantastic but what’s most important is passion, ideas, and good connections within your local community.”
Sarah Prendegast from Bath explained why she became a trustee with the charity.
She said: “I decided to do something to contribute to the care of older people following the death of my father.
“I saw how end of life care could go badly wrong and how our disconnected family lifestyles can result in isolation and loneliness in later years following the death of a partner.
“My career has been in health and social care management but somehow even with that knowledge I was unable to improve the last weeks of my father’s life. Supporting him and my mother was extremely difficult while coping with my own grief and stress.
“We could have done with the support of a home from hospital service and the support of an agency that offered understanding of bereavement.
“Whilst these were not available where my parents live, these services and others delivered by Age UK B&NES are invaluable and my contribution as a volunteer trustee helps to support the management and staff who deliver them.”
Trustees need to be available for four meetings a year and one or two workshops, as well as for occasional informal meetings.
“We are very flexible and try to hold our meetings at times that suit the whole board – at the moment they are held at 4pm in Bath, but we are happy to look at different timings and locations,” said Pam Richards.
“You may be employed, part-time employed or retired – whatever stage in life you are at we would like to hear from you. Just contact me or our chief executive Janet for an informal chat,”
To find out more or for an informal chat please contact Janet Dabbs or Pam Richards – email [email protected] / 01225 427071 or [email protected] / 01225 466135.
