To celebrate Trustees’ Week 2024 at Pilgrims Hospices, we caught up with Karen Warden, Chair of the Board of Trustees, who shared what she enjoys about her role.

With so much in the news about the future funding of hospice care, the need for Trustee Boards to support, as well as challenge their leadership teams at their hospice, has never been more important.

I have been a Trustee at Pilgrims Hospices for over six years, and Chair of the Board for four years. I am aware that trustees will always think that their charity is the most important, or their cause the most vital, and that can sometimes make it hard to share views or seek out opinions on challenges faced. My experience of the hospice community has always been very different.

Everyone involved in hospices, from Trustees to CEOs, clinicians and volunteers alike, have open and honest dialogue, share challenges and triumphs, and we collaborate as much as we can. This is because we are all ‘in it together’ to provide more and better end-of-life care to every patient, every family, every time they need us.

During my time as a Trustee and Chair of the Board, I have learnt a lot from my fellow Trustees, CEO and Executive Management Team, and staff and volunteers right across our charity. I have also had the privilege of joining and attending the regional Hospice UK’s Chair’s Group, of which I now am now Chair, I sit on Hospice UK’s Board of Chair’s Council and attend Hospice UK’s Annual Conference.

From discussions both within Pilgrims Hospices and those externally, it is clear that hospices still need to remember that people don’t always understand what a hospice actually ‘does’, or indeed the range and scope of the charity, thus a potential trustee may not always be aware of the contribution that they could make to a hospice.

I also strongly believe that trustees should have planned development and support during their term in office, just as they would have if they were employed by the charity or by another organisation. At Pilgrims Hospices, we strive to offer this development to trustees. We have an annual meeting with the Executive Management Team to set strategic objectives, which gives the Board an opportunity to understand how our strategy becomes reality. We have regular Board Walks at each of our three hospice sites, when trustees can talk to staff on an informal basis about their work and their daily challenges. These Board Walks also give us, the Trustees, invaluable insight into the work of the charity. Many of us take part in and support our fundraising events, donate and buy in our shops and play our lottery, so we better understand how three quarters of our income is generated. Although none of these are the formal training that some may recognise from the “workplace”, we learn a lot about the hospice through these interactions. As such, I am better informed and am able to contribute to Board-level decisions that are right for my hospice.

The number of opportunities and potential collaborations are increasing for hospices, as are the range of day-to-day challenging operational issues such as the future funding of hospice care I mentioned at the beginning of this article, and in addition to attracting qualified, dedicated staff and volunteers to keep our services running, it seems fair to say that, for our trustees, ‘wanting to do good’ is not enough anymore. Certainly in 2024 and beyond, hospices, indeed all charities, need trustees who are prepared to be accountable.  To do this appropriately, I believe trustees should be actively engaged with their charity and informed by interacting with a range of a charity’s stakeholders. As such, I’m indebted to my fellow trustees for their commitment, hard work and insightful support, often undertaken in addition to a demanding day job!

In summary, I think that being a Trustee and also Chair of Pilgrims Hospices has never been more important, interesting, or rewarding, but, if I am honest, in the current political and economic climate, it can be challenging.

Trustees’ Week is a time for us to come together to celebrate the achievements of nearly one million trustees across the UK. We thank them for the time, commitment, and effort they bring to their charities to help them thrive. 

At Pilgrims Hospices, our trustees are responsible for the strategic direction of the charity.

Our Trustee Board work with the Executive Management Team to oversee every aspect of Pilgrims work, from caring for our patients and their families, to fundraising in the community.

All our trustees have specialist knowledge, from medical and clinical to legal, business development and marketing. As a collective, our Trustee Board apply their knowledge, steering the strategic direction of the hospice.

As Trustees’ Week 2024 approaches, we have been talking to one of our trustees, Elizabeth Sharp. With a background as a consultant surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, specialising in breast and skin cancer, Elizabeth has a wealth of medical experience, which she is able to draw on and share with her fellow trustee colleagues accordingly.

Reflecting on her role, Elizabeth shared:

“Being a trustee is an interesting, although sometimes challenging role. As trustees, we work collaboratively to support our CEO and leadership team. We are here to have open, honest, dialogue, share triumphs and, when we need to, we challenge the leadership team. This helps to shape our collective thinking, ensuring that everything we do is in line with the overarching strategic direction of the hospice.

“There is always something new to learn; in my case, I’ve learnt a lot about income generation, and despite the current funding challenges that all hospices are facing, I find the role of being a trustee extremely rewarding.”

This Trustees’ Week, we extend our thanks to Elizabeth and all our trustees, who play a role in shaping the future of hospice care in east Kent.

Trustees’ Week is a time for us to come together to celebrate the achievements of nearly one million trustees across the UK. We thank them for the time, commitment, and effort they bring to their charities to help them thrive. 

Trustees’ Week 6-10 November 2023 – a time for us to come together, to celebrate the achievements of nearly one million Trustees across the UK. 

Simon Perks, a Trustee for Pilgrims Hospices, shares his insights and experiences on the occasion of Trustees’ Week. With nine years of service under his belt, he sheds light on his journey and the significance of being a Trustee for this beloved local charity.

Simon’s journey as a Trustee began when he was working for the local NHS, where he recognised the invaluable contribution Pilgrims Hospices made in supporting, and caring for the people of east Kent. His background in clinical services, and a desire to ensure the hospices’ services met local needs inspired him to join as a Trustee. His aim was to help the hospices’ develop services that not only catered to diverse local populations, but also seamlessly connected with other healthcare services, ensuring easy referrals for those in need of palliative or end-of-life care.

He believes that everyone, Trustees included, play a role in ensuring that hospice services reflect the local community. He personally fulfils this role by meeting with staff, and occasionally interacting with patients.  He has lived in east Kent for almost 28 years, and as the Chair of the Clinical Services Development Committee, he sees his role as one of support and challenge in encouraging hospice staff to ensure their plans extend their services to as many people as possible, and reach those who may not typically seek hospice care.

One way Simon and his fellow Trustees have amplified the voices of those served by Pilgrims Hospices, is by supporting the development of new services such as our Think, Talk Act services. These services have been developed to ensure that we can work with NHS GP’s in Primary Care, to identify those who may be coming to the end of their life, and ensure they have care plans in place, and access to Pilgrims Services. A strength of Pilgrims Hospices lies in its Trustees’ ability to collaborate effectively. With a diverse range of backgrounds, they come together to hopefully make informed, collective decisions to help navigate challenging conditions.  Most recently they have supported  improvement in the hospices’ financial position and the continued development of clinical services.

Simon’s favourite aspect of being a Pilgrims Trustee is witnessing the charity’s continuing growth and the enthusiasm with which new service ideas are developed. He’s inspired by the charity’s ability to identify needs, innovate, and implement them in the face of common challenges.

It is a privilege to play a small part in a charity that is so important to the people of east Kent

Simon Perks

For Simon, Pilgrims means a great deal, as it is a vital part of the east Kent community. Many residents are familiar with Pilgrims through the care they provide to loved ones, donation pots in local stores and community areas, Pilgrims’ shops, and fundraising events. The fact that Pilgrims is funded by local communities and services developed and delivered  to meet the needs of  the people of east Kent makes it truly special.

To ensure that the Board of Trustees decisions and actions reflect the diverse perspectives and needs of the community Pilgrims Hospices serves, Simon acknowledges the ongoing challenge of understanding the intricacies of those needs. Trustees must continue to challenge each other and the Executive Management Team, to ensure the future sustainability of Pilgrims.

Over his long tenure as a Trustee, Simon has witnessed numerous positive changes, including the future of the Canterbury hospice and the incredible COVID-19 response from hospice staff. Looking ahead, he aspires for Pilgrims to further engage with a wide range of stakeholders to develop future services that will meet the needs of both our current and future beneficiaries.  As for the evolving role of Trustees, Simon hopes they will focus on clinical and care aspects, and find ways to better listen to the community’s needs.

Everyone, Trustees included, play a role in ensuring that hospice services reflect the local community.

Simon Perks

To anyone considering becoming a Pilgrims Trustee in the future, Simon’s message is clear: “Do it.” It is a privilege to play a small part in a charity that is so important to the people of east Kent and embodies the best of the community’s values. Trustees like Simon are unsung heroes, dedicating their time and expertise to ensure that Pilgrims Hospices continues its mission of providing compassionate care and support for years to come. Applications are welcomed, especially from those with clinical, medical and nursing backgrounds. For those interested in a Trustee role with Pilgrims Hospices, please contact our Chair of Trustees, Karen Warden for an informal discussion at: [email protected]

Trustees’ Week, celebrated from November 6 to 10, is the perfect time to recognise their invaluable contributions.

Each year Pilgrims supports thousands of local people coping with a life-limiting illness and their families. The charity offers a range of services: from end-of-life care given on its wards, to its Wellbeing Programme supporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent.