We warmly welcome Catherine Rustomji, Becky Fitzpatrick, Andy Makin and Clare Hedges to our board of trustees this month. Our board supports our Leadership Team in making decisions which guide our organisation, and bring specialist knowledge from their respective industries.
Read more about how we’re governed
“Hospices are such special places in local communities, held in high regard. I look forward to sharing my perspective from right across North Yorkshire to help the charity meet unmet need, including among people who live rurally.
“Having advised and acted for charities for over 20 years, I am pleased to bring experience in governance helping with queries around legal duties and responsibilities. At the same time, I’m excited to learn lots from the other great people on the board.”
Catherine Rustomji, Partner and Head of Charities and Not-for-profit at Shakespeare Martineau LLP.
“I feel very privileged to be a trustee after my mum was cared for at Saint Michael’s. I’ve always wanted to do something for the charity and this seemed like the perfect fit.
“Having seen firsthand, I’m so passionate about hospice care. People of my age especially sometimes don’t know what a hospice is. I’d love to help raise awareness that it’s about living in your final days. The memories you create here stay with you forever.
“I’m looking forward to learning more about hospices, including how they are funded. I’d also like to support with fundraising.
“The charity does so much more than what people might expect including as part of Just ‘B’ emotional wellbeing services.”
Becky Fitzpatrick, Managing Director at PPS.
“I have nothing but great things to say about Saint Michael’s Hospice, and it’s family of services.
“Envirovent had been supporting Saint Michael’s for a number of years including their annual Carols at Rudding event, and with wider fundraising and support.
“It is really special to be able to marry together my personal experience and business experience to understand how important the charity is in the local community.
“My late wife spent her last days here at Saint Michael’s a number of years ago. The team provided happiness and fun despite it being a challenging time.
“I am astounded by the breadth of experience that goes into running all areas of the charity.
“It is so much more than just the inpatient unit– I was blown away to learn about the emotional wellbeing support and specialist services that the hospice also provides for example for patients with lymphoedema.
“Just ‘B’ is playing such an important role in providing support to people with their mental health, right across North Yorkshire. It has grown and grown, and the services are making a difference to those with unmet need.
“Now joining as a trustee, I see myself as a critical friend who can support the management team. Having run a large organisation myself, I hope I can help ask questions and make suggestions which add value.
“I’m local forward to hearing the rounded opinion from all the different specialists on our board of trustees- from clinical and legal experts to business owners of different sizes.
“Herriot Hospice@The Lambert will be a tremendous extension of the great inpatient services the wider charity delivers across the county. We are taking great care to understand the needs for the local community in Hambleton and Richmondshire while using our expertise which comes from the commonality of the service with that which is delivered by Saint Michael’s.”
Andy Makin, Managing Director of Envirovent
We’ll be chatting to Clare soon- check back on this page!
