celebrating the achievements of nearly one million people who take on the role for charities across the UK. Here EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices) acknowledges the vast contribution of their own Board of Trustees.
The three stories below include a message of thanks from chair Brad McLean (cover photo) in addition to features on two trustees – Nicky Richardson and Caroline Steggles.
“They have busy personal and professional lives but are passionate about what we do and want to make a difference”
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is among the organisations to benefit and be governed by a strong, dedicated board of professionals. Drawn from a variety of backgrounds, they meet quarterly and are responsible for driving the charity forward.
They set its strategic direction, and there are four committees – clinical governance, finance and income generation, audit, risk and compliance and human resources.
“We’re blessed to have a very experienced Board of Trustees, with considerable and varied professional background and expertise,”
said EACH’s Chair of Trustees, Brad McLean.
“Between them, they have extensive clinical, commercial, finance and business expertise, as well as lived family experience.
“They have busy personal and professional lives but are passionate about what we do and want to make a difference.
“Six new trustees have joined us in the last year, and board members were highly active in supporting fundraising events, attending internal and external meetings and spending time with employees.
“It’s a voluntary role and a huge commitment, and our huge appreciation obviously applies all year round.
“However, that’s especially true during Trustees’ Week. It’s the perfect opportunity to say thank you and showcase the great work they do.”
Brad is joined by ten others on EACH’s Board of Trustees – Emma Deterding, Mark Dyke, Iain Jamie, Anna Lipp, Ann Marie Lloyd, Nicky Richardson, Shaun Savory, Chris Schwer, Caroline Steggles and Henry Wright.
To shine a light on their contribution, EACH is releasing two special features – one on Caroline, who, together with husband Sam, runs their family business, The Goat Shed, just west of Norfolk and the other will be on Nicky, who is Village Director at Center Parcs’ Elveden Forest and joined the board in September.
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“I’ve seen the role described as ‘the guardians of purpose’ and I like that. It’s up to us to ensure EACH is run with our beneficiaries front and centre in all decision-making” – Caroline says being a trustee is rewarding and humbling
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) Trustee Caroline Steggles says she is proud and humbled to be part of a “life-changing, life-affirming and regularly remarkable” organisation.
The 43-year-old has been on the board nearly four years, chairing one committee and sitting on another, and has personal reasons for wanting to be involved.
In fact, she believes it was written in the stars, after spotting an advert for anyone interested in joining the team.
“The death of my younger sister when she was just 25 made me question what life was all about,” said Caroline, who was speaking during national Trustees’ Week.
“When my mum then died at 62, I knew I wanted to follow in both her and Lucie’s footsteps and do something meaningful that might make a difference.
“I’d enjoyed being a school governor and thought a trustee role might be a good use of my skills.
“I’ve grown up with an awareness of EACH, through the fantastic shop network and local fundraising events, and identified the charity as a cause I’d love to support.
“I started checking the website every so often and was delighted to come across an advert for trustees, specifically looking for those from Norfolk with a background in governance. It was meant to be!
“What EACH does is life-changing, life-affirming and regularly remarkable, and I’m always humbled by the incredible, personalised care the teams deliver.
“I enjoy meeting staff and volunteers from across the organisation and hearing about their motivation and personal stories of making a difference.”
As well as being on the Board of Trustees, Caroline chairs the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and also sits on the Clinical Governance Committee.
More recently, she attended the inaugural meeting of EACH’s new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, spending time with staff from across the organisation and being “blown away by the energy and enthusiasm in the room”.
“As trustees, we’re legally responsible for the management and administration of EACH, so it’s not something to take on lightly,” said Caroline.
“I’ve seen the role described as ‘the guardians of purpose’ and like that. It’s up to us to ensure EACH is run with our beneficiaries front and centre in all decision-making.
“It’s also hugely rewarding to work alongside my fellow trustees, all of whom bring different professional backgrounds and personal experiences to the table.
“I enjoy learning from each of them and feel privileged to share the responsibility.”
Mum-of-two Caroline and her fellow board members meet formally as a board four times a year, in addition to having quarterly committee days.
They catch up virtually between formal meetings and are in regular communication with EACH’s management team, as and when needed, with a recent example being the appointment of new Chief Executive Kevin Clements.
While rewarding and something she is clearly passionate about, Caroline’s responsibilities are a far cry from her day job, working alongside husband Sam to run their flourishing business, The Goat Shed, in Honingham, ten miles west of Norwich.
“I’m from Norfolk farming stock and studied Management Studies at Nottingham University, before joining PricewaterhouseCoopers’ graduate training programme and qualifying as a chartered accountant,” she said.
“I stayed there for ten years but took a career break to spend time with our young children, William and Polly, and help my husband grow the goat cheese business he was establishing alongside his day job.
“I returned to work when our youngest started school, working in governance for Flagship Group, who had been a client when I was at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“Then, at the start of the pandemic, our goat cheese business lost almost all its business overnight, and we found ourselves developing a farm shop to help the local community source essentials when the supermarket shelves were struggling.
“What started in a garden shed is now a huge farm shop, butchery and restaurant, open seven days a week and recently named by The Times as one of the top seven farm shops in the country!
“I left Flagship Group two years ago and now help run the business with my husband. It’s been a huge learning curve, and we’re still learning all the time.”
Despite leading such a busy personal and professional life, Caroline would not change a thing and is passionate about her rewarding role with EACH.
In addition to being a dedicated trustee, she has also helped at volunteer thank you events, read at EACH carol services and raised valuable funds by taking part in both a Bubble Rush and last year’s Suffolk Pier 2 Pier walk.
“Our children are now in their teens and between a busy family life, our growing business and two trustee roles – I’m also a trustee for The Clan Trust – there isn’t a huge amount of time for hobbies,” said Caroline.
“Time with friends is precious, though, and if I can combine that with a walk in the countryside or at the coast, then I’m happy.
“I also love singing and am a member of a choir, where I enjoy singing pop and songs from musicals.
“Yes, life is busy, and it’s a juggle to find time to do all the things I want to do.
“However, my dad always says you get out of life what you put in, and that’s the mantra I try to apply.
“In terms of EACH, everyone plays a part, and we’re united in our shared desire to make things easier for families going through the toughest of times.
“I’m still extremely proud to be a small part of this wonderful charity, which makes such a huge difference to so many people.”
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“This isn’t just about having something new on my CV. It’s about trying to make a genuine difference” – Center Parcs Village Director Nicky jumped at the opportunity to become an EACH trustee
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices’ (EACH) newest trustee says she is passionate and motivated about “making a genuine difference”.
Nicky Richardson joined the organisation on 1st September and has already attended a board meeting and AGM, as well as being part of the interview process to appoint Chief Executive Kevin Clements.
By day, Nicky, a qualified nurse who served in the military, has a high-profile role as Village Director at Center Parcs’ Elveden Forest.
However, despite her hectic, demanding work life, she jumped at the opportunity to get involved at EACH.
“This isn’t just about having something new on my CV,” said the 50-year-old, who was speaking during national Trustees’ Week.
“It’s about trying to make a genuine difference.
“I’ve been made incredibly welcome by my fellow trustees and already feel part of the team.
“The induction process was brilliant, and I got all the information I needed, including lots to read – all the things you’d want to get you up and running, to start having an impact and adding value.
“Already, in a short period of time, there’s been some significant involvement, and it felt good to get stuck in straight away.
“It’s an exciting opportunity in terms of governance and oversight, which I’m used to as part of an executive team at Center Parcs.
“It’s about being a critical friend and asking the right, sometimes difficult, questions, supporting the organisation to continue to head in the right direction.”
Nicky first became aware of EACH’s work through Center Parcs’ partnership with Together for Short Lives – the national charity supporting all 54 of the UK’s children’s hospices. Every village is linked to its local hospice, and, at Elveden, that is The Nook.
“When I first joined Elveden, six and half years ago, we went to Quidenham (EACH’s former Norfolk base), and it was incredible to see such wonderful care being delivered in such a challenging environment,” said Nicky, who lives in Wattisfield.
“In terms of space, there were so many complexities, but everyone was so passionate.
“That’s where it all started for me, and, from then on, I’ve always felt passionately about EACH.
“As an organisation, it’s totally resonated with our team at Center Parcs. We welcome the opportunity to support a national charity, while also having an impact and engaging with a local one, fundraising directly for EACH.
“Staff have the opportunity to go to the hospice and support events – they can see and feel the difference it makes – and we love that duality. It’s a very synergistic relationship.”
Given her depth of feeling, Nicky, who has raised funds by completing both of EACH’s Pier 2 Pier walks, in Norfolk and Suffolk, says it was a pleasure to join the Board of Trustees.
After completing a Master’s Degree, she realised she had some spare time – time previously occupied by studying.
She was beginning to feel slightly “bereft” and ready to embrace her next personal and professional challenge.
“I’ve been doing my role at Center Parcs for six and a half years, and I’m not saying I know it all, because I don’t,” said Nicky, who has an 18-year-old son, Charlie.
“However, when you’re comfortable in your role, you need the next challenge.
“I love being busy, and I’m not very good at being still and quiet. For me, the busier the better, and, as the adage goes, if you want a job done, ask a busy person!
“I started to think about a non-executive role within the charity sector – either a children’s charity, within the military or connected to horticulture. They’re the three things I’m most passionate about.
“Then I realised the answer was staring me in the face. Why would I not approach EACH?
“My skillset is generalist, rather than being specific to something like finance or HR.
“I wasn’t sure if that would be of interest, but, thankfully, I was assured my skills would add value to the board.
“So far, it’s been fantastic, and all the trustees come from such different backgrounds, which is fascinating.
“I’m learning so much, which can only benefit me within both my new role and regular working environment.”
Nicky can certainly reflect with pride on a varied, successful working life, packed with highlights.
After starting out as a nurse, she became a reservist in the Air Force and served in Iraq in 2003.
She then made her first foray into the private sector, still within nursing, working for a company providing home therapies for adults and children with complex health needs.
“Charlie, my son, then arrived and I moved to the Cotswolds, where I ran a retirement development, mixing nursing with the business side of things,” said Nicky.
“Then a job came up with Center Parcs, as deputy Village Director at Longleat.
“I’ve not looked back since, and it’s a fantastic company to work for. What you see as a guest is what you experience as an employee.”
While passionate about her day job, Nicky is committed to her new trustee role and excited for the future at EACH.
“As a charity, we’re bucking the national trend, from a fundraising perspective,” she said.
“It makes you realise how fortunate we are to have such strong community support, and I’m looking forward to future development at the hospices, especially at Milton and The Treehouse, as well as optimising the space at The Nook.
“We need to ensure we’re in a position to meet the needs of more children and young people, as many more are living longer, thanks to improvements in healthcare.
“The more we can do, the better, and I’m excited about that – committed and determined to do whatever I can to help make a difference.”
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About EACH
“EACH is a place I’d recommend to any parents in our situation. Not just for the care delivered, but because it’s somewhere children play and have fun, where their medical needs are a priority but the children feel that living life is an equal priority”
- We rely on voluntary donations for the majority of our income and this year need to raise £7.5 million from donations and fundraising activities and £8.7 million in retail income. We only receive 15% of our income from the government, county councils and the NHS.
- Our supportive care for babies, children, young people and their families is all-encompassing. If required, this life-long support includes specialist nursing, therapies and ongoing wellbeing care through all the ups and downs.
- Depending on a family’s needs and wishes, we can provide care in one of our hospices, in the family home, in hospital or in the wider community. This ensures every family receives care somewhere they feel safe and comfortable.
- Our range of services is comprehensive, for both bereaved and non-bereaved families, and includes expert nursing care and short breaks, symptom management nursing, family activities and events, physical therapies, wellbeing, care at end of life, bereavement support and practical help in the family home.
- Our hospices are rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. They are fun, happy and homely places for children to be children, and a dependable, supportive and restful space for families to be families. Parents and siblings are involved and supported throughout.
- We work together with families and other care professionals and have a reputation for excellence and working collaboratively, sharing skills and expertise within our teams and in partnership with healthcare colleagues across the sector.
- EACH provides employees with the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and families. To find out more about current vacancies and working for EACH, head here.
- EACH Royal Patron – HRH The Princess of Wales.
- Keep in touch:
www.instagram.com/eachhospices
www.linkedin.com/company/eachhospices
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