Hello Everyone, I hope all preparations are going smoothly towards Christmas. This is just a short update note in advance of the papers that will be issued in the near future regarding the AGM for the Trust. The note is to give you an update on some succession planning steps the Board has agreed. This comes, as you’ll recall, after the agreement at last year’s AGM that the Board would remain as was for an additional year considering the challenges the Trust was facing.
At the forthcoming AGM, Brian Roberson will end his period on the Board. Brian has lead all of our work on Safeguarding and we are immensely grateful for his input and guidance on that. In addition, I should advise that myself and Barry Fisher will step aside from the Board in the course of the next year but will remain on the Board to aid the transition to a new Chair and Vice-Chair who the board have identified and who will take up their roles at a yet to be agreed point in the new year. We have approached Lucie Aitkenhead and Steve Young to re-join the `board and take on the roles of Chair and Vice-Chair respectively. Both Lucie and Steve have had short periods on the Board previously but had to step off for different reasons. Lucie to take on the role with us of part-time development officer a few years ago (for which we were immensely grateful), and Steve due to significant work commitments. We are delighted to have these two known and experienced supporters back with us and we believe they bring a mixture of life and business experience plus knowledge of the Trust. Lucie also has a lifetime of knowledge of the Trust and formerly Ocean Youth Club as her Dad was in the past the Scottish field officer for OYC for many years. In addition to the above appointments, we have also agreed to bring Ian Rogers onto the Board as we had planned. Ian has very capably chaired the Training Sub-Committee for a couple of years and it is only right that we have his support and expertise as a Trustee. I would advise that these are only initial steps to fill places on the Board and in the course of the next few months a few more Trustees will be sought. As outgoing Chair, I certainly feel it more appropriate that the new Chair should lead the process of identifying these individuals and there are the beginnings a list of both members and non-members who have expressed interest in joining the Board and I’m sure this will be the starting point for Lucie in that work. As I’ve mentioned earlier Barry and I will remain on the Board to support Lucie and Steve as they take on their new roles and will move off as at a point agreed with Lucie. I hope everyone sees this as a prudent and helpful approach that as ever will support the future of the Trust and deal with these important changes in a planned and managed way. Best wishes to everyone for a great Christmas and a successful 2022. I look forward to seeing you at the AGM. Kind Regards, David |