Our fantastic Board of Trustees play a vital role in growing, governing and strengthening our hospice. By bringing a variety of skills sets and professional backgrounds to support the Senior Management Team here at Teesside Hospice, here’s what our trustee Jo has to say about her experience on the board of trustees.

“Hi, I’m Jo Davies, the Managing Director of a Tees Valley firm called HR Alchemy, and I’m on the board of trustees at Teesside Hospice.

I’m on the board of trustees, and I’m also on the Workforce Development Committee as part of my remit. I applied to become a trustee at the hospice after an experience I had with my mam. My mam was here in 2021, and I was profoundly affected by the work that went on here at the hospice. For me, it was a perfect time for my business to start giving something back, and because it's  a subject and an organisation that I’m deeply passionate about, it seemed perfect timing to do that.

My role on the board of trustees is to look at the board papers when they're issued, and be there as a critical friend to challenge and look at the information that's presented. Because my background is in HR, my role on the workforce development committee is using my own expertise to be able to further that critical friend and look at what's happening in the hospice to hold the senior leadership to account, to make sure everything is being run in a fit and proper way. 

It gives me a sense of joy when I walk through the door, because it’s probably one of the happiest places I’ve ever been, which I think people don't fully appreciate till you've been here. It also gives me another perspective on life. The charity sector and the hospice sector is an area that I've not worked in over my professional career, so it really helps me as a person, to understand the dynamics of a different business sector. But also, how that relates to human resources, which is an area that is my specialism. 

I think that if you can afford the time and the dedication needed to join the board of trustees, and you have a passion for helping drive the hospice forward, I wouldn't hesitate to apply. We're always looking for new, enthusiastic trustees who can bring a different dynamic. It’s such a rewarding and amazing experience, I can’t recommend it enough.”

Thank you, Jo for sharing what being a trustee at Teesside Hospice means to you.