Trustees Week | CEO Lavinia shares her thanks

As Demelza reaches its 25th anniversary I would like to celebrate the contribution of all the Trustees who have steered this great Charity to where it is today.

The Trustees who in the early years believed in the need for excellent children’s palliative care and were brave enough to commit their expertise to providing just that. All the Trustees who have been our critical friends through the worst and best of times. Those who have committed their time, experience, and energy to providing care that doesn’t back down – here for when and where families need us.

In my 24 years with Demelza, I have worked alongside so many brilliant Trustees with a common goal - to keep children and families central to our decision making. Many Trustees from the earlier years of the charity still support Demelza today in whatever way they can.

Every Trustee Board meeting starts with a patient story, celebrating where care was good, learning and implementing improvements wherever we can. For many it is the most important part of the meeting, keeping us grounded in what we do.

The support and enthusiasm for our current ambitious strategy is motivating and inspiring.

Without our Trustees Demelza would not be the phenomenon it is today, linked and supported by the communities we serve, providing a range and breadth of services to the whole family, making memories for each family during the time they have together. And when the time comes, we are there to provide expert care for each family, in their home or in one of our hospices.

Some might not fancy having 15 or so ‘bosses’. I say, thank goodness for each one of them for bringing their insight to the table and navigating through the endless corridors of twists and turns that every charity faces.

Thank you to all Demelza Trustees.

CEO Lavinia Jarrett