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Being part of our Board of Trustees

What motivates our trustees?

 :  News
Board Charity Dementia carers Governance Growth Strategy Support Trustee

We’ve been recruiting new trustees to join our Board. Our trustees share their skills to support our long-term sustainability, growth, and impact.

We asked three of our trustees to share what motivated them to join our Board and what they enjoy most about their roles.

Catherine A’Bear, Chair of Trustee Board

Catherine joined our Board of Trustees in 2019 and is the current Chair. She has over 25 years direct experience in both for-profit and not-for-profit organisations.

She became a trustee after seeing a role advertised. At the time, the charity was looking for someone with good experience of working at senior level withing the voluntary sector and that had been a large part of Catherine’s working life.

Catherine knew about the charity’s work through a friend and was very excited about what the organisation was doing.

Like just about everyone these days, I have close family members who have lived with dementia and so have seen the impact this has on the whole family. Catherine A’Bear, Chair of Trustee Board, Dementia Carers Count

What do you enjoy about being a trustee at Dementia Carers Count?

All the research says that social connection, and social purpose, is an important component for living a rounded and fulfilling life. Being a trustee for Dementia Carers Count certainly ticks that box for me.

Hearing about the positive impact that the charity is having on the lives of family carers never fails to inspire me.

A good board meeting, where I feel we have made a useful contribution to strategy and governance, is enjoyable, as is spending time with members of the staff team and colleague trustees.

What difference do you feel you make as a trustee?

My role as Chair doesn’t have a direct, day to day impact on dementia carers, but chairing a dynamic board, ensuring that everyone has a voice around that table, that we listen to one another and challenge with respect and that we celebrate success is how I think I make a difference.

Raja Badrakalimuthu, Trustee

Raja is a consultant old age psychiatrist with a focus on dementia. He is keen to share his expertise and insights to help make the world a better place for people living with dementia and their families.

In 2022, Raja was head hunted based on his LinkedIn profile and invited to consider a trustee role. Further to discussions with the recruitment agency, he felt that Dementia Carers Count was a much needed charity with a strong ethos in supporting carers.

 

I’m confident that I am making a difference by supporting Dementia Carers Count to be a trusted organisation for the welfare of carers of people with dementia and by acting with the charity to be an advocate to ensure that carers are supported through the challenges they face. Raja Badrakalimuthu, Trustee, Dementia Carers Count

What do you enjoy about being a trustee at Dementia Carers Count?

I enjoy bringing in medical knowledge about dementia and treatments and adding understanding of how NHS and adult social care systems operate. This has helped to to guide the development of the charity’s free Carer Support Line.

I enjoy providing real-world information about challenges faces by carers when they are navigating through complex systems and limited resources.

I also enjoy contributing by providing solutions to some of the challenging calls or questions picked up as part of the Carer Support Line service.

What difference do you feel you make as a trustee?

I’m confident that I am making a difference by supporting Dementia Carers Count to be a trusted organisation for the welfare of carers of people with dementia and by acting with the charity to be an advocate to ensure that carers are supported through the challenges they face.

Sally-Anne Tsangarides, Trustee

Sally-Anne has a longstanding professional interest and engagement in human health and wellbeing, and personal experience of caring for a close family member experiencing cognitive impairment.

She is an experienced charity trustee and joined the Dementia Carers Count Board in 2023.

I am pleased to contribute my energy to help guide the development of a national charity leading the cause of dementia carers.

Dementia Carers Count prepares thoroughly for Board and other meetings which enables trustees to scope situations and decisions clearly. Sally-Anne Tsangarides, Trustee, Dementia Carers Count

What do you enjoy about being a trustee for Dementia Carers Count?

I enjoy collaborative working with committed and knowledgeable staff and trustees to advance the wellbeing of dementia carers and steward charitable funds appropriately.

I can learn from others as well as influencing charity decisions.

What difference do you feel you make as a trustee?

Trustees have opportunities to share differing perspectives towards collective decision-making that draws on all our available expertise and views.

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