Today (Monday 3 November) marks the beginning of Trustees’ Week, which takes place every year to recognise the work of charity trustees.
Here at Birmingham Hospice, our Board of Trustees plays a vital role in overseeing our charity’s strategic direction, and ensuring we comply with relevant laws and regulations. Trustees draw on their own experiences in sectors such as business, finance or healthcare to advise on our future plans and make their own suggestions.
Henriette Breukelaar has been a member of our Board for over three years. Having started her career working for a race equality council in her native Netherlands, she then moved to the UK where she moved into senior roles in economic development, engineering, housing with care and regeneration, and she is now Regional Director West Midlands for the Canal and River Trust.
Outside of work, she enjoys visiting family and friends across Europe, cycling, DIY and enjoying musical theatre shows with her daughter.
It was her past experience working in the field of elderly care that inspired her to offer her support to Birmingham Hospice.
She said: “From personal experience, and from working in elderly care during Covid, I know how important end of life care is, not just for the person who is dying, but for those left behind. If your loved one had dignity and comfort until the end, that allows you to look back with fond memories. I’ve seen people who didn’t have that and were left troubled for a long time. It made me realise how important end of life care is and how it isn’t something we can take for granted.
“Being a trustee is very different from a paid executive job – you’re not there to carry out the work but to give direction, support, and challenge when needed. All of us bring our own backgrounds, experience and knowledge to support the team, and we can draw on our own networks to make introductions or share commercial opportunities.
“As well as board meetings, I’ve also got involved in fundraising – I recently helped out at Big Brum Bucket at Touchwood, and the Bulls in the City event at Millennium Point, and enjoyed explaining to the public the tremendous work we do. I also recently did a tea round with Paul at the Selly Park IPU and it was a privilege to speak to patients and gain a better understanding of the day to day care we provide. I’m hoping to do the same with the Hospice at Home team soon, as their work in the community is so incredibly important as well.”
Henriette said that one of the most important parts of her job was being able to speak up for the charity and raise awareness of the wide range of work it does, or the importance of fundraising.
She added: “It is so important to be an advocate for the charity as a lot of people assume hospice care is fully funded as part of the NHS. It’s very gratifying to be able to explain to people who might be able to help by making a donation or using their influence to support us.
“I had a lot of respect and admiration for people who worked in hospices before I joined but that has only grown from seeing the care with which we approach our patients and help them to live life to the full in the time they have.”
Samantha Owen is an employment lawyer, with several years’ experience in business, including the healthcare sector. When she’s not working, spending time with her family or enjoying other interests like travelling, reading and movies, she has also been a Trustee at the hospice for just over a year.
She said: “I’d been working in law for a while and thought I could use these skills to help other people somewhere. I saw the advert on LinkedIn and, for me, working for a hospice was perfect as back home in Wales my nan had needed hospice care and I can remember that feeling of relief it gave my family, for her to go somewhere she would be looked after. She was only there for a short time but I saw how much it helped, so it felt like this position was meant to be.
“We all participate in board meetings quarterly and sit on one committee – in my case People and Estates – which isn’t a huge time commitment but it’s one of those roles where you get out what you put in and there’s the opportunity to do more – I’ve visited both hospice and spent time with the CHATS Team last Christmas to see the wonderful work they do with young people. I’ve also attended events such as Light Up a Life.”
Sam said that being part of the hospice had given her a greater insight into the work we do and the range of services we provide, including the support we offer to the families of patients.
“It’s really heartwarming and wonderful to see the hard work that’s done by the people who work at the hospice and until I got involved I didn’t realise how far-reaching that work was,” Sam explained.
“Everyone thinks hospices are for people in their 70s or 80s but what really struck me was the number of younger people we also help – they might often have families and kids, or partners trying to hold their lives together, and for us to offer support to help their children was incredible, and I was really touched by that. At one board meeting we had someone coming in who was attending the Living Well Centre – she had cancer but was living with her diagnosis. These services make such a massive difference.
“Perhaps in some companies or organisations, boards might make decisions and feel quite detached, but I can honestly say the trustees here really do care – they’re good people with lots of experience in a range of areas, and we’re all bringing something from our day jobs to try and make the hospice a little bit better.”
