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.”
