Hello!
Thank you for your interest in becoming a trustee of Alzheimer’s Society. If you’re reading this, then you’ve already taken the first step towards joining the fight against the biggest health and social care issue of our time.
As Chair of the Board of Trustees I believe you’ve made an excellent decision. You may already know about the ground-breaking work we do, but if not, the candidate pack and further links to our website should inspire you to apply for the role.
Since I joined the organisation, my overriding experience of the Society is one of passion and commitment to make a real difference. This commitment is equally matched with credibility, expertise, ingenuity, and compassion.
As an organisation we are a vital source of support and a powerful force for change for everyone affected by dementia. We will not rest until people with dementia and their carers live more fulfilled and less fearful lives, free from stigma and inequality.
To achieve this, we need to make sure we’re reflective of, and understand, the needs of the diverse group of people affected by dementia. Worldwide, women with dementia outnumber men two to one and we know different groups within the dementia community have specific issues to overcome.
To govern the organisation in the best way we can, we’re developing a diverse, committed and experienced Board of Trustees to embody the values of Alzheimer’s Society.
For this round of trustee recruitment, we’re seeking candidates with skills and experience to Chair the Assurance, Audit and Risk committee. The second role is seeking someone personally living with a dementia diagnosis with the aim to increase direct lived experience on the Board. Though it is, of course, possible, that one candidate fulfils all these criteria, we are, nonetheless, seeking to make two appointments to the Board.
With a consistent desire to grow the diversity of our Board, we’re particularly welcoming applications from women, and the diverse range of communities we’re here to help, including but not limited to those from ethnically diverse communities, rural communities and the LBGTQ+ community. Within these communities we’re looking for individuals committed to inclusion in its widest sense, able to bring a broad range of experience to the Board.
Our wonderful CEO, Kate Lee, took the helm in April 2020 and has led the Society through a particularly challenging period. What we’ve achieved has been incredible, from finding new ways to continue to provide vital services to those affected by dementia during a global pandemic; to making tough decisions quickly about changes we needed to make to save funds; and delivering fundraising results that were significantly better than we could have hoped for.
The effect of Covid-19 will have a lasting impact, not only on the Society but the whole of the charity sector. We’re proud and confident that we’re in great shape to tackle those challenges through our new five-year strategy launched in April this year, and hope you may be the person to help guide the way.
I wish you the very best in your application.
Stephen Hill
Chair of Alzheimer’s Society