Lapwing Newsletter

Linda Stretch

Linda is sadly standing down as a Lapwing Trustee. We wanted to cap-ture her reflections on her time with Lapwing and discover her plans for the future.

What made you want to become a trustee?I wanted the opportunity to become even more involved in Lapwing, an organisation I had come to feel part of and emotionally attached to. I also wanted to become involved in support-ing the activity of a Charity in my re-gional community (not a national char-ity).

Becoming a Lapwing trustee would al-low me to work with an organisation doing something close to my heart – ie working with marginalised young peo-ple and supporting them in achieving their potential and continue to use my HR and board level experience outside of the commercial environment.

What aspects of the organisation have you been responsible for?I have been part of a team of Trustees who are responsible for making sure the charity is run well, manages its funds well and carries out the activities it was set up to do and in line with the laws and rules set up by the Govern-ment and by the Charity Commission.

I have also used my skills and expe-rience to contribute to the develop-ment of the organisation’s structure, creation of new posts, job descriptions, strategic plan, governing documents, staff handbook, Lapwing Policies and Procedures, training programmes, per-formance management system, pay scales, fundraising activities etc.

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What have you learned from your time as a Lapwing trustee?I’ve learned how a charity is run, more about our education system, insight into the complexities of funding and have a greater appreciation about the difficulties facing some young peo-ple in our region. On a personal level it has been interesting to work in a ‘not for profit’ environment after a career in the private sector. To see students do extraordinary things and dedicated staff facilitating and supporting them is wonderful and heartwarming in a cynical and corrupt world.

What have you personally gained from your time as a Lapwing trustee?The opportunity to make a positive contribution to society (ie voluntary role not a commercial contract ‘work in exchange for pay’).

My differing perspective on issues fac-ing the organisation (commercial) can be useful to the organisation and this gives me personal satisfaction. Giv-ing this added value is very satisfying when it leads to a positive outcome. It’s great to be part of an organisation you strongly believe in. It’s great to see the results in action.

Would you recommend others to be-come trustees? If so, why?Yes, if they have the time and com-mitment as it can be very rewarding, thought provoking, challenging.

Will you stay associated with Lap-wing and if so how?Yes, I will become Lapwing’s first ‘As-sociate Member’. It was very difficult to make the decision to stand down as a Trustee and I cannot imagine not being involved with Lapwing.

I will continue to mentor the senior management of Lapwing, offering my experience and skills whenever they are appropriate.

I am also hoping that without the for-mal responsibilities of the role of a Trustee and the time that requires I might, if any opportunity arises, be of use at the ‘sharp end’ with the students and their learning.

What do you do when you’re not working with Lapwing? A couple of years ago I made the deci-sion to change my working life quite considerably and have gradually re-linquished my HR contracts in order to devote as much time as possible to delivering music therapy workshops to people in residential care. I work with groups of residents, many of whom have dementia, using the positive and powerful effects that music and sound frequencies have on wellbeing. I com-bine various activities with beautiful pieces of music that help to synchro-nise the hemispheres of the brain, lift the mood and increase concentration.

I love gardening, theatre and concerts and have a busy family life with my husband, three step-children (albeit they are grown-up; twins of 22 and one of 17- they continue to be very demand-ing!!!) and our rather old black Labra-dor, Milo.