Trustees’ Week 2022 runs from the 7th to the 11th of November and is an opportunity for organisations to inform, inspire, support and celebrate the fabulous people who volunteer as charity trustees.

We begin this years’ Trustees’ Week with a new Chairperson of our Board of Trustees, elected after our AGM at the end of October. More to come on that later this week, but we wanted to start Trustees’ Week off by celebrating and thanking our outgoing Chairperson, Hazel.

Rachel (CEO) and Hazel at our 30th Anniversary celebrations

Hazel ended her tenure on the Board at the AGM and wrote a lovely piece for her final Impact Report celebrating 30 years of Citizen Advocacy in West Fife. The full report can be viewed by clicking on the link, but we have added some of Hazel’s words here:

“In 1992 Dunfermline Advocacy was founded to support vulnerable people leaving hospital care to move into the local communities of West Fife. For many this was an unknown and frightening thought. Dunfermline Advocacy was there to ensure that individual needs were considered, fears allayed, and relevant support provided, to ensure that they were accepted, appreciated and included in the community.

30 years on this work continues, consistently providing support, understanding and friendship to those who need it most.

For a small charity this is an amazing achievement, brought about by hard work, and determination to help many people live their lives as independently as possible. Writing this report made me think about what defines achievement and concluded that there are as many definitions as there are people.

As an advocate I have seen first-hand how a tiny change for a partner can be a huge achievement, not just for the partner but for the advocate too – that first eye contact, that small shy smile, initiating a conversation, asking to visit somewhere new – things that to some may seem insignificant but to advocacy partners can be life-changing. These achievements build confidence and can provide the motivation for partners to want to do more and move through life.

I have been a Board member for nine years and Chair for five years and it has been a privilege to have been part of the DA team, helping support the great work that it does for a huge number of people.

I give my thanks to Rachel and the staff team who continue to achieve and go above and beyond.

Thanks also go to the Board for its hard work and support to both myself and to the charity.

To our funders, I give my thanks and appreciation for their continued support and trust.

And most importantly, heartfelt thanks to our advocates – a collective of kindness, commitment and willingness to help others.

Thanks to everyone and here’s to the next 30 years.”

We are delighted that Hazel is not ending her volunteering with DA, but her leadership and commitment to the Board and the organisation will be missed. Hazel is a truly exceptional, kind and inspiring person who has brought her invaluable skills and values to the role of Chairperson over the past five years. We know that Hazel will continue to be a true champion for Dunfermline Advocacy and has left a legacy of a strong and committed Board of Trustees.

Thank you Hazel!

Hazel with colleagues at the 30th Anniversary Event