Ending Trustees Week we asked our newest Isabel Hospice Trustee, Lisa Sale, some questions on her role. Our trustees are volunteers and are vital to our organisation. If you would like to be apart of our volunteer community. Please visit https://joinus.isabelhospice.org.uk/volunteer-with-us
- What made you become a trustee at Isabel Hospice?
I made a promise to the late Michael Freeman (and Chair of Isabel Hospice Board) that when it became possible in my life, I would return as a Trustee to Isabel Hospice, after working there for ten years. To give background to this …..Isabel cared for my father back in 1992, as in my late teens I saw the difference the care and support made to both my dad and my mum. My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer aged just 42. He sadly died aged 45. My dads nurse, was called Katherine, and she continued to visit my mum casually and annually at my mums place of work (she worked in a charity shop in Hertford at the time), my mum never noticed it was always within a month of my dads anniversary and she always spoke kindly about Katherine, and how this care and kindness continued, long after my fathers death. It stayed within my heart and I went on to try to raise £300 for a special ulcer cushion, that would have made my dad more comfortable- the hospice didn’t have enough of them, to lend one to my dad who needed it, so that was my very first fundraiser I did! However I then accidentally through my own lack of knowledge sent the funds I raised to MacMillan nurses! I was devastated and vowed to help in another way. In 2005 I became a member of staff and joined as the 25th Anniversary Coordinator. Within 12 months I was Head of Fundraising, which lead onto my favourite role I’ve ever had the honour to hold, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Isabel Hospice, for an additional nine years.
- How important is the role of a trustee?
Very, it creates a knowledgeable group of individuals, all with their own fields of expertise to ensure the hospice is well governed, operates within the law and achieves its objectives through its strategic goals. Through my own skill set, I will be working closely with the income generation teams.
Lisa has been a professional fundraiser and marketeer spanning nearly twenty five years and a Trustee of Isabel Hospice since August 2024. Currently, she works as a place programme manager for a local authority, where she currently manages a grants project and supports and works with many good causes through that.
