FIVE-STAR APPOINTMENTS
W
OODEN Spoon has bolstered its squad with the appointment of five new trustees. The strategic signings bring additional expertise across a breadth of specialisms – and two familiar faces – to the children’s charity of rugby’s board, which continues to be led by Quentin Smith. Boasting experience in both the private and public sectors, Jane Harwood, Graham Allen, Christine Braithwaite, Brett Bader and Callum Whitton succeed four trustees who have reached the end of their terms of office but remain committed to supporting a charity they have served with distinction. Retiring from the board are Nigel Timson, who has been appointed President of Wooden Spoon; Richard Smith, who is to continue to volunteer as a project inspector and assist with fundraising and finance operations on Wooden Spoon’s Yorkshire committee; David Allen, who has pledged to back fundraising through his business networks; and Martin Sanders, who will be helping to deliver voluntary projects. Quentin Smith, Chair of Wooden Spoon’s Board of Trustees, said: “It is a really exciting time for Wooden Spoon but also tinged with some sadness as we say a huge ‘thank you’ to four hardworking, very effective and supportive retiring trustees. “We followed a careful process to select new trustees, which involved the whole board. We were forensic in our approach, working to understand the skills we already had at board level; which particular skills we would be losing with the trustees leaving and
“The charity has been a fundamental and very active part of my life since 1983” – Nigel Timson what particular skills and experience we were looking to gain with the new appointments. “We had an extraordinary response when we advertised the roles and are delighted with the appointments who bring great insight and experience from a range of disciplines such as youth problems, sports at all levels, business leadership and volunteering. “There is a good representation across a variety of ages, gender and geographic parts of the country. They are bursting with energy and creativity, and will bring a really diverse, fresh, outlook to our work.” Nigel Timson (pictured above), a founder
of the children’s charity of rugby, said he was deeply honoured and privileged to become Wooden Spoon’s new president. “The charity has been a fundamental and very active part of my life since 1983,” he added. “I see my role as supporting the chair and trustees to actively help and support taking Wooden Spoon onto its next stages of development and growth.” Sarah Webb, Wooden Spoon’s CEO, said: “I look forward to working with our new board and president, drawing on their expertise and support, as we navigate the challenges and opportunities presented to us in the current environment.”
CHRISTINE BRAITHWAITE
A marketeer, rugby player and chair of women’s rugby at Firwood Waterloo Rugby Club, Christine brings a blend of marketing, customer relationship management, business improvement and sporting acumen to the Wooden Spoon board. Having learned her trade at 3M, where she developed a keen interest in the digital and data disciplines of marketing, the freelance consultant and trainer has previously spent a three-year spell supporting the Beanstalk charity. “I was invited to a Wooden Spoon Merseyside lunch by former England rugby player and captain Gill Burns MBE last year and heard first-hand from the head teacher of a school for children with special needs,” she said. “The school had benefited from a sensory room, funded by Wooden Spoon, which was having an amazing impact on its pupils. I love the charity and really wanted to get involved, so when I saw the trustee role come up, I applied immediately.”
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Autumn/Winter 2020
woodenspoon.org.uk
