Trustees & Governance

Governance

Hospitality & Hope is a registered charity (1159213). We have a board of Trustees who have independent control over, and legal responsibility for, the charity’s management and administration. This role is voluntary and unpaid and all members share equal responsibility. The main legal responsibilities of the Trustees are to:

  • Ensure the charity is carrying out its purpose for the public benefit.
  • Comply with the charity’s governing document and the law.
  • Act in the charity’s best interests.
  • Manage resources responsibly.
  • Act with reasonable care and skill.
  • Ensure the charity is accountable. 

Our governing document provides the framework under which we operate. In addition to legal and regulatory requirements under charity law, trustees are required to ensure that all legal responsibilities directly associated with the delivery of our services (e.g. employing staff and managing buildings) are also met. There are comprehensive policies and procedures in place, approved by the Trustees, from safeguarding to diversity and health and safety. Financial policies and procedures are well established which meet legal requirements and good practice. Within these legal frameworks, the Trustees are responsible for directing the strategic development of the charity.

Regular ‘away day’ sessions are held to review progress and develop new ideas. Currently our Board of Trustees has seven members and is well established. Collectively they have a good range of skills and qualities and a variety of professional and personal experience. There are nominated roles of Chair and Treasurer as well as a representative from our volunteers who is able to provide a direct link between the governance and extensive volunteer support (usually a team in the region of 65 members). There is a good gender balance, representatives from the local area and specialists from other regions including the founder of a similar organisation in Yorkshire.

Trustees

The Board of Trustees have a wide range of expertise within their membership:

Professor Lynne McKenna (Chair)
Professor Lynne McKenna is Dean of the Faculty of Education and Society at the University of Sunderland. She is a Professor of Education and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Lynne is a recognised expert in teacher training in the UK and Internationally.

In 2020, Lynne was named as a leader in the field of innovation on the list of North Innovation Women and in 2023, Lynne was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List for her services to Education. Lynne has lived in South-Tyneside her whole life and is committed to supporting the community.

Sir David Chapman Bt. DL (Patron)
A former investment banker, David has taken an active part in the life of the region for over 40 years. During this time he has been a non-executive director of a number of companies, both public and private, and has served on the board of two national charities as well as being closely involved with many local ones.

A former High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear, he is passionate about the North East and remains involved in community affairs. He became Patron of Hospitality & Hope in 2014 and a trustee several years later. With a background in finance his forte is fundraising and he takes particular interest in corporate governance.

Sue Chilton (Treasurer)
In her role as Trustee Treasurer, Sue holds Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Level 4 qualifications. In her professional career before retiring, she worked at a senior management level within South Tyneside Council with specific responsibility for Community Associations. This involved managing an annual £3m budget, 150 staff, 20 community centres, HR issues and an adviser to Trustee Boards of Community Associations.

Magnus Willis
Born in Newcastle, Magnus has spent his career in London.  First working in advertising, then after a decade, co-founding Sparkler, a digital insight and strategy consultancy. From small acorns, Sparkler grew to 80 people boasting clients including Google, Diageo, Meta and HSBC.  In 2018, Sparkler was sold to PA Consulting and Magnus left in 2021.

Since then, he has worked across the commercial and charity sectors in advisory capacities, including the creation (with the Community Foundation) of the North East Roots Fund designed, as its name suggests, to encourage ‘exiles’ to give back to the region.

As a Trustee of Hospitality & Hope, Magnus brings with him a wealth of experience across brand strategy, marketing & communications, market research, and of course, how to successfully grow a business.

Karen Richardson
Local girl lived in various locations in the NE , but always return to South Shields , living so close to our beautiful beaches is a real priority for me .

Working for Newcastle Building Society has allowed me to develop my passion for “ connecting local communities “ . I am keen to make a real difference and use my working class background to help me understand how best to help and support those around me. I was drawn to the Charity as they are local and totally support my thinking of how important it is to share our knowledge . I Have volunteered in the food bank and the Community shops where I enjoyed meeting some great local people with fab stories to tell

On a personal level I am mum to 2 grown up children and grandma to Alby , as well as caring for my parents who live locally in South Shields. My hobbies are walking my dog Ozzie , playing badminton and enjoying good food with great company.

Louise Lydon
Louise has worked as a community pharmacist in South Tyneside for over 20 years since graduating from Sunderland school of pharmacy in 2000. Louise is passionate about tackling local health inequalities and sits on various alliancing boards / groups including long-term conditions, flu and Covid, smoking, drug and alcohol. She is an independent prescriber and a champion for extending the role of the community pharmacist, working outreach within communities.

Louise’s other professional roles include being the South Tyneside and Gateshead Local Pharmacy Committee secretary, a member of the South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group, a visiting lecturer at Sunderland University School of Pharmacy as well as now joining our wonderful team of trustees.

Further Information

Where there are gaps in expertise we have access to specialist support including HR that is offered at no cost. The Board of Trustees meet monthly to ensure they are able to meet their legal responsibilities. The agenda each month will include reports from each of the main service areas. These will outline progress made and highlight any areas for action that need to be considered. Detailed management accounts are also presented by the Treasurer. Other agenda items will vary depending on current priorities. An independent minute taker is responsible for recording the discussions and agreed actions taken at each meeting.

The Board of Trustees has delegated responsibility to two steering groups, the Executive Committee and the Funding Steering Group. Both have written terms of reference and the meetings are recorded and minutes submitted to the following trustee meeting:

The Executive Committee has authority to make any urgent decisions on behalf of the Board of Trustees outside of the regular monthly meetings within the framework of their terms of reference. Membership includes the Chair, Treasurer and another trustee.

The Funding Steering Group is the key body within the governance structure that is responsible for overseeing the securing of funding to enable us to deliver services. Support is strategic, ensuring that grant applications are developed that will support the delivery of the short and medium priorities identified in the strategic and business plans. They also provide practical support and review grant applications before submissions are made. Membership to the group includes the Chair, Treasurer, trustee with extensive funding experience, the Chief Executive (providing the link between strategic and operational) and the Funding Officer.

Where is the Food Bank

Hampden Street Operations Centre
Hampden Street
South Shields
NE33 4JR

Opening Times

Monday, Tue, Thur, Friday: 10am-12 Noon
Saturday – Sunday: Closed

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