Trustee, Kevin Hall tells why joining Field Lane reinforced his own beliefs
How long have you been a trustee for Field Lane?
I joined the board at Field Lane in October 2023 after a 45-year career in retail and then adult social care. I retired in 2022 and finding a role as a trustee of Field Lane was just what I was looking for. It’s an incredibly varied, responsible, and rewarding role.
Why did you choose Field Lane as the charity you wanted to get involved with?
Following my retirement, I was actively looking for a non-executive director / trustee role within the charity sector linked to social care or education. I was delighted to be approached about the role at Field Lane. The values and beliefs of Field Lane matched my own and I knew this was an organisation I’d be comfortable and honoured to support.
What has surprised you most about working with Field Lane?
Rather than surprised me, I’d say reinforced my beliefs about how hard those working in smaller companies work to support all aspects of the organisation. The front-line staff work with total dedication and commitment in supporting the clients living in their projects and staff working within head office wear many hats to ensure all the central management activities are covered. I’ve had the pleasure to visit the projects and been very impressed by both the length of service of many staff and their dedication.
What do you wish other people knew about Field Lane?
I would love the wider public to know about our fabulous projects and the massive difference they make to the quality of lives of our clients. Field Lane as a part of the care sector is small and local and because of the type of high-quality care we provide, we appeal mostly to local authorities and the NHS looking for care placements, but I would love more families in our local areas to be aware of us and able to place their loved ones with us directly. People outside of the care sector find it difficult to understand how challenging it is to support people 24/7 in a care home or project. I would love the public to have ‘a day in the life of a support worker’ experience to broaden their understanding.
What is your hope for the future of the Field Lane, its clients, and its staff?
My first hope would be that the organisation never loses sight of the values and Christian ethos that underpins the way we provide care and work together as a team. A charity needs to be financially sustainable, but not commercially aggressive. For Field Lane to grow and to be able to support more clients in more locations, we must have a solid financial platform, whilst still adhering to our beliefs and values. I hope that our clients continue to have the best possible lives living in our projects, supported by a brilliant, experienced, and caring staff team.
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