We have proactively been recruiting for new Trustees to join and strengthen our existing Board, and we have some exciting changes to let you know about.
But first a farewell……. we are sad to say goodbye to Peter Stevenson our wonderful Treasurer, who has been on the board for what seems like forever. Peter has seen Forever Hounds Trust through some very important milestones, guiding the charity through its transition into an incorporated status, through our change of name from Greyhound Rescue West of England to Forever Hounds Trust in 2016, and of course our important purchase of our own Centre in Devon. Holding the financial reins of a charity is an onerous task, and none more so than through a pandemic, which of course was unchartered territory for us all. Peter of course did so with aplomb, ensuring we emerged unscathed. Always a “safe hand on the tiller” Peter has been a key member of the Trustee team, and he will be sorely missed by us all. We wish him a long and very happy retirement.
As part of our Trustee recruitment drive we are so very pleased to introduce you to two new board members. Claire will be taking over the Company Secretary role, and Paul will take over as Treasurer from Peter. As you can see, as well as their impressive skillset, they are also devoted sighthound lovers, and we are delighted to welcome them to the Trustee Board.
Paul
Hello, my name is Paul Hoban. I’m a Finance Director based in Cheshire and a Chartered Management Accountant, who has spent the last 20 years working in finance. I have worked at a senior level in both public listed and private companies, along with having charity experience, which I gained from working for a Housing Association. I’m looking forward to using my finance/management skillset to work with FHT on strengthening the finance side of the charity and inputting into the strategic direction as a Trustee.
Boring part over, I also love all dogs, especially sighthounds, which is why I wanted to be part of FHT and the amazing work you all do improving the lives of hounds! I have a 7 year old lurcher called Mishka who is extremely spoilt as all dogs should be. I run canicross with Mishka, she goes to the office with me and I actively avoid going anywhere that won’t allow dogs. Thankfully the local pubs are very dog friendly and my partner is also crazy about hounds!
I look forward to meeting and speaking with some of you soon!!
Claire
Hi my name is Claire, my first hound was a lurcher, called Orinoco. He was a perfect mix of greyhound, saluki and borzoi – as laid back as a greyhound, aloof as a saluki and legs that went on forever from his borzoi grandparents. We did a doggy DNA test, and the conclusion was that we had a good-looking couch potato! And with him, and since we’ve had a whippet, 3 galgos and now a greyhound. Our current cohort is Wellington (all my boys have followed the womble theme, along with Tobermory and Tomsk), he is a 6-year-old greyhound (rescued not retired!) and Poppy our 10-year-old Galgo.
Professionally, I spent 10 years working in the NHS looking after support services. Imagine everything people complain about with the NHS from finding the place, getting through on switchboard to car parking, reception, to finding their way around, the cleaning, catering and so on fell in my remit – so I developed a really thick skin when it came to dealing with feedback! I also got used to having to provide more and more services with less and less resource and people as budgets were cut year on year which was a good grounding for working in the charity sector. After the NHS I moved into the charity sector, working for Amnesty International for 10 years and now work in a membership organisation. My current role is Director of Operations, and I’m responsible for the management of the finance, IT, HR, facilities and governance in the organisation along with two associated companies running a conference centre and letting our office space, both of which are important income streams
Adopting a Rescue Dog