Our People
Age UK Gloucestershire is an independent charity governed by a board of trustees who are all volunteers. The Government’s Charity Commission website has detailed information on the role of trustees at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-essential-trustee-what-you-need-to-know-cc3
Members of the board:
Patricia Le Rolland
Patricia worked as a State Registered Nurse for many years during which time she also qualified as a clinical teacher, tutor and was a principal lecturer for students of Health and Social Care. She has also worked as an Assistant Director in the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and Director of a UK statutory regulator for postgraduate medical education.
Since retiring, Patricia has undertaken voluntary work for years with Age UK Gloucestershire's Home from Hospital and now Out of Hospital clients. She was Chair of Governors at her local primary school. Patricia was Chair of the Regulation Board and Registration Council for healthcare scientists (those who are not statutorily regulated) at the Academy for Healthcare Science until March 2022. Patricia was also a Non-Executive Director at the Academy.
Helen Bown
Helen has held a number of roles within health and social care in Gloucestershire since 1981. Initially as a qualified Occupational Therapist, and latterly with a wider remit for joint commissioning services for older people. During this time Helen led the strategic planning for services for people living with dementia and their carers. Prior to formal retirement, Helen spent time working with Barnwood Trust supporting work to expand the opportunities for people living with disabilities and those with mental health challenges to pursue their interests. This work has given Helen a good overview of health and social care policy and strategy, and plenty of experience of change management.
As a retiree, Helen is keen to promote healthy active ageing, challenge stereotypes, and promote good quality care for people who may be more vulnerable or marginalised. Helen lives in Gloucester city centre, enjoys walking and all the wonderful countryside the county has to offer, as well as swimming in Cheltenham lido for as many months as possible.
Martin James
Martin is a recently retired civil servant who has been a Gloucestershire resident all his life. He worked for 40 years in the Department for Work and Pensions helping unemployed people into work and managing contracted employment provision.
He also served as a volunteer Officer for 36 years in the Gloucestershire Army Cadet Force and in 2013 was awarded an MBE for services to the unemployed and to young people in the Army Cadet Force.
Ian Crocombe
After a successful career in financial services, Ian has applied his deep knowledge of change, continuous improvement, service operations and people development to running his consultancy business helping organisations to be better.
Over time, he has been a Business Excellence & Investors In People Assessor and Social Enterprise mentor. He is currently a member of MGBA, a nationwide network of independent business advisors and a Princes Trust mentor. He passionately believes in the recycling of corporate skills for the benefit of Age UK Gloucestershire and is excited to be part of this successful team. Married with two children, two grand daughters and three cats, he is a Cheltenham Town season ticket holder, a keen cyclist and (not very fast) jogger.
Dr Ian Donald
Ian came to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital as a consultant geriatrician in 1988, and led the elderly care department through many transformations for 20 years. He was son of a GP in Edinburgh, and was trained at Cambridge and Edinburgh. Before retiring in 2020, he had spent the last 10 years developing a specialist frailty service at the front door of the hospital, providing early assessment and liaison with community services to facilitate hospital discharge. He enjoyed working across all sectors of health and social care, and had experience on the boards of West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust and Bristol Clinical Commissioning Group. He has a special concern for those experiencing frailty in later life, to ease suffering and improve quality of life. He believes passionately that medical care should be used wisely, sometimes sparingly, and as just one part of more holistic care.
He has previous charity experience with Care and Repair England, and more recently with Gloucester Charities Trust and Harnhill Healing Centre. Christian faith is a bedrock of his life, and he is married to Philippa, a Priest in the CofE. They have three sons and three grand-daughters.
Helen Ginman
Ahmed-Said Hansdot
Interested in becoming a trustee?
Due to the end of existing terms, we’re looking for a number of new trustees to join our Board. We’re looking for people who can share their wide range of skills and experiences and want to be involved in helping us make the biggest difference possible to the older people of Gloucestershire.