New Chair Brings Fresh Leadership to Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire as Trustee Week Kicks Off

We are pleased to announce Craig Guthrie as the new Chair of our Board of Trustees. As Trustee Week begins, the charity is poised for an exciting new chapter under Craig's leadership.

This transition marks the end of an era with Robert Rankin, who has served as Chair since September 2020. Robert guided the charity out of a challenging covid period and will now take a step back to provide his expertise as a Trustee.

Craig Guthrie brings a wealth of experience to Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Age UK H&W), after a remarkable 30-year career in the police service. His journey through the ranks and various roles in uniform and detective work culminated in a prestigious secondment to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMICFRS), where he held a pivotal role overseeing all the police forces in Wales.

His impressive resume also boasts accreditations as a Chartered Manager, Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and Member of the Institute for Leadership and Management. Craig's passion for leadership and team development, as well as his deep interest in the impact of individual and team behaviours on wellbeing, will undoubtedly breathe new life into the charity.

When retirement loomed, Craig wanted to continue his work within local communities and was drawn to Age UK H&W. In his own words, “whilst researching voluntary roles in the local areas, I was immediately impressed by the dedication and commitment to supporting older people across Herefordshire and Worcestershire shown by the volunteers and staff of Age UK H&W.”

“It is an absolute privilege to now be appointed as Chair, and I am deeply committed to working closely with such a professional and enthusiastic team to make Herefordshire and Worcestershire a great place to grow older.”

Our CEO, Julia Neal, emphasizes the significance of Craig's appointment, highlighting the challenges in recruiting dedicated trustees in today's complex climate.

“We were delighted when Craig joined our Board of Trustees last year, given his experience particularly in relation to training and organisational development.  Having the support and leadership of a Chair with Craig’s experience is crucial for our success, given the challenges that charities currently face in meeting the growing demand for our services in an environment where funding is increasingly challenging.”

As we continue to broaden the expertise of our Board, we are actively seeking a new Marketing and Fundraising Trustee following the departure of our longstanding Trustee, Peter Evans, last month. This presents a unique opportunity for someone looking to make a meaningful impact in the community and to share and develop their skills.

If you're passionate about contributing to the well-being of our older community and wish to explore a trustee role, email us on referralhub@ageukhw.org.uk or give our referral hub a call on 0800 008 6077 to arrange a conversation with Julia.