Sue Killen and the ancient gateway of the St John's Priory. |
One of the great joys of my job is visiting charities -
old and new. Vibrant new social enterprises (I'm on my way to the launch of
" Future Directions" in Oldham today), household names and
community groups and ancient institutions that have been with us for centuries.
St John's Ambulance is a much loved national institution. All football fans know of their vital work in enabling matches to be played. Less well known is the work they do in the NHS in areas where they provide help
in assisting 999 calls. A growing role - they have an increasing role in
commissioned delivery for the NHS as well as their core role in first aid.
And all institutions need change. Sue Killen, their CEO
has been there 7 years overseeing a strong change management programme. Not
always easy she says but vital to modernise a service that is as relevant to
the 21st century as it was in the 19th. She has had to turn around loss making
activities and secure break even. And she is a striking example of someone who
left one of the most senior posts in the civil service to join the third
sector. A move she does not regret!
The work they do is a reminder of the power of charities
to harness the skills of paid professional staff with the drive and commitment
of trained volunteers. But volunteers need to be trained to the highest
standards and that is not cost free, nor does it come without significant
management and supervision. So many governments have had volunteering
initiatives that focus on getting more people to volunteer but forget this is
not cost free for charities. And let's face it, these days there are many
issues around effective safeguarding and other controls because as with many
members they face not simply regulation from the Charity Commission but from
the CQC amongst others.
You can go and visit as there is a museum at the gateway
that contains some fascinating artifacts and documents showcasing the
fascinating history of St John's Priory and the Ambulance service.
Yet another example of the power of the third sector to
do good. Maybe we might hear a bit about this in the coming election campaign. We have heard zilch so far.
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