The long-serving chair of a Lancashire hospice is set to step away after nine years.
Karen Swindley has announced her retirement from the Board of Trustees at Derian House Children’s Hospice, based in Chorley.
Under her guidance, the charity achieved an ‘outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission and has strengthened Derian House’s reputation as a leader in children’s hospice care.
As chair, Karen helped steer major initiatives including the £1.7 million refurbishment of the hospice building and gardens in 2019, and the development of the Derian on Holiday service, which enabled families to enjoy precious time away together, free of charge.
Karen said: “It has been an absolute honour to serve as the Chair of Trustees at Derian House.
“Working alongside such passionate, talented people – from staff and volunteers to my fellow trustees – has been incredibly rewarding.
“I’m very proud of everything we’ve achieved together, especially seeing Derian House recognised nationally for the outstanding care it provides.
“Everyone hears about children’s hospice, and they think that it must be a sad place.
“And yes, Derian House does have some sad moments, but there is also so much joy there too.
“It’s filled with children and young people who are being given experiences that they wouldn’t ordinarily have.
“Our teams go above and beyond to make sure families make the most of every moment, and so it can also be a very happy place to be.”
Karen’s career in the NHS spanned 35 years before she retired two years ago as chief people officer at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Now stepping back from her role, Karen is looking forward to enjoying more time with family and friends.
She said: “The first time I visited Derian House was for an open day and craft fair at the hospice about 20 years ago.
“The hospice has links to my family as my nephew used Derian House’s services, so I already knew what the charity did.
“I have always been a public servant, and for me, it has always been about giving something back.
“I joined Derian House at a difficult time for the hospice. I remember being in my first board meeting with the other Trustees and discussing the outcome of a recent Care Quality Commission inspection, which had come back as ‘requires improvement’.
“To come from that, to a rating now of ‘outstanding’ is amazing.
“I hope I have been able to put that experience to good use during my time with Derian.
“I feel incredibly proud of the organisation and what it does. Derian House is above and beyond respite care.
“One of my favourite things about the charity is the holiday lodges, where Derian families can have a free week’s holiday each year.
“I feel honoured to have been part of this journey and to see how far we have come.
“I’m going to miss Derian House, it has been a huge part of my life for almost 10 years. I have so many memories there.
“Now that I’m stepping down, I’m looking forward to spending more time with family and friends, including my husband, Barry, and our two dogs Alfie and Mitzi.
“We’ll be spending lots of time doing DIY in our home as we have just recently moved. I’m also looking forward to spending more time catching up with friends.
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“It has been an absolute privilege. I want to say thank you to my fellow Trustees, who give up their time for such a fantastic cause.
“I also want to thank all the Derian House staff and volunteers, you are all amazing.
“Everyone is dedicated to what Derian does, and has made it the wonderful place that it is. I wish everyone all the best for the future.
“I feel so very proud of Derian House and all those who work there and those who support us. I hope that the charity continues to grow and prosper in the future.”
Paul Morton has now been appointed as the new chair of the trustee board.
Karen Edwards, chief executive of Derian House, paid tribute to Karen and said that she had been instrumental in shaping the vision of the hospice and ensuring that they delivered on their promise to children and families.
She said: “I have enjoyed working with Karen, she has been a huge support for me especially in the early days of my role as chief executive here at Derian House.
“Karen has brought wisdom, compassion and a deep commitment to everything she’s done here at the hospice.
“Her time as Chair has been instrumental in shaping our vision and ensuring we deliver on our promise to children and families.
“We are incredibly grateful for her dedication and all she has done to strengthen the hospice.
“On behalf of everyone at Derian House, I thank her sincerely and wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement.”