Alma Caldwell retires

Alma Caldwell the CEO of Age UK North Tyneside retired on 8th March 2019 after 25 Years as Chief Executive.

The following is the text of her retirement speech which she gave to a gathering of friends and coleagues past and present on 27th February 2019.

I can’t quite believe I am standing before you now saying farewell to not only the organisation I have led for the past 25 years but to actual paid employment and working life.

How did I get this old so quickly! I am retiring from a lifelong career in the third sector where I found my niche in a place that played to my strong principles and values of social justice, equality and a belief that everyone deserves a chance in life and can make a positive contribution if given the right opportunity to do so. I wanted to work in a sector that did exactly that and where I could play my part.

Having come from the so called ‘underclass’ myself –brought up in a single parent family, on the benefit system in the west end of Newcastle, I know from first-hand experience what living on the breadline, homelessness and disadvantage is like. I wanted to make a difference for others and help to find ways to improve the quality of life for other people like me. Durham University Community and Youth work qualification gave me the political understanding and theory behind the practice and I’ve never looked back.

It has been the most amazing experience in so many ways and I count myself very fortunate to have been able to pursue a career in something which has been both a passion and vocation for me.

My first job after University was to set up Stepping Stones, 10 bed emergency accommodation for young homeless 16-21 year olds which still exists today in Newcastle (met Dave Gardiner from Probation Service and our paths crossed again 20+ years later when at AUKNT we started to work with older prisoners at HMP Northumberland). It is heartwarming and rewarding to meet some of those young people years later doing well with their own families and jobs. One young women in particular who I met many years later, a nurse during one of my numerous hospital episodes who persuaded me to let her carry out an unpleasant procedure I didn’t want to have done, on the basis of it being an important honour for her to be able to repay me for the help I gave her all those years ago and that had led her into her nursing career.

After establishing and running Stepping Stones for three years I left for my next challenge-to convert a derelict three story block of flats on Town End Farm estate in Sunderland (as part of an Estate Action housing regeneration scheme), into a thriving community enterprise where I worked to engage, develop and support three generations of unemployed residents into a variety of youth, employment, training and social enterprise initiatives. It was here I met my now wife and soulmate and learned to play golf! One of the young women I appointed straight from university, (Nikki Vokes), I am pleased to say is still there and became its Chief Executive.

I was proud to have been the first VCS organisation to approach John Cushnaghan, the Executive Director of Nissan when it first moved into Sunderland and asked him to lead a new pre- employment initiative to help all working age, long term unemployed people on TEF to become more employable. He became chair of a local employers group where we ran 8 week courses showing people the world of work, employer expectations and giving them practical interview and work experience. One of the staff Sandra Gray, who I employed to run the course, remain firm friends, despite her coming here to work for me as Day Centre Manager then becoming a Head of Service and me having to make her post redundant during one of the many restructures we have had to go through over the years.

After 7 years in Sunderland and looking for another new challenge, this led me to be appointed as Chief Executive to, what was then, Age Concern North Tyneside on 28 February 1994 this time working with and for the benefit of older people, the largest marginalised group in our society! This was the only job I have had which existed before me so it was a daunting prospect. Little did I know I would have to rebuild the organisation almost from scratch anyway and with a very disillusioned, angry and somewhat fearful staff group.

But it is exactly the kind of challenge I thrive on –righting the wrongs and believing in people and helping them to be the best they can be. Caring, building up trust, being honest but also being absolutely clear that our purpose as a charity for older people had to be uppermost in the decisions that we made. Little did I know Dawn and I would be doing the same thing a few years later, under an 18 month part time agreement, at Age UK Northumberland, strangely enough, where my predecessor had moved onto! Its lovely to see some of those staff here tonight who could tell that story.

Age UK North Tyneside has given me the opportunity to work at local, regional and national level to influence government policy, initiate and innovate in partnership with others across the public, private and voluntary sector. Call me a masochist but I think you have to be, to be an Age UK Chief Executive (where it’s like herding cats) trying to get anything done together and to sit in so many multi agency statutory sector meetings hoping to have some level of influence over the decisions made, if indeed any are made at all! However, I’m grateful that I have been able to play my part and hope in some small way I have been able to make a difference, particularly here in NT whether this be through the NTSP where I was Deputy Chair for a while or on the NT H&WB where we have, I am pleased to say, finally got Dementia recognised as a one of the borough’s key priorities.

I also enjoyed my nine years on the Board of the Community Foundation for Tyne and Wear & Northumberland where I served on a number of grant making committees during that time (it is much harder than you might think to give money away). I still make a monthly donation to the Women’s Fund which helps to improve the lives of women and girls across our more disadvantaged communities.

I have been very fortunate to have met and worked with many great people over this time and believe I leave behind a great staff team, with strong leadership and strong Board. I am confident the great work of the organisation will continue weaving its way through the many ongoing challenges it will no doubt continue to be faced with.

I owe a debt of gratitude to those who have supported me throughout my time at Age UK North Tyneside, including the 6 Chairs of various Boards of Trustees I have worked with over the years (two, I am saddened to say, who have since died but pleased to see both my current and previous chairs –Richard Adams and Jim Coulter here tonight).

I am also delighted that Tony Dunn, one of the original Trustees who appointed me and was Company Secretary for many years, is here tonight. I have always considered him to be one of my champions, valued his opinion, enjoyed the debate and challenge and we have become firm friends.

Dawn, you started in Finance and developed to become my Deputy –thank you from the bottom of my heart – it has been the perfect 23 year working relationship anyone could ask for and you have been the counterbalance needed to any Chief Executive’s next big idea but always finding a way to make them work.

Of course, I cannot not mention Angie Dawson, who is not only the longest serving member of staff (at 35 years), who has been asked to perform varied roles in that time, rose to all the challenges presented her and is now Head of Corporate Support. For me she has always been AUKNTs font of all knowledge, the Portfolio Queen as I call here, totally loyal, honest and reliable but also, quite literally, my life-giver after a year on dialysis, donating her kidney to me on 7 March 2007,giving me my life back. She is a truly remarkable and very special person indeed. Angela by name and certainly a living Angel to me.

I would like to pay tribute to all my staff and volunteers, some of you who are here tonight, the organisation wouldn’t be what it is without you –TEAM –Together Everyone Achieves More and I thank you for the commitment and dedication, time and care you give to the people who need and use our services. You are all great ambassadors for what we stand for and I know that from the many customers and their families who send letters complimenting you for the great love and care you show them.

The time feels right for me now, (while I still have some semblance of good health) to move on and I am very excited about entering a new future and shaping the next era of my life- I will be spending it relearning to play golf, getting fit, travelling, learning to play saxophone, learning Spanish -now I have a new Chilean son-in-law to meet when we go to visit my daughter Melanie in Melbourne, Australia on the 9 March- so exciting times ahead.

So whilst I am leaving the organisation, the friendship and bonds that have been made over those many years, will hopefully stay with me and continue to play a major part in my new life.

I believe Age UK North Tyneside has a bright and exciting future ahead, with Richard as Chair, two strong Boards and a stable and strong senior management team ably led by Dawn.

I wish the organisation continued success.

Thank you very much for the very generous gifts - you can assured the funds will be put to good use.