New Chair of Trustees appointed
Published on 20 December 2023 11:30 AM
Marjorie Creek, a Plymouth based Solicitor specialising in advocacy for the elderly, former Nurse and Naval Veteran who joined the board of trustees in November 2021 has succeeded Benny Wright as Chair of Trustees. Benny who has served as trustee since 2016 and as Chair for the last two years will continue to support Age UK Plymouth as Vice Chair of Trustees.
With 27 years experience as a registered nurse with a wide range of specialisms including Palliative Care, Community Nursing and Elderly Care and now as a fully accredited member of the Solicitors for the Elderly and a Legal 500 recommended lawyer, Marjorie’s tenure as trustee is a fitting position for a professional with a career focused on the values of supporting older people through the promotion of choice, opportunity and independence.
“I am immensely proud to accept the position as Chair of the Board of Trustees and very grateful to Benny for his continued commitment to the Charity, as Vice Chair,” said Marjorie. “The Board supports the work of the CEO David Wood, his colleagues and volunteers, without whom, the people of Plymouth would not be able to benefit from this amazing Charity.
“It is a challenging time for all in the voluntary sector, but we are determined, that those in our community who need additional support, for whatever reason, to ensure they maintain their independence and dignity, get it. The impact of a diagnosis of dementia, in addition to the normal challenges of older age, in a ‘cost of living crisis’ can be devastating. Our team at Age UK Plymouth is at the forefront of dealing with that challenge on a daily basis and can be extremely proud of the service they offer to the city of Plymouth and surrounding areas. They are the best of us.”
“Marjorie brings a wealth of experience from her career in both the health care sector and as a legal advocate for the elderly – her support is invaluable as we continue to both provide vital services to create and maintain opportunities for independence across the city, and as we look to increasingly elevate our campaigning for the rights and liberties of over 50s and those living with dementia in our community,” saidDavid Wood, Age UK Plymouth CEO.
“I speak for myself, our colleagues, volunteers and clients when I thank Benny for his unwavering support and dedication over the years. Benny came to us as a befriending volunteer and was one of those extraordinary people that charities are built on, who sees the challenges and sets themselves on helping support the solutions.
“During Benny’s term as Chair of Trustees he was an essential part of the evolution of the charity to the mainstay of the community it is today, especially with regards to the establishment of the Short Term Care Centre at Mount Gould. We’re delighted that Benny will continue to support the charity and Marjorie throughout this period of transition, our heartfelt thanks for all that he has helped us accomplish and best wishes for his future projects.”
"Age UK Plymouth has come a long way over the last 10 years. The staff and volunteers have been key in driving our evolution over this period, they have been truly amazing," said Benny. "Our greatest challenge now is to secure income to fund our brilliant services. Marjorie is a huge advocate for the older people of Plymouth, she is so passionate about all the brilliant work that Age UK Plymouth does. We need businesses and individuals in the city to feel as passionately as we do, and to put their hands in their pockets to support those most in need in this wonderful city of ours."
Age UK Plymouth’s Board of Trustees have the legal responsibility for making sure that the charity is doing what it was set up to do – Gov.uk defines the positions as being there to “lead the charity, deciding how it is run” and an opportunity for volunteers to “use their skills and experience to support their charities, helping them achieve their aims.” Megan Potterton, a recent addition to the Board of Trustees at Age UK Plymouth writes a regular blog where she dives into the responsibilities of being a Trustee and gives an insight into their roles and personal motivations.
For more information about any of the work of Age UK Plymouth, please visit www.ageuk.org.uk/plymouth. To find out more about working in partnership with Age UK Plymouth or to talk about how your group or organisation can work with or support the charity please email enquiries@ageukplymouth.org.uk.
