Trustees, team members, guests and local leaders gathered on Friday, July 5th for the annual Chair’s Reception at Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust. Newly-returned Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell – fresh from the electoral count the night before – was special guest at the annual event at the historic Trust’s HQ, Lingard House in Walmley.
Image: SCCT CEO Tina Swani with chair Keith Dudley and Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell
The annual get-together provides an opportunity to update guests on the Trust’s activities over the past 12 months, as well as outlining future plans.
Chair Keith Dudley welcomed guests before speaking about work carried out over the last year, including the recent launch of a UK-first disability friendly golf facility in Walmley.
He also spoke about the ‘coming and goings’ over the last 12 months including thanking Rob Semple, who retired from his role as Finance Director in February, and welcomed Claire Evans, who has taken up the role.
Speaking to guests in the lounge of the alms house complex, he also had words of thanks for Pam Johnston MBE, who retired just days earlier after 37 years as the Trust’s alms house manager.
Keith said: “Pam has been involved in so many improvements over the years, and I’ve said before that she has been the lifeblood of this organisation for a long time.
“We’re all going to miss you Pam - you’ve earned your place in the sun.
“However, in view of your dedication and service to the residents here over so many years, we thought it ought to be recognised in some way, and so henceforth, this lounge will now be known as the Johnston lounge.”
The announcement brought warm applause from the guests in the newly renamed Johnston lounge to which Pam joked: “You’re all very welcome to stay!”
Keith went on pay tribute to trustees Steve Martin and Neil Andrews, who had stepped down at the end of their 15 years terms.
He added: “It is also with a heavy heart that I have to say that Inge Kettner, my former vice chair, resigned at the beginning this year – Inge you have contributed so much in so many different ways – you are a great loss to the trustee body.”
Then Chief Executive Tina Swani thanked Keith for his leadership, before talking passionately about the trust’s alms houses, its grants programme, local heritage and the trust’s own team.
She said: “Our vison is to enhance the quality of life for all in Sutton Coldfield. We do that through our alms house, and through the distribution of grants – but we are always looking to se how we can do more.
“For example, we are now researching housing need in Sutton Coldfield to find out if there might be a need for more alms houses.
“We have also expanded our grants programme by 50% from £1 million to £1.5 million per year, largely giving grants to organisations that support the residents of Sutton Coldfield.
“We’re looking at how we can be more inclusive as an organisation and how we can ensure our money is put to best use. We are also working to ensure our assets are put to their best use.
“However, our biggest assets are our people and that’s why I want to thank everyone here for everything we have achieved over the last 12 months.”
Finally, Andrew Mitchell MP also paid tribute to Pam Johnstone, and described the alms houses as a ‘wonderful, secure and welcoming’ environment.
He said: “Having worked with the Trust for 23 years I’ve seen the fantastic contribution it makes to life in the Royal Town.
“Sutton Coldfield is on the verge of a very significant renaissance. We have £8.5 million pounds allocated to our Cottage Hospital, which is becoming a hub for older resdients so they can stay in their home homes.
“Our Town Hall has a million pounds attached to it and is at the start of a major refurbishment. Our town centre also has huge funding lined up - £25 million for infrastructure, £10 for the Gracechurch Centre, and you can see already work getting underway in Brassington Avenue.
“I hope that in the town centre there will be a heritage centre and library, and also a new home for our town council.
“Then there is the issue of the disgraceful state of the Park, but we are on the verge of significant progress there too, with the town council diligently working out how a new three-legged Trust would work to get new investment in.
“We also have a £20 million Towns Fund, which will spend £2 million a year for 10 years which will, I hope, also substantially support the Park.
“Add to that the fact we will soon have the country’s best boutique cinema, and there is so much to look forward to. It’s a tremendous sprint forward running up to the Town’s 50th anniversary in 2028.
“Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust has a unique role to play in driving forward all of these issues – I think if we are imaginative and work together can make a huge impact on our home town.”
