Chair & Trustees

• The Lavender Touch

• VO105468

After more than twenty years of dedicated service to the Scottish Borders community, The Lavender Touch has announced that its founder and current Chair, Jan Beattie, will be stepping down from the role. As the charity looks ahead to its next chapter, it is now recruiting new Trustees, including a new Chair, to help guide its future direction.
Founded in 2004, The Lavender Touch was created to offer therapeutic treatments to people undergoing cancer treatment and their carers. Over the past twenty plus years, the charity has become a trusted and valued source of practical and emotional support across the region.
Jan has shaped the organisation from its earliest days - establishing its ethos, supporting therapists, strengthening governance and nurturing partnerships. What began as a response to a simple but important need - restoring safe, compassionate touch during cancer treatment - has grown into a sustainable local charity with deep community roots.
While stepping down as Chair, Jan will remain closely involved with The Lavender Touch and is committed to supporting a smooth and thoughtful transition.
Jan said: "It has been a privilege to see how this idea has grown over more than twenty years. I feel incredibly proud of what has been built together and grateful to everyone who has supported the charity along the way. I believe this is the right time for new leadership to bring fresh perspective and energy, and I look forward to continuing to support the charity as it moves forward."
The Lavender Touch is now inviting interest in the role of Chair of Trustees, alongside additional Trustee positions, as the charity prepares for its next phase.
The charity is keen to hear from individuals who:

• Share its values and belief in compassionate, community-led support


• Bring lived experience, curiosity and empathy as much as professional skills


• May have experience in health, wellbeing, community work, finance, HR, safeguarding, fundraising or communications
  The Lavender Touch recognises that many people may not have considered becoming a Trustee before and is keen to reassure potential applicants that governance is a shared responsibility.
  The role can be shaped around what individuals are able to commit, and no one is expected to carry the responsibility alone.
  Charity Manager, Pauline Williams said: "We are deeply grateful to Jan for her vision and her steady commitment over more than two decades. As we look ahead, we are seeking both a new Chair and new Trustees who care about our work and want to contribute in a way that feels manageable and meaningful. You don’t need to have been a trustee before - what matters most is alignment with our values and a willingness to work collaboratively as part of a supportive Board."

Experience required

• Caring and compassionate with an interest in helping those in our local community
• Confidence in speaking in public
• Experience of working in or running a business
• Marketing knowledge and experience
• Experience in the development of policies.

Travel details

Scottish Borders

• About
• Location
• Notes

Support

Training details

Induction and trustee training.

Restrictions

Minimum age: 18

Volunteers (aged 18-25) taking part in this opportunity are eligible to claim Saltire Awards hours for their activity.
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