BWBF - Talkabout Page 3

Peter McDonagh
Chairman BWBF

Having taken over the chair from Sir John Wall last year, I quickly discovered that the Fund was embarking upon a period of considerable change in order to become better equipped to face the challenges of the years ahead. It was felt that a Board of twelve trustees, instead of twenty, would have significant advantages – although this was going to mean a complete change to our Articles of Association.

After a great deal of thought and discussion with the current officers, our Chief Executive and an external consultant, we agreed on a formula for the recruitment and retention of a Board of Trustees who will be much more heavily involved and who will steer the Fund successfully into the future.

We have therefore tried to build a Board in which:

a) Trustees from major and minor charities for blind people are included.
b) Trustees from all four United Kingdom countries are represented.
c) All members of the Board will bring with them a portfolio of required skills for the direct benefit of the Fund.

We have also had several long discussions concerning the formulation of various committees and have put concrete proposals to Trustees once the new Board has been formed.

I am therefore pleased to announce that from June 16 2006 the new trustees of the British Wireless for the Blind Fund aside from myself will be;

Ray Hazan,Wally Kinder, Charlie Lucas, Jim Moran, Deane Houston, Richard Mazur, Terry Ottewell, Peter Westwood, Steven Derrick, Jonathan Hewat and Jason Mowe.

I am also delighted to report that BWBF has undergone a sound and thorough review by the Charity Commissioners, who have not only given us a clean bill of health, but have endorsed our initiatives throughout.

Peter McDonagh