Lench’s Trust appoint quartet of new Trustees
Birmingham’s oldest charity has signalled its intention of growth and modernisation, following the appointment of four new Trustees.
Lench’s Trust has secured the skills of an academic expert specialising in the built environment, a legal professional, a leadership guru and a housing strategy professional with some 40 years’ experience of the city’s housing stock.
Monica Mateo Garcia is a Senior Lecturer in sustainable Built Environment at Birmingham City University. She has broad experience in the housing sector in the UK and in Europe as a lead of the Centre for Future Homes, works to achieve social and environmental impacts contributing to healthy living by reducing illness and increasing wellbeing by enabling occupants to living in healthy and safer homes in low carbon communities.
She is joined by Louise Teboul. Louise’s background includes her current role as Partnerships Director - UK Senior & Global Programmes at Common Purpose. She brings skills in high level facilitation and chairing, leadership programme designed and delivery and business development.
Matthew Lake, Partner at Weightmans LLP, Matthew has significant experience representing local authorities and registered providers and is a committee member of the Midlands division of the Social Housing Lawyers’ Association.
Completing the ratification of four, the Trust welcomes Guy Chaundy who has very recently retired after 40 years’ service having held the role of Assistant Director Housing Strategy and Enabling at Birmingham City Council. Guy adds to the rounded Trustee board with his strong understanding of the national and local housing landscape, including accelerating delivery of new housing to meet growing need.
The appointments follow the departure of Tim Cuthbertson & Leke Sholuade , both former chairs of the Trust who has served as a Trustee for over 18 years and 7 years respectively. Tim & Leke have been a constant in the modernisation and transformation that has happened at the Trust in subsequent years. Tim was a pivotal figure overseeing the building of William Lench Court the biggest investment in Lench's modern history.
Richard Moxon , newly appointed Chair of Lench's Trust taking over the reins from Abdul Malik who will remain as a Trustee, said: “I would like to thank Tim & Leke on behalf of all our staff, fellow Trustees and our residents for their incredible service to the trust. Their legacy is a strong one and fitting that we’ve felt necessary to attempt to fill their very skilful and passionate boots with not one but four appointments!
“It is in part thanks to Tim & Leke’s governance strength and that of our current trustees, that we’ve been able to attract such a high standard of new appointees. Lench’s Trust has a long-standing history of innovation to deliver quality homes for older people in need, and with planning permission being sought for several new schemes, a new partnership seeing us taking on the management of four additional Almshouses Charities, securing a well-rounded board of Trustees who share our passion is critical to that ambition being realised.
“A warm welcome to Maria, Louise, Matthew and Guy.”
In 1525 William Lench, a Tanner by trade, decided to leave his worldly wealth to 19 of his friends by a Deed of Gift. His will on 24 March 1525, asked that the monies be used for works of charity.
Today, Lench’s Trust now houses more than 200 residents across its Almshouses, providing care, support, housing and encouraging independent living for older people in Birmingham aged 55 and over.
To continue the 500th anniversary celebrations, Lench’s Trust is organising new facilities and activities for its older residents aimed at improving their lives. Echoing the generosity of William Lench, donations and sponsorship are welcomed. To find out more about becoming a Friend of Lench’s or to see available accommodation, please visit: https://www.lenchs-trust.co.uk/
