As a niece of Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement, she has a lifelong knowledge of the sector. Professionally, Kate is a writer and speaker, and co-author of two books about the Cambridge Phenomenon.
“Both the Arthur Rank Hospice at Shelford Bottom and the Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre in Wisbech have been rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.” Kate Kirk said. “So I am truly honoured to have been entrusted with the role of Chair, and very mindful of the pressing need for all of our services, whether delivered in our own facilities or in patients’ homes.”
Kate will now work closely with the charity’s Chief Executive Sharon Allen OBE to develop the vision for the Charity going forward, to ensure that it continues to support those living with life-limiting illnesses or needing end-of-life care in Cambridgeshire, and grows to cope with increasing demand.
Outgoing Chair Isabel Napper commented, “This is an exciting and challenging time for hospice care in Cambridgeshire. I’m sure Kate will help maintain and build on the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity’s ethos of quality and excellence in everything it does.”
Fellow trustee John Short will now take the role of Vice Chair. The Charity has also recently welcomed two new trustees, Mark Kingstone and Natalie Acton. Mark is a tax partner in the London office of Linklaters, a global law firm, and Natalie is the Co-Chief Executive of Think Ahead, a mental health charity which recruits and trains mental health social workers.