Like so many charities and not for profit organisations across the country, The Hebron Trust is dependent on its Trustees to make sure that we operate in the interests of the women we are committed to supporting, as well as strategically overseeing the management and administration of the charity. So we are catching up with our fabulous Trustees, who so generously give of their time to support us, to find out a little bit more about what motivates them.

In this blog, we catch up with Nigel Chapman, retired banker and Norwich resident. Since retirement, Nigel has been able to focus on voluntary roles becoming a trustee of a couple of local charities and he also enjoys mentoring and coaching. Married to Rosie, with twins in their second year of university, he even has time to play bridge to what he describes as “a very modest standard”!

How long have you been a Trustee?

Just coming up to 2 years.

How did you first hear about Hebron?

I was first introduced to The Hebron Trust by a friend who asked if I’d be interested in becoming a Trustee. He was involved in establishing Hebron. Prior to that conversation I’d never heard of Hebron.

What were your first impressions when you visited?

When I entered Hebron House for the first time I was struck by a strong sense of peace and calmness.  This was reinforced when I met Emma and the staff and the way they interacted with the women in our care.

What about Hebron are you most proud of?

So much about Hebron makes me proud. The love, care and patience shown by Emma and the team.  The resilience and hard work of the women in our care.  This said, what most comes to mind is hearing the testimonies of the women who have successfully completed the programme and are making new lives for themselves; very humbling.

When describing Hebron House to people who haven’t heard of it what messages are you keen to get across?

Having known nothing about Hebron at the outset, I’ll admit to some preconceived ideas about addicts and addiction.  What strikes me now is the sense that we’re all only 2 or 3 bad decisions away from finding ourselves in similar circumstances. As such, I’d ask people not to be judgemental.  Every woman that we help is somebody’s daughter, wife or sister and I think we need more understanding in society that addiction does not discriminate; and neither should we.

Hebron is a charity. How does it fundraise and has it been impacted by the current pandemic?

To pay for the top-quality care that Hebron provides means we have to raise a substantial sum on top of the funding provided by the state. This comes from a variety of sources: staff fundraising, donations from charities and private donors, as well as families of women that Hebron has helped. We closed for a period during the first lockdown however through good financial management we’ve managed to keep our heads above water. This said, fundraising is a constant challenge and it’s important that we make as many as people as possible aware of the important work that Hebron Trust does.

What expertise do you bring to the Board of Trustees?

Very little! My background is in finance so I suppose I can add value to some of the business type decisions that we have to make as Trustees.  As a group of Trustees we each bring something different to the table but what we all share is a passion and enthusiasm for the work that The Hebron Trust does.

If you only had three words to describe Hebron House and the work it does what would they be?

That’s a tough question but I think it would have to be – Hebron. Changes. Lives.