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 Nik Vitkovitch, Chartered Director and experienced business manager and consultant, whose expertise we rely on as Chair of the Trust…
How long have you been a Trustee?
Ages and ages. I became a Trustee soon after Bethany Lodge was sold, and an Extraordinary General Meeting voted against merging Hebron into another, larger charity – probably about fifteen years ago. Three of the current trustees were already on board at that time.
How did you first hear about Hebron?
When my daughter (now aged thirty-one) was still in her Moses basket, Bill Gordon came to the Bible Study group that met in our house and shared what Hebron was about, encouraging us to pray for the safe recovery of the women involved. Then I discovered that a colleague at work was deeply involved in Hebron. At that time Hebron had both a Trustee Board and a Management Board; he persuaded me to join that in about 1992.
What were your first impressions when you visited?
Organised chaos. I recall meetings held in a swirl of activity, busyness and laughter.
What about Hebron are you most proud of?
The fact that it’s still operating, still meeting needs, and that it’s amongst the most effective rehabs in England.
When describing Hebron House to people who haven’t heard of it what messages are you keen to get across?
Firstly, thinking that addiction is a self-inflicted problem or a lifestyle choice simply misses the mark. Secondly, that what Hebron does, works; it really is through the countless acts of kindness that are built into the programme and fundamental to the culture of the Trust that we help people start to change.
Hebron is a charity. How does it fundraise, and has it been impacted by the current pandemic?
It’s a charity because its mission and purpose is to help those in need. Much of what we do is funded by local authorities’ health and social care budgets. These budgets don’t stretch to the full cost of care; each resident’s recovery costs more than those budgets will cover. The difference is made up through the kind donations of many supporters, as well as through fund-raising efforts like the Bishop’s Garden and the Hebron to Hebron Challenge. We have a fundraising partner who helps us gather enough for one-off projects (for example, the sailing course our residents enjoyed in 2019) and building works.
What expertise do you bring to the Board of Trustees?
I’m a Chartered Director and an experienced business manager and consultant. As chairman, I try to encourage each Trustee to contribute and try to listen more than I speak, which is a
challenge.
If you only had three words to describe Hebron House and the work it does what would they be?
Countless acts of Kindness is four, so that’s out. I’m tempted towards Love in Action, but will settle for “Together, you will”.