Did you know it’s Trustees’ Week 2025? This is a time for charities to come together to celebrate the achievements of nearly one million trustees across the UK. We can’t thank our Trustees enough for the time, commitment and effort you bring to the Peter Pan Centre to help us thrive.
One of our incredible trustees is Katrina, mum to Meliah, who kindly sat down with Claire to discuss her experiences sitting on the Board as a parent carer representative.
(1) What made you decide to become a Trustee for the Peter Pan Centre?
My daughter started at Peter Pan when she was 2 years old. They did so much work with her. When she started at Peter Pan, she couldn’t sit up unaided. When she left, she was pulling to stand. I was asked to be a trustee when Meliah left for school and I was so excited to be able to give something back to the place that had done so much for her.
(2) How long have you been a Trustee?
I’ve been a trustee for 6 years. Wow, I didn’t realise it had been that long!
(3) What is the best thing about being a Trustee?
Being able to help other parents. It was such a challenge when Meliah was young, being able to offer some experience to others at the start of this very long, very difficult road is incredibly fulfilling.
(4) What is the most challenging part?
The self doubt! My fellow trustees are all very accomplished people, who are excellent in their fields, and then there’s me, the parent. 😂😂 But, they don’t have the experience that I do, so it’s nice to know I have something to offer.
(5) What do you think is the most important skill or knowledge you bring to the Board?
My experience as a parent carer. We are incredibly lucky to have an amazing chief executive who has the same experience that I do, and it means that the parents and families get extra support.
(6) What contribution or achievement are you most proud of?
Definitely being a part of the huge changes that have happened to the centre in the last couple of years and knowing that I’ve helped other families. And filling the centre full of noisy toys so they would remember Meliah when she left! 😂
(7) Have you gained any new skills through being a Trustee?
I’d love to say that I’ve learned to read a finance sheet, but I’d be lying!
(8) What motivates you to stay involved?
Starting your life with a child with special needs is incredibly difficult. Your life has changed with having a child, but it changed in a way you didn’t expect when they have special needs. It’s a long, lonely road, filled with people who don’t understand. People who make assumptions, give terrible advice and think they know better than you. Places like Peter Pan are so important because they are there to help and support you. I had so much help from them at the start of my journey with Meliah. Help with filling out paperwork, finding the right school, the right services. They even helped with getting Meliah a specialist bed. If I can offer a fraction of that help or support to parents accessing the service, then I will continue to do so. I don’t see a time when I won’t want to be involved with Peter Pan. I can’t express how grateful I am to them. As long as they want me, I’ll be around! Like a bad penny! 😂
(9) Do you have any words of wisdom to anyone thinking of becoming a Trustee for the Peter Pan Centre?
Whether it’s becoming a trustee, or volunteering in any other capacity, you will never regret getting involved with the centre. They do such wonderful jobs. I honestly can’t sing their praises enough.
Thank you Katrina!