Thank you and goodbye to Tom Haire, Chair of the MindWise Board of Trustees

Wed, 11 - January - 2023

As 2023 began, the MindWise team paid their respects and fond farewells to our Chair, Tom Haire.  Tom has been part of our Board of Trustees since 2016, and has been an integral part of our work.  At our goodbye lunch, Tom shared some reflections about his time with MindWise, while also welcoming our new Chair, Colin McMinn. 

"As a Trustee of MindWise I have been privileged to work with and for you during some of the most difficult times many of us have had to face in our lives.  We have weathered the storms Together and I have every confidence that MindWise will continue to grow from strength to strength in the years ahead, especially as you push forward with Our Strategy 2022 - 2027.

It is with considerable sadness that I retire from the Board of Trustees this month having served seven consecutive years as a Trustee, the last 4 of which as Chairperson. My term of Office as Trustee and Chair has ended and at the last Board meeting I was delighted that Colin McMinn, Trustee, was appointed as our new Chairperson for the year ahead. I have no doubt that Colin, much like myself, will enjoy the role as Chairperson, and will be an excellent ambassador for mental health and for MindWise. My thanks to Colin.

As I leave, I just wanted to say a few words of particular thanks to all you volunteers and staff out there who make MindWise work so well.

It has been a real pleasure to be part of our volunteer team and to have been involved with such a wonderful organisation, meeting with so many of you, sharing your time, and making great friends along the way.  One regret that I have is, with the pandemic spanning the last two years or so of my time, that I was unable to visit more of our services and all you volunteers, staff and clients that make them work so well.  Before Covid struck, I had been able to visit Carrick, Downpatrick, Inverary, Ben Crom, Belfast Resource Centre, the Appropriate Adult Service, as well as learning of so many less face-to-face services that are provided.  You are all providing a tremendous service that I and the Board appreciate and respect.  So many thanks go to you all. 

All I can say as I leave is, keep up the great work you are doing.  What you do is so important for our service users.  Helping those in difficulty is what MindWise is all about and what makes us a great organisation.  Many thanks to you and my fellow Trustees.  Keep MindWise at the forefront of everything it does - supporting and empowering people affected by mental health issues to live their best lives."

A huge thank you to Tom for everything that he has helped us to achieve together. Welcome to our new Chair, Colin McMinn, who will doubtless continue steering us forward.