01474 533990

Tomorrow marks a huge moment for Alzheimer’s & Dementia Support Services (ADSS), as we attend the 2025 Charity Governance Awards, where we’ve been proudly shortlisted for the People in Governance Award. This national recognition honours our outstanding Boards of Trustees – and we can think of no better time to celebrate this than during Volunteers’ Week.

At ADSS, our Trustees are key to the success and culture of the organisation. They are volunteers who give their time, skills, heart and insight to help us deliver life-changing services for people affected by dementia across Kent and Medway. Their leadership, dedication and courage have powered our transformation over the past five years.

From Ambition to Achievement

Back in 2020, our charity stood at a crossroads. Amid the fear and difficulties of the global Covid-19 pandemic, ADSS was also facing rising demand, a major upcoming tender process, and the need for strategic leadership. Our Board acted: a new Chair was appointed, a five-year strategy was created with Pilotlight, and a governance overhaul was launched.

Fast forward to today – thanks not only to these changes, but also to the incredible dedication of the ADSS Senior Leadership Team and all of the staff and volunteers – and we’ve already exceeded those original ambitions:

• Support reach increased by 296%
• Around 6,000 people now supported each year
• Core costs reduced from 21% to 14%
• Dementia Coordination Service expanded to cover half of Kent
• Wellbeing groups increased to 40+ each month
• Major NHS and local authority contracts secured
• Income increased

Sam Barton, Chair of the Trustees, comments: “This success is no accident – we have worked hard to build a strong, highly engaged Board, and to work closely with ADSS’s dynamic, passionate leadership team to achieve a common mission. We are united by a shared set of values and a fantastic culture, and we are so proud to be a part of this success.”

Trustees: Leading with Heart and Expertise

As we mark Volunteers’ Week, it’s important to remember that our Trustees are volunteers too. They offer their time and talent not for recognition, but because they care deeply about improving the lives of people living with dementia.

Here’s what makes our Board exceptional:

• Skills & Values-Led Recruitment: Our Nominations Committee ensures we have the right expertise – finance, HR, law, marketing, charity, business development – combined with a passion for ADSS’s mission.
• Active Engagement: Trustees attend service visits, staff forums and annual away days to stay connected with the heart of the charity.
• Professional Development: Ongoing training in governance, health & safety, cybersecurity and more keeps our Board sharp and informed.
• Advisory Groups & Committees: Our Trustees work closely with staff through our People and Brand Advisory Groups and serve on subcommittees focused on Finance & Audit and Quality, Risk & Compliance.

Setting the Course for 2030

Building on the momentum of the past five years, and with the involvement of staff, volunteers, our Senior Leadership Team and the Board, we recently launched Strategy 2030: “Facing Dementia Together with Kent & Medway”. This new roadmap commits ADSS to being:

• Visible – Raising awareness and expanding reach
• Accessible – Offering support in every corner of Kent & Medway
• Equitable – Championing inclusion and support for underserved communities
• Heard – Taking a rights-based approach to amplify the voices of people affected by dementia

Win or Lose, We Celebrate

“As we prepare for tomorrow’s awards ceremony, we do so with immense pride in what we’ve achieved – and even more excitement for what lies ahead,” says Sam.

Whether or not we bring home the trophy, our Board has already won by helping ADSS become bigger, brighter and bolder. To our Trustees, during this Volunteers’ Week, we say thank you. Your time, vision, compassion and leadership have helped shape a stronger, more resilient ADSS. You are the reason we can stand tall among the best in UK charity governance.

And to all our volunteers – on the Board, in our services, in the community – you are the heartbeat of ADSS.