Meet our Chair of Trustees Katharine Horler

Her approach to leadership has always been centred on enabling others to do their best work.

"I used to say that my job was to hold everybody up and make it possible. It was all about the frontline. My role was about making sure that people at the frontline could do the special job they were there to do."

That philosophy remains important to her today.

Before becoming Chair, Katharine had already been volunteering at Thames Hospice, using her experience in leadership development, facilitation and coaching to support colleagues.

She describes volunteering as something that has always been part of her life, and firmly believes that people often gain as much from volunteering as they give.

Nearly a year as Chair: what stands out?

As she approaches her first anniversary, Katharine says one of the things she particularly values about Thames Hospice is the consistency of its culture.

She makes a point of talking to people wherever she goes, whether that's colleagues on reception, volunteers in the café or people she meets in the corridors.

"What I always want to know about an organisation is, does what those people tell me correlate with what the Chief Executive or the Senior Leadership Team are telling me? And in good organisations, it absolutely does. At Thames Hospice, it does. That's really lovely."

She has also been struck by the way colleagues come together behind shared successes.

Two examples stand out from her first year: Trunks across the Thames and the Hospice's Outstanding rating following its Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.

While recognising the enormous effort of the teams directly involved, Katharine was particularly proud of how the whole organisation got behind both achievements.

"Whatever job you did at Thames Hospice, people were supporting Trunks. People were posting and sharing on social media, going out on the trail, talking about it and being proud of it. That was really lovely to see."

And the CQC result was another example of that collective effort, with the experiences and feedback of frontline colleagues reflecting the values and quality of care discussed at Board level.

Looking ahead, Katharine is ambitious for Thames Hospice. She recognises the financial pressures facing hospices across the country and the need to continually review and develop services to meet changing needs.

"I'd like Thames Hospice to be a leader, not a follower. I'd like us to be setting direction and for people to be looking at us as examples of good practice."

What does being a trustee really mean?

Trustees are sometimes the unsung heroes of a charity. They give their time voluntarily, but carry significant responsibilities for its governance, direction and long-term sustainability.

Katharine is clear that the commitment involved should not be underestimated.

"I think it's a huge commitment. This is probably the biggest commitment in any of the roles I've done before, just because of the complexity of what you're doing."

She explains that being a trustee goes well beyond attending Board meetings. It means understanding the organisation, getting involved in events and activities, supporting colleagues and taking the time to think carefully about the decisions being made.

She describes trustees as stewards of something precious, with a responsibility to look after the organisation during their time in the role and, wherever possible, leave it in an even stronger position for those who follow.

There is also an important balance between supporting the Executive Team and being prepared to ask challenging questions.

Katharine describes this as being a critical friend.

"You shouldn't be too much critical and not enough friend, but you also shouldn't be too much friend and not enough critical. It's about getting the balance right between the two. You're supportive, but you don't support to the detriment of asking challenging questions."

She also highlights the particular skill involved in leading and influencing as a volunteer. Unlike a paid leadership role, trustees cannot rely on formal authority. They need to build relationships, earn trust and motivate people through shared purpose.

For Katharine, that makes the role both challenging and rewarding.

Why hospice care matters so much

For someone who has experienced the difference hospice support can make, Katharine is passionate about helping more people understand the value of specialist end-of-life care.

She believes society still finds it difficult to talk openly about death and dying, and that people often don't appreciate what hospice care offers until they or someone close to them needs it.

"When you have had direct experience, you understand the impact that a good death makes, both on the individual who's dying, but on the friends and family around them."

She recalls a story shared in a previous edition of Moments magazine, in which a family member described how hospice care had taken away the practical pressures and worries surrounding her husband's care, allowing her simply to be his wife.

"If we can give people that opportunity to just be somebody's wife, somebody's child, somebody's parent, whatever, that's so precious."

She also believes charitable support plays a vital role in allowing hospices to offer those additional touches that make such a difference to patients and families.

One example she particularly loves is the Hospice drinks trolley.

"It's just a really simple thing, but it's kind of normalising. To have someone come and say, 'Would you like a drink?' which feels quite normal, is really lovely."

She believes that the charitable contribution also connects Thames Hospice to its local community, something she has seen particularly clearly through Trunks across the Thames and the conversations it has started about what hospices do and why they matter.

A privilege and a responsibility

As she looks towards her second year as Chair, Katharine hopes to see the Hospice continue to develop its services, make the best use of its resources and ensure that its care remains responsive to the needs of local people.

Above all, she wants to see Thames Hospice continue to thrive.

Reflecting on her role, she says:

"I hope you've got the sense of how proud I am of Thames Hospice, and for me, what a privilege it is to be the Chair. I do feel it's an enormous privilege."

And her message to anyone who might be considering becoming a trustee or volunteering in their local community is simple: take the leap.

"I've always said you get far more than you give. You learn so much about other people, other people's cultures, how they tick. I would really encourage anybody interested in being a trustee to make the leap."

As we mark Trustees' Week, we thank Katharine and all our trustees for the time, commitment, experience and care they bring to Thames Hospice. Their contribution helps us protect what is special about our charity today, while shaping a sustainable and ambitious future for the people and families who need us.

Thank you, Katharine, and thank you to all our trustees.