Love dogs? Want to give something back? Support Dogs’ board looking for new trustees

A LOVE of dogs and a background in multi-million-pound project delivery are behind one man’s drive to help a charity to fulfil its potential.

David Hobson is chair of the board of trustees at the national Support Dogs charity. It is a voluntary role at the charity which is dedicated to improving and saving the lives of people living
with a range of health conditions.

The Sheffield-based worthy cause provides and trains autism assistance dogs to help autistic children, seizure alert dogs to help people with epilepsy and disability assistance dogs to help
people with a physical disability to live safer, more independent lives.

The charity is looking for new trustees to join its board. Trustees are volunteers who provide governance and contribute to Support Dogs’ strategic future.

Those with experience in charity or business operations, governance/fundraising, finance or expertise in autism, epilepsy or disability are particularly sought.

David, who is Sheffield born-and-bred, has worked on some of the city’s most iconic buildings, including the Lyceum and Crucible theatres. He joined the board in 2018, and brings with him 40 years of experience in the quantity surveyor, construction and project management field.

He recalls Keith Williams, the charity’s treasurer, sitting between himself and Mary Broadhead, now board vice-chair, in a curry house and Keith trying to persuade the pair to get involved.

David, who has two labradors called Ted and Harry, said: “I’ve worked for big companies but for the latter 20 years, worked for myself, with my partner. I started to think about winding down and wanted to give something back.

“Support Dogs’ autism assistance programme is just amazing – having children and now grandchildren of my own, I realise how important a child’s early years are and the role these dogs play
is incredible.

“With the seizure alert dogs, they are magic – I think it’s wonderful that they can guarantee those minutes of detecting a seizure up to an hour before it happens.”

David says he is honoured to have helped the charity to make more efficiencies and increase value for money.

“I’m very proud to be a trustee,” added the 68-year-old, who lives in Misson, near Doncaster.

“I think the work the charity does is exceptional, but out of the thousands who apply for help, we can still only help a small percentage due to our limited resources.

“If I can do something that means we can increase the numbers we support two or three times over before I leave as a trustee, I will be pleased that I have got out more than I put in.”

Since David joined, Support Dogs has grown to support clients across the UK, not just in Sheffield.

Trustees can be based anywhere in the UK and are required to attend quarterly meetings, as well as the occasional ‘extraordinary’ meeting and up to two annual away days. They are expected to
read documents ahead of meetings.

Good communications skills, the ability to understand budgets and financial spreadsheets and an understanding of good charity governance are among the skills required.

All trustee roles are voluntary and unpaid, although expenses incurred in fulfilling duties will be reimbursed.

Anyone considering a trustee role is asked to submit an up-to-date CV and expression of interest covering letter (no more than one side of A4) by email to Support Dogs’ chief executive Rita
Howson at rita.howson@supportdogs.org.uk by 5pm on Monday, March 4.

Location: Sheffield