As ASBAH Chair I necessarily spend a lot of my time with ASBAH monitoring income, asking questions about costs and managing governance structures - all very necessary functions, especially in this challenging economic climate.
But what really inspires me is the knowledge that if we get these fundamentals right we will continue to be able to deliver vital services for real people, facing everyday challenges in the real world. Our annual review helps us to remember that and to remind us that our focus is always about people, even if at times we have to concentrate on the things that help us to help them!
There is no doubt that an organisation like ASBAH, like any family or household, has to earn its living and balance its books in these difficult times and here too we rely on a team of people. Fortunately, ASBAH has the right people in place to raise money and manage it well, so while last year was very tough financially, we are still well placed to weather the storm.
Finally, with people in mind this is also a good opportunity to say a big thank you to Andrew Russell, who retired in 2009 after 18 years very successfully leading our charity and providing the platform for our new Chief Executive, Jackie Bland, to take us forward.
Richard Astle, ASBAH Chair
