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Annual Report 2000-2001 ]
Our People, Our Place, Our Strength
This year has involved a high degree of turbulence for Worldaware.
It is a great tribute to the small cadre of staff and volunteers
that momentum and output has not suffered, and it is fitting that
part of this year’s report should focus on the people who have
really made the achievements possible.
The decision to move offices from Central London to Coulsdon was
not taken lightly. Instigated primarily as a result of a difficult
rent review, it provided an opportunity to reflect on the sort of
organisation we should, and could afford to, become. Building on
earlier decisions to focus more heavily on education, we recognised
the advantages in being located where there was the ability to construct
a strong local dimension to our work. The London Borough of Croydon,
with whom we had opened discussion on provision of teacher support
services, was an obvious area, and the timely offer of cohabitation
with ECHO International Health Services in highly suitable accommodation
fitted well. We look forward to a happy association with both ECHO
and the local community.
Leaving Central London, however, was not easy. The impact on staff
has been extremely heavy. Although the director and the two main
education officers, Angus Willson and Simon Scoones, were able to
relocate, others were not. This meant saying goodbye in particular
to three loyal and long-serving staff, who deserve the highest recognition
for their contributions over many years at Worldaware.
Christine Price…
who joined in 1982, has been a remarkable servant. Her achievements
in nurturing, developing and successfully administering the complex
annual business awards scheme have been outstanding. Her imagination
and impartial but knowledgeable advice to entrants, sponsors and
assessors alike has had a profound impact on the progress of the
scheme. More widely, Christine acted as the co-ordinator of the
Worldaware Business Programme, and her ability to inspire and persuade
has been instrumental in generating support and building a network
of businesses with a common interest in the role that the private
sector plays in development. The strongest of team players, she
has demonstrated a wholehearted belief in the importance of international
development and the eradication of poverty and inequality. We are
already missing her knowledge and quiet passion which galvanised
us so well.
Pete Tombs…
was for ten years the quiet conscience of the organisation. His
sensible management of the financial and sales departments ensured
Worldaware’s survival and prosperity during the 1990s.
Trisha Sharratt…
administered the resource centre effectively for over a decade,
and added the spice that kept the office alive.
Losing the combined experience of these three staff so abruptly
has certainly hit hard. Compounding this loss, budgetary pressures
forced us to reduce our permanent staff from 9 to 5.5 full-time
equivalent. In doing so, we also said goodbye during the year to
Romana Khanom, Nicky Henson and Samantha Gooding.
On a happier note, three excellent new people have joined our staff:
Pom Daniells (Business Awards Co-ordinator), Craig Jackson (Finance
and Sales Manager) and Denise Axten-Burrett (Resource Sales Administrator).
They have settled in quickly; together with Angus Willson and Simon
Scoones, who have done wonders in advancing the education department
and developing fruitful partnerships, they have worked extremely
hard to ensure that our clients and customers continue to have a
supportive and efficient service at all times. We welcome the new
team.
Worldaware could not, however, function without its volunteer support.
In this respect, the move has meant reluctantly that David Howell
OBE will no longer be able to work regularly for us. His long association
and deeply intelligent contributions to the business programme have
been truly outstanding. However, we are extremely fortunate that,
despite the long journeys involved, three of our regular volunteers
– John Wood (Business Awards Organiser), Pat Trussell (Education
Associate) and Alex Bain-Stewart (Technical Assistant) – have
moved with us to our new premises. They deserve our thanks.
There is not room to mention all the other support we have enjoyed,
not least from our Council of Management and other part-time volunteers.
Their contribution is gratefully acknowledged.
A new place, and many new faces – but they combine to offer
the same dedication to the task. The agenda is even more important
than ever. |
