Trustees’ Week – 4th-8th November 2024

As part of Trustees’ Week 2024, we will sharing with you interviews with some of our amazing Unite Carers in Mid Devon Board of Trustees. With this in mind, please allow me to introduce to you Bernice Philbrick, Chair of Trustees for Unite Carers in Mid Devon.

Thank you Bernice, for all that you do to help others.

Please introduce yourself.
My name is Bernice Philbrick, I have been a trustee with Unite Carers for 9 years.
Since retiring from a medical career, I have been involved in several volunteer roles in the Mid Devon area. Before joining Unite Carers as a volunteer, I was a carer myself. I attended the Oasis Group experiencing first-hand the invaluable support delivered by this amazing charity.

What is your role at Unite Carers?
Chair of Trustees. Initially I was a Trustee without a particular role until I began to take the minutes of board meetings, quickly graduating to Company Secretary. When our previous Chairman stepped down, I was appointed as Chair to a small board of just 3 Trustees. I now chair a strong board of 8 Trustees.

How did you first become involved and why?
Having been a volunteer in this area for over 20 years I was aware of Unite but never thought I would be a user of their services. When I became a carer myself, the support from Unite Carers helped me through a difficult time. When one of the Trustees suggested I join the Board I saw an opportunity to share my experiences and perhaps help other carers through their own troubled times.

Do you have any interests or hobbies? What are your passions?
I have a list of many and varied interests pursued over the years, the most recent being a very new interest in art. I rarely go out now without a sketch book and pencil. No masterpieces have rolled off my paintbrush but a few pleasing pictures adorn the walls of my summer house. I suppose my love of the outdoor would be an overriding choice should I ever have to make one.

What is the worst thing about being a Trustee?
I fail to bring to mind anything negative in my role as a Trustee. From time-to-time problems arise, none are insurmountable, such is the relationship between staff and Trustees. Unite is special; some of the support we give is not found else were. I would like the luxury of more spending more time promoting those services.

What is the best thing about being a Trustee?
As we acknowledge Trustees Week our Board of Trustees can proudly claim that we have moved onward and upward this year encouraged by various helping hands. We have increased our numbers and learned from the new skills bought to our board. We have seen the efforts of our staff produce positive results on all fronts. It is a privilege to belong to such a committed group of Trustees.