I first met Nan Maitland when we were both serving as trustees of Age Concern England in the 1990s. At the time, I was Chief Executive of a medical research charity, Research into Ageing (now part of Age UK).  Nan had just started Homeshare International, having previously been responsible for establishing the first Homeshare programme in the UK.

She was an inspiration to me and to many others. Her commitment to the importance of intergenerational relationships, the prevention of loneliness in later life, and the provision of affordable accommodation for younger people made enormous sense. In 1999, she established Homeshare International under the chairmanship of eminent gerontologist, Professor Malcolm Johnson. Like many others, I was drawn in to provide support, and in 2004 I became a trustee.

With the support of Rhian Bradley, Nan ran the charity herself until her retirement in 2007. At that point, I stepped forward temporarily as Honorary Director, a role that I ultimately fulfilled for twelve years.

During my time as Honorary Director, I was fortunate to be supported by an extraordinary international network of trustees. Together, we reached out to new and existing Homeshare programmes around the world. In 2009, we held our first World Homeshare Congress in Paris. Although modestly attended, it was a great success, bringing together programme coordinators to share experiences, discuss challenges, and learn from one another. Supporting that exchange of knowledge has remained one of Homeshare International’s most important missions to this day.

Following Malcolm Johnson’s tenure, Rhian Bradley became Chair. With her support, we established the Homeshare International network of subscribing members, launched a newly designed website and brand, and transformed the charity’s governance structure from a trust into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

Subsequent congresses became increasingly successful. We hosted the 2011 Congress in Cologne and the 2013 Congress in Oxford. Thanks to Beris Campbell, we developed a strong relationship with the Homeshare Australia and New Zealand Alliance (HANZA), which hosted the 2015 Congress in Melbourne. In 2017, thanks to the generous support of Solidarios, we gathered in Madrid. Then, in 2019, came the landmark Congress in Brussels, made possible through the incredible efforts of Régis and Claire de Kerautem, founders of 1Toit2Ages.  I never imagined that I would meet the Queen of the Belgians at a Homeshare Congress—certainly one of the highlights of my career.

HM Queen Mathilde of the Belgians with speakers at the Brussels Congress

At that Congress, it was agreed that administration of Homeshare International would be transferred to Shared Lives Plus, the umbrella organisation for Homeshare programmes in the UK. Unfortunately, that relationship did not flourish as hoped. Then, like so many organisations, we suffered greatly during the pandemic, which brought further congresses to a halt. The Homeshare in Conversation online sessions emerged directly from that period and, happily, have continued ever since.

We were therefore delighted when the Homeshare programmes in Italy invited us to participate in their national conference in Trento in 2024, giving us the opportunity to gather in person once again.

Over the years, we accumulated sufficient funding to appoint our first professional administrator, Sally Bird, in 2023.  Her three-year term came to an end this January.

When our Chair, Cheryl Snyder, was forced to retire due to ill health in 2024, I was serving as Deputy Chair and stepped forward once again, taking on the chair.  Working alongside Sally Bird proved to be a particularly fruitful period in the charity’s development. Systems were streamlined, the website was reviewed and renewed, and network membership continued to grow.

However, I and my fellow trustees became acutely aware that charities must continually reinvent themselves to meet changing circumstances. Homeshare programmes around the world face significant challenges as funding becomes tighter, expectations for demonstrating impact and efficiency increase, and the opportunities and implications of artificial intelligence continue to evolve.

Earlier this year, the Board was privileged to engage an experienced communications specialist, Fiona Scott, to facilitate a strategic planning session. The outcome was a challenging and thought-provoking report containing recommendations that I believe could transform both the charity and the wider sector. At that point, approaching my seventy-fifth birthday, after twenty-two years of service, I decided to step down from the Board of Homeshare International.

I am deeply grateful to all my fellow trustees for their support over these many years. The members of the network, programme coordinators, and supporters of Homeshare International have become friends. They have enriched my life immeasurably and ensured that my own later years will never be lonely.

I am particularly grateful to Sibel Whitehead for introducing Ian Burden, UK Department of Health Cross Cutting Programme Lead – New Hospital Programme, to the charity. Ian has generously agreed to serve as Interim Chair while the Board undertakes the important and sometimes difficult decisions that will shape the future of Homeshare International, and the Homeshare movement worldwide.

I leave with immense pride in what we have achieved together, confidence in the strength of the Homeshare movement, and every hope for its continued success in the years ahead.