< trustee Archives – Mamie Martin Fund

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Reflections of a new Trustee

Phil Wright, a new member of the MMF Board reflects on his journey to here:

“Back in February 2023 my daughter Hannah, who is currently a Mamie Martin Fund volunteer, started to follow MMF on Twitter. And so, the journey to trusteeship began . . .

From that point, MMF followed Hannah back (I think that’s how it works?) and so a link was forged. It was forged to the point of me being registered for the Manchester Marathon to run alongside Han to raise funds for MMF. Marathon duly completed, I contacted Moira (who had been a great encouragement to Hannah) and we met with her and Mercy in Skelmersdale at a brilliant tea-party where Mercy shared news from Malawi. I was hooked!!

Since then, I have joined the incredible team at MMF to help with the oversight of the charity’s work. I have been warmly welcomed and incidentally re-united with a former colleague from Malawi (who ironically used to oversee my work as a headteacher in Zomba, as part of the school’s board of trustees). It has been interesting to learn how the charity works, the impact of the work on the lives of young girls in Malawi and the important role Mercy plays as she engages with the girls at school.

The supporters of MMF are amazing and dedicated in their fundraising and awareness-raising in support of the girls in Malawi, through the imaginative initiatives they undertake.”

Thanks, Phil, your support is much appreciated.

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Welcome to our new Trustee, Fran

We are delighted to welcome Fran Coates onto our Board. Fran got involved with MMF when she enrolled in ‘Borders22’ last year and took her MMF tee-shirt across Europe on an 8-month trip from Saint-Malo to the Black Sea. She introduces herself:

“Since retiring as a Sign Language interpreter (SLi) in 2019 I have made two long cycle/camping trips around Europe.

The second was avidly followed and supported, for the full 8 months, by the MMF Borders 22 team. There are not the words to express what a boost this was during my trip, lifting me out of the lows, thankfully of which not too many, and celebrating the highs. Upon my return I have been invited to join the Board of Trustees, an honour I have proudly accepted.

Prior to my career as an SLi I worked in IT support, therefore I hope my skills can help maintain and enhance the development of this wonderful charity.”

Thanks for this on-going support, Fran. We know that you will be a great help to MMF in a number of ways. Now, get on with cycling those 30 bridges as part of your #Birthday30 pledge!

Fran and her bike enjoying Yorkshire bridges
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Why be a Mamie Martin Fund Trustee?

MMF’s Co-convenor shares some ideas about trusteeship of our little organisation, with thanks to all those who contributed to this list.

  1. Educating and empowering girls helps to save the planet. See BBC Radio 4 – 39 Ways to Save the Planet, Educating and Empowering Girls
  2. The Scotland -Malawi and Malawi-Scotland relationship is strong and well supported by our governments. As a Trustee you will be playing your part in a lively and vibrant country to country partnership 
  3. We are a working Board, so you will have the opportunity to use your existing skills and experience as well as learning new skills
  4. We use digital resources to work and communicate as efficiently as possible and to save time
  5. Your work will be interesting, you will learn a lot and will never be bored
  6. You will never be short of conversation topics, or material for interviews and applications
  7. You will give your time and energy, but you will know that you are helping to make a difference. See Number 1 above.