After a lot of time, thought and deliberation, I have come to the decision that now is the right time to step down as CEO and leave the organisation.

When I set up JIGSAW 9 years ago, I had the right skillset of quirky ideas, willingness to give anything a go, determination and bringing enthusiastic people together, but now we are a more established organisation, with our own prominent venue and business plan, it now feels like a different skillset is needed for the CEO role. This is not only the right decision for JIGSAW, but the right thing for me and my family. I am looking forward to exploring other opportunities that may present themselves, but I’m sure I won’t get bored.

My JIGSAW journey has taught me so much and challenged me on so many levels, but along the way some amazing people have played key roles in the development of JIGSAW, not least all the volunteers, staff and trustees, but also SGPC and Lemon Gazelle teams that provided JIGSAW (and me) with support and enabled successful development in the early days. The people that have inspired me the most have been the families, children and young people we support.

I can’t put into words the profound impact JIGSAW has had on me, it has been life changing and provided so many amazing opportunities that I would never have dreamt possible. Not least going to the Garden Party at the Palace and having a the Queen’s Signature on a piece of paper celebrating JIGSAW Thornbury!

This has been one of the many proud moments and highlights of the last 9 years! These have included our first holiday activity, setting up the lending library and numbering over 600 pieces of equipment, including individual pieces of Lego! One of my absolute favourite memories was when we had our DIY SOS moment, watching all the builders, carpenters, plumbers and carpet fitters walking down the road in their florescent yellow vests and hard hats towards the Bakery Annexe!

Obviously, I won’t mention the impact of the last few years with Covid where I feel like I have aged about 10 years!!! I am so proud of how the JIGSAW team pulled together and we actually managed to turn the crisis into a success by transforming our services so we could continue to support our families…& not forgetting securing our new home.

In the last year we have gone through another period of development, recruiting new trustees, new team members, doing a strategic review and putting together our business plan to give us increased clarity about what we are trying to achieve and what is important to us in the services we are delivering. Look out for communications about our JIGSAW June events where you can find out more about the charity’s strategy, vision and values.  I’m excited to say the future is looking very bright for JIGSAW!

Our board of trustees met to decide what the next steps will be. After considering all the relevant factors, they have decided that Hattie Clayton, our Chair of Trustees will step down from the Trustee Board and take up the position of interim CEO ensuring there is a sufficient handover before I leave in June. Hattie has worked closely with the members, staff and other trustees in driving forward our strategic review and beginning to implement our first ever business plan, so is well placed to provide the stability within the team as JIGSAW moves forward and continues to develop.

I want to take this opportunity to thank every single one of you for supporting me in my role and enabling my dream to become a reality. I am leaving in the knowledge that JIGSAW is in very safe hands. I will be back soon, as a parent and benefiting from the organisation in a different way.

I look forward to seeing JIGSAW progress as the new business plan is embedded and the JIGSAW team work towards it becoming a thriving and sustainable organisation.”

Best wishes,