01550 760400James stepped into his new role on the first day … of a new term … of a new academic year – marking the start of an exciting new chapter for ECT. It was the perfect way for James to join the team as he shared his journey with many other fresh faces for a fully immersive introduction.
Having previously made waves in the music and performing arts sector, James will draw on his experiences to sustain and grow the charity. Rather than us telling you all about him, we thought it might be nice to hear from James himself, so we asked him a few big questions …
What are you most excited about in your new role as CEO?
This is an amazing charity and it’s a real privilege to be part of such a rich and thriving community. The charity places great value and importance on creating meaning and purpose in peoples’ lives, which makes it a particularly special organisation to be part of. The Trust is also setting its sights on growth and expansion to ensure that as many people as possible can benefit from what we offer, so there could be no better time to join the team.
How are you describing Elidyr Communities Trust to people who have never heard of us?
A magical place to live, learn, and be yourself!
What changes are already in the pipeline and what do you foresee in the future?
We never stand still. In my first week alone Garnllwyd Barns (our new home in the Vale of Glamorgan) opened to residents, we had two glowing inspections from Estyn and CIW, and we welcomed ten new learners and residents to Elidyr Communities Trust. Looking ahead we’re all getting excited about the prospect of extending our offer further by opening a new day service at Parc Dewi Sant in the heart of Carmarthen. Watch this space.
How would you describe your leadership style?
Friendly, empowering and honest (with a large dose of fun 😊)
Are there any past experiences that you’re hoping to apply or bring to Elidyr Communities Trust?
We are all the sum of our experiences, but you can’t really beat good listening, clear communication and having a decent plan. In my previous roles, being part of a strong and supportive team, working with excellent people, and setting high standards for myself and others has always been key, but a role like this is an opportunity for different experiences and learning something new. I’m also keen to bring my passion for music and the performing arts to ECT. Aside from that, aim for success but be prepared that failure is sometimes just part of the journey.
What’s the best thing you’ve seen or learned at Elidyr Communities Trust so far?
Most of all I have been moved by personal interactions throughout the day and observing how small acts of kindness can have such a positive and profound effect. The other big lesson … you can never – ever – eat enough good cake!
As we welcome James, we’d also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to our Chief Finance & Operations Officer, Tom Thurtle. Without hesitation Tom stepped up as ‘Acting CEO’ and led the organisation through some challenging months. With Tom’s support, ECT continued to move forward and we ended the year with our highest ever number of new learners and residents. The Board of Trustees would like to thank Tom for his unwavering commitment to our organisation.
So, despite being nearly 50 years old already, Elidyr Communities Trust feels as fresh as ever! We can’t wait to build on everything we’ve achieved so far and continue to provide lives full of meaning and purpose for as many people as possible. We wish James the very best in his new role and look forward to sharing lots of exciting developments with you all very soon.
Welcome to the team James Slater! We hope you’ll love it as much as the rest of us. #TeamElidyr