Crossroads Care has a supportive and dedicated Board of Trustees who are unpaid and serve on behalf of their local scheme, which in our case is Sandwell. Here is a brief outline of our Trustees and their histories:

Ivan Wyle FCA – Chairperson

Our Chairman qualified as a Chartered Accountant in a professional office and soon moved into industry where he gained experience in the Group Accounts Department of a global equipment manufacturing group.  He developed international exposure as a line manager in one of their African subsidiary companies.

Upon returning to the United Kingdom he worked for some years in the accounting department of a company engaged in plumbing, heating and electrical contracting, and subsequently gained additional experience as a partner involved in businesses in property renovation, rentals and financial services.

He finished his career as the Group Chief Accountant of a local packaging company whose products were sold internationally.

Since retirement, he has become an active committee member and is currently Vice Chairman of the Sandwell University of the Third Age (SU3A).  This is a learning and social activities charity for older people operating out of West Bromwich Town Hall.  He was also a member of the West Bromwich Panel of the Community Development Foundation which was involved with charitable match funding principally in deprived areas.

He is now a life member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and has been our Chairman since 2006.

Howard Painter – Trustee

Howard was born and brought up near Rotherham in South Yorkshire before going to Hull University to study Electronic Engineering. After graduation, he worked in electronics in Tewkesbury before deciding “there was no future in electronics!” and retrained as a Chartered Accountant. He progressed to become a partner in a local firm of accountants and eventually ran his own practice where he had some specialisation in charities. On retiring from practice, he became a trustee of Sandwell Crossroads. His hobbies are varied but principally water-based and his claim to fame is that he taught Blue Peter presenters to scuba dive. Other charitable activities include being a First Responder with West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Wendy Bodenham – Trustee

Prior to retiring, I was a District Nurse Team leader in Sandwell for many years. I worked alongside many crossroads staff and witnessed their dedication and care shown to both patients and carers. I was also a trainer for student nurses. My other interest besides providing nursing care is in health and safety. I was a moving and handling trainer and lead a team of trainers with city and Sandwell health care. This ensures that both staff and patients are handled safely and use up to date equipment and methods.

Unfortunately, my arthritis got worse and I had to take early retirement. I also have an interest in social housing and have been a chair of a community housing association for some years, where we are landlords for social housing in West Bromwich.

Carol Murrain – Trustee

My professional career is in education as a Student Advisor supporting primary and secondary students in particular with the transition process.  In the past, I  served for eight years on the Lozells School governing body as vice chair. I have also supported PTA groups and community panels. In May 2012 my family was faced with the situation that our mother only had weeks /months to live. These are the times when you need the support and help of professionals, well for us that help came from Crossroads Care. The care package was arranged for my mother in such a short time, we were very impressed with how everything came together, from discussion with the doctor to the physio coming to assess the house, arranging equipment, meeting to assess our mother’s needs. Speed was vital, my mother died five weeks later, with great dignity, my family and I will be forever grateful to Crossroads Care for their care and professionalism.

I am very pleased that Crossroads Care challenged me to get more involved. Seeing first hand how they operate and being a part of the managing process is both humbling and gratifying. I am delighted to be a trustee and to share my expertise and experiences.

Matt Kelly – Trustee

Matt has worked in the voluntary and community sector for the last 13 years, managing projects and programmes both internationally and domestically. He currently manages an £80m small grants programme at the National Lottery Community Fund (formerly Big Lottery Fund). In his spare time, Matt enjoys volunteering, writing, music, and travel.

Mary Latter – Trustee

I have worked for a number of public sector organisations including adult education, social services, the Probation Service, the West Midlands Police and most recently the NHS. In the NHS I worked initially as Performance and Improvement Manager for Birmingham Drug Action Team, responsible for a portfolio of contacts/ services and for developing and procuring new services. In April 2011 I joined the Joint Commissioning Team for Mental Health as lead commissioner for Dementia for Birmingham, procuring and developing services and support for people with dementia and their carers. From 2015 this work became part of the Birmingham Better Care Programme, and I was also responsible for commissioning services for all carers and jointly managing the overall programme.

Sue Tuton – Trustee

RGN   MA (Manager and Human Resource Development) Diploma (Public Health)

Sue has worked across the NHS for over 37years and at various senior levels including Director of Nursing Services and General Manager in services which include Medicine, Older Peoples services and Mental Health in Sandwell.

In 2000 she moved to Birmingham and worked in Public Health promoting Health and Wellbeing to Local Communities.

In 2007 there was an opportunity of creating a different approach to Health Promotion. The opportunity was to create a link between empowerment and improved health outcomes at the community level.

A Community Interest Company (not for Profit) was founded based on the community empowerment approach and Health Education.

She has a passion for Health and Wellbeing and brings a range of skills in Strategic and Operational Management

Alex Nixon – Trustee

I have spent the last 28 years working within both the private and public sectors. For the last several years, I have primarily been working within the NHS as a consultant in Contracting across the West Midlands, Oxfordshire and Lincolnshire and am enjoying every minute of it.

I believe in the work that Crossroads do and am honoured to be part of this wonderful family.