As part of this year’s celebration, Sarah Glew, who was appointed Farleigh’s new Chair of Trustees in September 2025, shares her journey to becoming a trustee and explains the vital role they play in ensuring the hospice is solvent, well-run and meets the needs for which it was set up.
Sarah Glew’s connection to Farleigh began during one of the most difficult times in her life: her husband Andy’s final days. Andy, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour, died at home in March 2020 shortly after the first COVID lockdown.
The care the family received inspired Sarah to want to give back, leading her on a remarkable journey, from initially fundraising for the hospice, to becoming a trustee and the Chair of Financial and Income Generation Governance committee, and subsequently, the Chair of the Board of Trustees.
A celebration of life and a new beginning
In honour of Andy, Sarah and the Farleigh fundraising team organised two major balls in his memory: the first at Braxted Park in March 2022, which raised £24,000, and a second in 2024. The 2022 event served as a “celebration of life” due to the strict 10-person funeral restrictions in place when Andy passed away.
Sarah’s growing involvement initially started with her becoming an ambassador, often working with the fundraising team due to her established connections from the balls. In 2023, she became a full trustee.
In 2023, she accepted an open position, starting as an associate trustee (designed for individuals with specific skills who want to gain experience in governance without the full legal responsibilities of a trustee) before becoming a full trustee.
After the former Chair of Trustees, Keith Spiller suggested she consider the role, Sarah was appointed Chair a couple of months ago, officially beginning on 1st September 2025. This step has increased her commitment, with the role requiring about one flexible day a week, increasing to two or three days before board meetings.
Sarah, a former Clinical Embryologist who co-ran an IVF clinic with Andy, brings a wealth of transferable business skills, including experience with marketing and budget planning, to the board.
Sarah explains the vital roles of the trustees
The board, made up of volunteers with diverse expertise—including lawyers, GPs, and HR professionals—plays a crucial role as a ‘critical friend’ to the Executive team. Trustees provide oversight, challenge decisions for efficiency, and approve critical items like the new upcoming 2026-2030 strategy. This happens often in the background before being shared wider once finalised.
As a result of current pressures with lack of funding from the NHS, government and Integrated Care Board (ICB) for hospices, the Farleigh Hospice board and Executive team, led by the new Chair Sarah, need to look closely at how the hospice is run to ensure financial sustainability. As Sarah explains, the board must face “difficult decisions” regarding efficiency and service provision to continue to be able to provide the “great things it does, as more people are needing care now more than ever.”
Trustee motivation
Sarah explains that trustees join the board for a variety of reasons, although the main motivation is a desire to give back to their local community.
John Sweeney, who has recently been appointed as the Vice Chair of Trustees, is an example of this – when he was able to semi-retire early, he felt he wanted to help society in some way. He also volunteers in our Inpatient Unit at North Court Road in his free time outside of his trustee duties.
Being a trustee can not only bring fulfilment at retirement, but for those earlier on in their careers, it can be a positive way to broaden their skill set and gain wider knowledge.
For Sarah, the role is intensely personal, providing her with a new purpose after a difficult period in her life.
“I am giving back time to something that helped me in one of the most important and horrible times in my life but something positive has come out of it.”
To see more about our Trustee Team, click here.