Hunt begins to find new charity director for TCR Hub

Significant changes are in the pipeline at TCR Hub in Barnard Castle.

The community venue is looking to appoint a new hands-on charity director to help shape the future of the organisation while also seeking funding opportunities.

It also wants to take on more trustees.

The centre had previously been run under a chief executive until the departure of Rachel Tweddle a year ago.

Chairwoman of the trustees Hannah Thomas said: “We had a chief executive and that worked well.

“Then we had an interim year where we didn’t want to rush into a decision about management structure.

“Jonny Elliot and Sarah Gent stepped up to the joint operations manager role.

“They have done an amazing job; the staff have stepped up, and volunteers have been involved in how it operates. That allowed us to take stock and reflect on what we want to be doing.”

The chairwoman said the trustees believe the person at the helm needs to be hands-on, as Ms Tweddle had been.

She said: “The charity director will be helping to find the funding and also helping shape the strategy for the charity moving forward.

“We anticipate whoever comes in will have a formative approach to how the charity will develop. We hope that it will be a collaborative effort including staff as well because we have ongoing projects that are vital to the community.”

The new charity director will be involved in recruiting an operations manager because Mr Elliott is moving on to new pastures and Ms Gent will in future be working part-time for the Hub, and part-time for the Highlights Rural Touring Scheme.

Ms Thomas said: “We do wish Jonny good luck, because he has been an absolute star. He has been here 15 years – he is part of the building.

“Jonny has agreed to stay on to ensure a smooth transition, so it should seamlessly move from one to the next.”

She added that Ms Gent’s new role with Highlights, which organises performances at rural village halls, could potentially see some exciting collaboration between the two organisations.

Ms Thomas said: “It is an exciting change going forward, there’s lots of fun and exciting things happening at the Hub, and I think it is a great opportunity.

“There are amazing staff, outstanding volunteers who dedicate so much time and it is just a really nice place to be.”
There are four members on the board of trustees, the minimum need for a quorum, so an effort is being made to recruit new people.

Anyone interested in joining the board can email trustees@tcrhub.co.uk