The start of a new year is always a great time to reflect on what’s happened over the last 12 months, and to think about what’s to come.

I’d like to say thank you to all our volunteers, fundraisers, supporters, older people, and staff for choosing to be part of Re-engage, and for welcoming me so warmly into the charity just over a year ago. New beginnings can be daunting as well as exciting, but I was immediately made to feel part of Re-engage, which helped me quickly gain a clear view of the landscape and begin to understand what makes the charity tick.

What struck me almost at once is the number of people we support, and the incredible community of volunteers who make it possible to deliver services across the UK. Our volunteers are committed, creative and compassionate, and without them, Re-engage simply wouldn’t exist; the work they do, the time they give, and the kindness they show is impressive, and more than a little humbling. One of my priorities as CEO of Re-engage is to make sure we support volunteers from the moment they apply to join us, to the minute their volunteering with us comes to an end – we're working hard to enhance the ways in which we support the thousands of women and men who choose to give their time to support us.

Without the generous support of the individuals, trusts, companies and organisations who support our fundraising work, it’d be impossible for Re-engage to survive and thrive, and I’d like to extend my personal thanks to everyone who chooses Re-engage as the charity to support. We appreciate times are challenging as the cost of living increases and priorities naturally change, and we promise to continue working hard to make the most of money donated to change the lives of older people living with loneliness.

Re-engage is no stranger to transformation – after all – no-one reaches the grand age of 60 without changing with the times, but I believe what’s important is that we stay true to the ethos that underpins everything we do: to reduce loneliness in later life.

The next few years promise to be an exciting time of transformation and growth for Re-engage, and much of my time in 2024 was focused on getting to grips with the organisation and developing the future-focused strategy, along with colleagues and our board of trustees. The plan prioritises reaching even more older people and supporting volunteers as effectively as possible, with the aim, as always, of supporting older people in the UK experiencing loneliness or isolation.

Re-engage celebrates 60 successful years in 2025, and I’m honoured to help mark this significant anniversary by being part of the team shaping the future of the charity. Re-engage is incredibly fortunate to have such amazing volunteers, older people, and staff who are warm, welcoming, supportive and hardworking. It's a privilege to be leading the charity at such a pivotal moment in its history, and I look forward to helping it thrive well into the future.