The Board of Trustees has appointed Kate Heslegrave and Dr Karen Chumbley as the new co-Chief Executives of St Helena Hospice with immediate effect.

Chair of Trustees, Dr Fran Hyde, said: “After a rigorous and robust process, Kate and Karen have proved they are the right choice to step permanently into the role.

“This year has brought significant challenges for St Helena, but through resilience and dedication, the trustees agree they have continued to work very hard to guide staff to support those who need us most. 

“As we look ahead to 2026, the Board of Trustees is confident the new leaders will remain committed to implementing plans for sustainable regrowth and make a difference for people who need our support across north east Essex.

“Kate and Karen, together with the Board, intend for St Helena to continue to be an impactful organisation within our communities and beyond.”

Kate and Karen stepped jointly into the interim leadership role in August and have worked hard to re-evaluate the position of the charity and make plans to maintain and strengthen the services St Helena can provide for local people, along with boosting staff and volunteer morale after a difficult period of disruption.

In a step away from traditional structure, St Helena is consolidating its leadership with the appointment of two co-Chief Executives.

St Helena joins the growing number of charities nationwide who are adopting co-leadership, recognising the positive impact it has by bringing a broader range of strengths and skills to organisational decision-making, along with the shared responsibility for those decisions.

The new model of leadership reduces the size of the senior leadership team, amalgamating roles for simplified and efficient running of the charity.