St Vincent's Support Centre Newsletter Summer 2015 | Page 2

Meet Sheena
Welcome to
the Summer
edition
of our
Newsletter
It is with mixed feelings that I write this –
my last newsletter contribution as Manager
of St Vincent’s. As you all probably know
by now, I am leaving St Vincent’s at the end
of June to embark on a new chapter and
returning to University. Saying goodbye to
the many friends I have made during my
13 years will be hard, but I will remain in
touch with St Vincent’s and will no doubt
see many of you again.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have been involved
with the SVP. I have learned so many things
along the way and have been constantly
amazed and overwhelmed by the generosity of
supporters year after year.
Taking St Vincent’s on this journey has been a
real team effort and I feel very proud of all we’ve
achieved. It hasn’t always been easy; you may
recall times when our financial situation was
desperate, but thanks to a tremendous staff
team, an army of dedicated volunteers, a strong
and supportive management committee and the
generosity of our friends and funders, we have
always pulled through.
Together, we have changed tens of thousands
of lives and I feel blessed to have met some
inspirational people who have taught me
valuable lessons about never giving up, fighting
for what you believe in, and digging deep for
strength you didn’t know you had. St Vincent’s is
a very special place and I am honoured to have
been part of it.

“I am so delighted to be joining
the St Vincent`s team as the new
manager. I know that I have a
huge task to be anywhere near as
brilliant as Charlotte but promise
to give 100% to the centre and
the amazing services delivered
by the staff and volunteers.
A bit about me: I am Welsh,
originally from a small village
in Swansea. I have been a
manager for a number of
years, working in a range of
organisations including Age
Concern. Wherever I have
been, I hope that I have made
a real difference, both to the
teams I have worked with and
to the people accessing the
services.
As with Charlotte, I am
embarking on a new chapter
in my life and am moving to
Yorkshire to get married. I
will be living in Huddersfield
and am really looking forward
to starting a new exciting

“Charlotte has dedicated
herself to improving
the lives of people in
need. She has developed
St Vincent’s into an
outstanding place of
support which ‘punches
above its weight’ in the
local community and
across Leeds.”
Kate Nightingale, SVP
Deputy CEO

I am handing the reigns over to Sheena Lawson
who joined me at the beginning of June for a
handover. I couldn’t be more delighted with this
appointment and I feel very confident that St
Vincent’s is in safe and capable hands.
I look forward to hearing about all the wonderful
things St Vincent’s goes on to do and hope
you will stick with us as we enter this new and
exciting chapter.
I thank you all for the support,
friendship and good memories.

Best wishes,
Charlotte Walton
Centre Manager

IT’S A FACT!

St Vincent’s volunteers
gave 49,140 hours to
our projects in West
Yorkshire!

Page2 St Vincent’s Newsletter Summer 2015

Shop volunteer Catherine
says goodbye to Charlotte
after 13 years of changing
lives in Leeds.

adventure in both my
personal and working life.
I know that I am coming to
work as part of a team that
are welcoming and passionate
about the services they deliver
– I have seen this first hand
on my visits to the centre. I
cannot begin to tell you how
delighted I am to have been
offered t he opportunity to
manage the centre.
I am looking forward to
meeting many of you in the
forthcoming weeks.”

Sheena Lawson