Wirral Life April 2022 | Page 6

STICK ‘ N ’ STEP LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO STEP UP TO WIRRAL WALK
CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL PARTNERSHIP NHS APPOINT NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE

IN BRIEF

STICK ‘ N ’ STEP LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO STEP UP TO WIRRAL WALK
CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL PARTNERSHIP NHS APPOINT NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust ( CWP ) has appointed Tim Welch as its new chief executive .
Cerebral palsy charity Stick ‘ n ’ Step is appealing for local people to step up to the challenge of this year ’ s return of the Wirral Coastal Walk to help them raise funds through sponsorship .
The charity provides free conductive education to children with cerebral palsy , to encourage their confidence , independence and mobility . 1 in 400 babies are estimated to be born every year in the UK with some form of cerebral palsy , a lifelong condition affecting movement and co-ordination .
This year ’ s Wirral Walk , organised by the Rotary Club of North Wirral , is taking place on Sunday 22 May . Covering 15 miles of coastal path , the route starts from Floral Pavilion , New Brighton and ends at Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre at Thurstaston . Options of shorter distances are available with alternative completion points after four and eight miles ( at Leasowe Common and Kings Gap , Hoylake ).
Esther Whitaker Head of Fundraising at Stick ‘ n ’ Step , said , “ This major fundraising event hasn ’ t taken place in real life since 2019 so we ’ re incredibly excited that it is happening once more . It ’ s suitable for all ages and abilities , with shorter distances available too . We are appealing for volunteers to raise as much money as they can to support the children from across the region who attend our conductive education classes and their families .”
Visit www . wirralcoastalwalk . org / registration to register for this year ' s event . To walk for Stick ‘ n ’ Step and raise money for the charity , please register through the Wirral Coastal Walk website and email fundraising @ sticknstep . org to let Stick ‘ n ’ Step know !
Tim has 29 years of experience in the NHS , 19 of them as a director and is currently the Trust ’ s deputy chief executive and director of business and value . He will assume the role following the retirement of Sheena Cumiskey on 18th May , who is stepping down after serving as chief executive for 12 years .
Speaking about his appointment , Tim said : “ I am thrilled and humbled to be appointed as CWP ’ s new chief executive . I care deeply about CWP , both the people who work here , the people we serve , and it is the best organisation I have worked for .
“ I am motivated by how I can help everyone do the best they can in caring for the people who need our support . CWP ’ s vision and values are fantastic . I believe in our work on improving the lives of everyone in our community – a genuine commitment to put patients at the heart of everything we do and working collaboratively to get the best for them . The last two years have been challenging for all of us in different ways due to the pandemic . However , nothing has been more important , nor rewarding than recently listening and talking to people as part of our engagement programme , ‘ Imagining the Future ’ to set the strategic direction for the Trust moving forwards . I ’ m looking forward to spending lots more time with colleagues , partners , service users and people in our communities in the months ahead . The skills and spirit shown by everyone is really inspiring and I ’ m excited to lead this work as part of a talented and dedicated team .”
Lancashire born , Tim attended the University of Liverpool to study biochemistry and eventually took a route into accounting , starting his career as a graduate within financial management in Norwich Health Authority . He found his way back to Lancashire as deputy chief executive and director of finance at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , before joining CWP in 2013 .
6 wirrallife . com