Why Trustees Matter: Celebrating Trustees Week 2025 at Little Stars
At Little Stars, we’re lucky to have an incredible group of trustees.
Their role goes far beyond attending monthly meetings; trustees give their time, expertise, and energy to ensure we can continue supporting families and children across Shropshire.
Trustees work with the operations team to help set the charity’s direction, make sure we meet our legal responsibilities, and support the team in making decisions that truly benefit the children and families we work for.
They ask the big questions, offer guidance, and help shape a vision for the future. Simply put, trustees are a vital part of the Little Stars family, helping guide and support the team so the charity can thrive.
This Trustees Week, we spoke to several of our trustees to find out what inspired them to join Little Stars, their proudest moments, and some fun facts along the way.
Q: What inspired you to become a trustee?
Ian Groves –
“I’ve lived in Shropshire my whole life and I couldn’t believe the stats I was hearing on child poverty, right on my doorstep. Knowing how hard the team works, it was an easy decision for me to support them however I could.”
Joanna Seabright-
“I joined the Little Stars team because I really believe every child deserves the best possible start in life. What Little Stars does for children and families in our community is truly special, offering care, support, and opportunities that make a real difference. Being a trustee is my way of giving something back and helping to make sure Little Stars can keep doing its amazing work for families across Shropshire.”
Christianne Williams-
“After having my first child, I found out that there was no baby bank in Shropshire. I was so disappointed – they are a vital resource for communities up and down the country. It seemed obvious there should be a way of sharing those things with families who need them. I was delighted to get involved
Sadie Bates –
“Being part of such a dynamic and knowledgeable board is incredibly rewarding. Everyone is passionate about driving the charity forward and ensuring children across Shropshire receive the essentials they need to thrive.”
Ellen Shaw –
“A desire to give back and make a difference to families living locally to me who are experiencing hardship – I’ve been really struck by the levels of child poverty literally on our doorstep that can be invisible to the majority of people, and Little Stars does an incredible job of helping those families who need it most.”
Q: What’s been your proudest or most rewarding moment so far?
Ian –
“Being part of the strategy day where we committed to a new home for Little Stars and built the 5-year vision for the charity. The commitment and passion in the room was genuinely inspiring.”
Jo –
“Seeing Leanne get the recognition she truly deserves — from her media appearances to the amazing growth she’s shown both professionally and personally.”
Sadie –
“Watching Santa’s Little Stars expand each year and reach more children brings me immense joy. Also, in 2024, I had the opportunity to design and create the décor for the Halloween Ball, which allowed me to tap into my creative side, learn new skills, and make the most of available resources.”
Christianne –
“Most rewarding has been seeing people come out to support Little Stars at our fundraising events and getting to speak with them and explain what we do. It’s inspiring to watch how Little Stars has grown and how much support we have from the community.”
Ellen –
“Getting to know Leanne and the wider team and seeing just what a fabulous team you all are. Plus witnessing the incredible progress since I joined in stabilising our financial position, at a really challenging time for all charities, and for always aiming high to ensure we are future proofing our work and reaching more families who so desperately need our help.”
Q: Tell us one fun or unexpected fact about yourself.
Ian –
“I run a pretty successful IT company, but I failed my Technology GCSE with an F.”
Christianne –
“I grew up in New Jersey – or New Joisey, depending on who you’re speaking to!”
Ellen –
“I spent 6 years living and working in South Africa, including setting up significant Corporate Social Responsibility partnerships to support local voluntary organisations focused on the education of children and young people who didn’t have access to attend school on a regular basis.”
Q: Describe Little Stars in three words.
Ian – Essential. Amazing. Grafters.
Sadie – Incredible. Outstanding. Passionate.
Christianne – Passionate. Committed. Caring.
Ellen – Critical. Ambitious. Compassionate.
This Trustee Week, we want to say a huge thank you to all our trustees for their time, guidance, and dedication. As Leanne, our Founder and CEO, says:
” Our trustees are a vital part of the Little Stars family. Their guidance, experience, and passion help us make key decisions and plan for the future, enabling us to continue supporting children and families across Shropshire. As CEO, I also deeply value their shared knowledge and expertise, which allows me to learn, grow, and confidently move the charity forward. “
If you’re inspired by their commitment and would like to learn more about the role of trustees at Little Stars, we’d love to hear from you. Trustees come from all walks of life and bring a range of skills, ideas, and energy to our charity and your involvement could make a lasting difference for children and families in our county.
To find out more about becoming a trustee or supporting Little Stars in other ways contact us today- enquiries@littlestarscharity.org
