Back in July, we welcomed five new trustees to our Board, including a new Chair of Trustees. We have been talking to each of them in our #HumansCare posts to share a bit more about them: their background, what made them want to join Carers Worldwide and what they will bring to our team.
This week we are talking to Ian Yates. Ian is Learning and Development Manager at St James’s Place, a multinational wealth management business. He is an expert in training, learning and development, with a speciality in creating high quality training teams with a commercial focus. Read on to find out more about him and why he wanted to join us at Carers Worldwide.
Hi! Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I have lived all my life in West Oxfordshire, but was originally born in Gloucester – which is why you will often find me on the terraces of Gloucester Rugby Football Club. I have been a season ticket holder for 15 years and my son has been coming with me for the last 11 years. I am a qualified rugby and football coach and have spent many a cold, wet Sunday morning coaching children rugby from 6 to 16 years old at Witney RFC. I have been married for 20 years to my gorgeous wife Penny and I have 2 wonderful children.
I have spent most of my career in Learning and Development, creating and delivering training, learning and development for people in a commercial environment and this has given me some of the most memorable moments in my career. The proudest have been when people have said, “you changed my life – I never thought I could do the things that you have helped me achieve”. Helping people to become the best they can be is my real buzz.
What makes caring and carer wellbeing such an important issue for you?
Carers work so hard, sacrificing their own life for the sake of others – if we can help, even just a little bit, to improve their world then we will hopefully achieve a cyclical environment that helps people thrive and provide their very best.
Why Carers Worldwide? What made you want to join our charity?
I worked with one of Carers Worldwide’s Founding Trustees, Sian Edwards, for a number of years and she introduced me to Anil. His passion for the work and his inspirational plans for the future made me want to be part of the journey.
What will you personally bring to the Carers Worldwide board of trustees?
Being a Trustee in this capacity is fairly new to me, but I am looking forward to being able to challenge the thinking and help to bring some of Anil’s plans to life. I am eager to support Carers Worldwide in their new area of work in Training & Consultancy, using my background in Learning and Development and training.
How essential do you think a Global Carers’ Movement is in achieving recognition and support for carers?
A Global Carers’ Movement would help to raise the profile of unpaid family carers and drive forward the work to provide them with much needed help and support. It would give hope to all those people around the world who care for family members and who struggle to see a positive future for themselves and their loved ones. It’s vital and I am excited to be a part of it.
What are your ultimate hopes for carers in the future?
That they are able to live their lives to the best, so that they can continue to share the love and care for those around them. It’s a little like the aeroplane analogy – put your mask on first, because you can’t help others if you can’t help yourself. We need to support family carers to be able to put their masks on!
And finally, what one thing would you take with you to a desert island?!
Assuming I can’t take my wife and children (they probably wouldn’t thank me for taking them to a desert island even if I could), I would take a toothbrush – I couldn’t bear not being able to clean my teeth.
