Annual reviews are a time for looking back and for looking forward. For Lifeline the fundamental changes needed to improve our governance continue. However, the end of the year gives us a chance to consider how far we have come in putting into place all the procedures necessary to ensure that Lifeline can continue to grow and provide an effective service for our users.
 
We can look back over a year which has been full of change and has brought with it some considerable successes. Early in 2006, the Charity Commission visited Lifeline. In all areas of work there are times when inspection or scrutiny happens and these times generally bring with them a certain measure of apprehension and usually a good deal of work in preparation for such inspections or visits. I am delighted that the Charity Commission Report was such a positive one giving us that important reassurance that Lifeline has good practices in place and that we can continue to improve in all areas of our work.
 
Positive reports from the Charity Commission do not come about without a great deal of hard work and sound preparation. Many people within the organisation produced their own reports, files were prepared for the review visit and meetings were held with the visitors from the Charity Commission and I would like to thank all those who contributed to making this such a successful review. In all these preparations we were guided by Dave Carbery, our consultant. Dave’s experience in working on governance matters for many years has been of enormous value to Lifeline.
 
I am particularly glad to thank Dave in this annual review for all he has done and continues to do for Lifeline. He has guided us through substantial changes and his clear sightedness has allowed us to progress with considerable speed whilst keeping a meticulous eye for detail. In addition to these considerable talents, Dave continues to be patient, understanding and, as an increasing number of Lifeline’s employees have discovered, always a pleasure to be with.
 
We have welcomed several more trustees to the Board this year. Some information about each of them can be found on our excellent website. The trustees who were appointed in September were recruited earlier in the year following interviews during the summer. It is important to Lifeline that its members of the Board of Trustees should be able to give time to discussing and deciding strategic action for the future. We are fortunate in having trustees who are prepared to attend sub committees, in addition to full Board meetings. The latest members who have joined the Board have spent time with Induction Packs, have visited projects and heard presentations from managers. They have learned a great deal in a short time and have shown real commitment to Lifeline and we are grateful to them and for the time and energy all our Trustees give.
 
Last year I was able to announce an important change – that of our appointment of a Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Jerry Stokes joined us early in the year in that position and has worked hard during these months of change within the organisation. It is always difficult to join an organisation in the throes of considerable change and Jerry has wasted no time in carrying forward the improvements and best practice standards necessary.  I would like to thank him for all he is doing for Lifeline and to congratulate him on settling into a new appointment so quickly.

Having a Deputy Chief Executive Officer has meant changes for Ian Wardle too. Ian, our Chief Executive Officer, for many years, has carried a workload that has increased hugely over those years. However, the new appointment was not made to allow Ian’s work to become less onerous but to allow him to spend more time on strategic planning for the next few years. It is vital for the continued success of Lifeline for Ian to be aware of future developments in the drugs field and to continue to take the lead in planning for the future. Ian has lost none of his own campaigning zeal or his passion for telling the truth about drugs and it is this which has allowed Lifeline to grow with integrity over the last few years. As always, I thank him for his leadership and his concern for all our service users.
 
In closing, I look back over a year where Lifeline’s employees have worked hard and cared for their clients during a time of change. This has not always been easy and I thank them for their commitment to Lifeline. We can look forward to a new year with good structures in place but knowing we must continue to improve. We can be confident that we have able and caring teams in our projects and that we can manage any further changes that will come over the next years. Thank you to everyone, in whatever capacity, who works for Lifeline for those who use our services.

-Sheila Lee
Chair