Derek McCabe, Chair of Extern, has been named as winner of the first ever Trustee of the Year Award at the Charity Impact Awards.

The Trustee of the Year Award category was created to pay tribute to the nearly 50,000 volunteer trustees (board members) who lead charities across the island if Ireland. The Awards were organised by The Wheel, Ireland’s national association of community, voluntary and charitable organisations.

As it prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2018, the award is the second in recent weeks which Extern has received in relation to its governance.

Last month, in a ceremony at Stormont, Derek accepted the Leadership and Good Governance Award 2017 on behalf of Extern. The awards were organised by the VSB Foundation in partnership with CO3 and Volunteer Now.

As Chair of Extern, Derek is a volunteer. He offers his professional expertise to ensure Extern continues to deliver on its purpose of working alongside some of the most marginalised people in society, in order to enable them to change their lives.

Last year Extern supported over 15,000 people across the island of Ireland, with Derek’s leadership having played a key role in enabling the charity to reach 4,000 more people during that period.

News of Derek’s award comes as Extern has just launched its ‘Show you Care’ Christmas appeal. Found online at www.extern.org, it enables people to sponsor a virtual front door key to help families and individuals who are homeless, or facing homelessness, this Christmas.

Speaking after receiving the award, Derek said: “I am truly humbled to be selected as the first Trustee of the Year, and delighted for my family who have always been very supportive. I would like to congratulate all my fellow nominees, and thank The Wheel and their sponsors, for creating the awards. It is only right, that as a society, we take the opportunity to recognise the difference made to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across this island as a result of volunteering and charitable activities. I would like to pay tribute to my fellow Board members in Extern, and Charlie Mack, CEO, and particularly to Extern’s staff, who every day try their hardest to support people to change their lives.”

Congratulations
Congratulating Derek on his award, Charlie Mack, CEO of Extern, said:

“As Chair, Derek is a tireless leader and his dedication and passion for strong governance has enabled Extern to continue to support even more people. His Trustee of the Year Award is very well deserved.”

Further information on the work of Extern can be found online at www.extern.org, or if you would like to find out more about how you can volunteer with Extern or support their work, then please email [email protected].