Reflections on my first year as Chair of the Mary Seacole Trust
“We are not only preserving history. We are using it to inspire the future.”
A year of reflection, renewal and growth
When I accepted the role of Chair of the Mary Seacole Trust in summer 2025, I knew I was inheriting more than a charity. I was becoming a custodian of an extraordinary legacy, one rooted in compassion, courage, innovation and service. Mary Seacole’s story continues to inspire people across nursing, healthcare, education and wider society, and it has been a privilege to lead the Trust during a year of reflection, renewal and growth.
Over the past year, our trustees, volunteers, ambassadors and supporters have worked tirelessly to strengthen the foundations of the Trust while looking ahead to future opportunities and challenges. We have taken important steps to improve governance, re-engage our members, strengthen partnerships and develop a clearer strategic direction.
OUR PURPOSE, REAFFIRMED
| 01 EDUCATION
Promote awareness of Mary Seacole’s life and legacy. |
02 HERITAGE
Maintain and protect the Mary Seacole Statue. |
| 03 YOUNG PEOPLE
Inspire through leadership and role modelling. |
04 INCLUSION
Advance equality, diversity and inclusive leadership. |
Reconnecting with our purpose
One of the most significant moments of the year was our Strategic Away Day in January 2026. Bringing trustees together in person allowed us to pause, reflect and consider what the Trust should achieve over the next decade. We revisited our founding purpose and reaffirmed our commitment to the four areas highlighted above.
The discussions helped shape our new three-year strategic direction and reinforced our ambition to ensure that Mary Seacole’s story remains relevant for future generations.
Strengthening governance
Like many small charities, we recognise that strong governance is essential for long-term sustainability. During the year we reviewed our governance arrangements, introduced a Trustee Induction Pack, strengthened risk management processes and began aligning our work more closely with the Charity Governance Code. We also invested time in trustee development and succession planning to help the organisation remain resilient and effective.
I completed a series of one-to-one conversations with trustees to better understand their experience, aspirations and ideas for the future. These discussions have helped create stronger relationships across the Board and informed our future priorities.
Preserving a national legacy
The Mary Seacole Statue at St Thomas’ Hospital remains one of the most visible symbols of Mary Seacole’s contribution to healthcare and society. This year, significant progress was made towards restoration work to preserve the statue and its surroundings for future generations. We are grateful to St Thomas’ Hospital Charity for supporting this important work and helping to secure the future of this nationally significant memorial.
Alongside this, we have continued to support wider heritage initiatives, commemorative activities and public conversations that celebrate Mary Seacole’s remarkable life and contribution.
| Mary Seacole’s legacy is both a part of our history and a source of courage, leadership and possibility for today. |
Inspiring through education and storytelling
Education remains at the heart of everything we do. Our Storytellers Programme continues to flourish, with trained ambassadors sharing Mary Seacole’s story in schools, healthcare settings and community organisations. We have seen first-hand how powerful storytelling can be in inspiring leadership, resilience and pride in our shared history.
We have also continued to support school engagement activities, Black History Month programmes and presentations that have reached thousands of learners across the country. Looking ahead, we plan to develop more educational resources and strengthen our partnerships with schools, universities and community groups.
Strengthening partnerships
The Trust’s impact is amplified through collaboration. This year we have strengthened relationships with key organisations including the Florence Nightingale Foundation, NHS partners, educational institutions, libraries, military organisations and community groups. These partnerships are helping us extend our reach, develop new opportunities, and create meaningful connections between Mary Seacole’s legacy and contemporary issues in healthcare and society.
We have also begun work to strengthen engagement with Mary Seacole Scholars and alumni, recognising the enormous potential within this network of leaders and changemakers.
Re-engaging our members
Membership engagement emerged as a clear priority this year. With a database of approximately 750 supporters, we recognised an opportunity to reconnect with people who care deeply about Mary Seacole’s legacy. We have therefore begun work to refresh our membership records, improve communications and develop new ways for members to engage with the Trust’s activities.
We are also exploring improvements to our website, newsletter, blogs, articles and social media presence so that we can communicate more effectively and build a stronger sense of community around the Trust.
Looking to the future
As I reflect on my first year as Chair, I am encouraged by how much we have achieved together. We have strengthened our governance, clarified our strategic direction, enhanced our partnerships and laid important foundations for future growth. Yet there is still much to do.
OUR NEXT CHAPTER
| ✓ Grow our fundraising capability |
| ✓ Expand our educational programmes |
| ✓ Engage more young people |
| ✓ Strengthen our membership offer |
| ✓ Keep Mary Seacole’s legacy visible, relevant and inspiring |
Our priorities for the coming years will include growing our fundraising capability, expanding our educational programmes, engaging more young people, strengthening our membership offer and ensuring that the Mary Seacole Trust remains a vibrant and influential organisation.
Most importantly, we will continue to ensure that Mary Seacole’s extraordinary legacy remains visible, relevant and inspiring for generations to come.
| Thank you to all our trustees, volunteers, supporters and partners for your commitment and dedication throughout the year. |
Felicia Kwaku, OBE
Chair, Mary Seacole Trust | July 2026
