"Leaving Ben's Centre" - CEO Daryl Bishop's Statement
After a smidge over fourteen years, and countless difficult conversations with myself, I have finally come to the decision to leave my role as CEO of Ben’s Centre. Many people in the sector may already have pieced this together as I have been working for the past ten months on an extended notice period while building my own third sector organisation. Such is the sector that roles of this nature become more than a job, possibly more than a calling and more of a stewardship, in this case of a cause and a community of people that I care deeply about.
When I started my employment at Ben’s Centre I was the hard-won third member of staff in a tiny team of dedicated and infinitely committed people. These were my solid and greatly appreciated foundations and I thank those involved in those early days for setting my path for the coming years. In particular, I’d like to thank the incredible Sue Smith for the mentoring and inspiration I have taken with me ever since that fateful day when I first had to swap my shorts for a suit on behalf of Ben’s Centre.
The following years, like all in the third sector, were challenging. Premises issues, funding dilemmas, vandalism, safeguarding and a whole host of other problems to navigate before even getting to the heart and soul of Ben’s Centre; the clients.
People with substance misuse issues, people with vulnerabilities that many people could never relate to, people with shattered dreams and painful memories. People that love to sing, people that hate people singing! Artists, professionals, survivors and thrivers. The characters I encountered in my fourteen years have blessed me with a wealth of stories, and a hoard of anecdotes that will live forever, no doubt growing with each retelling. I have experienced heart-break, trauma, destitution, and desperation. I have also shared in the joy, the loyalty and the opportunity that many clients have seized when they were able to. I have met, worked with, and shared with thousands of dedicated, incredible humans that never give up in a sector fraught with challenges and vulnerabilities. To all those people, those clients, those supporters and trustees. Those volunteers, partners, donators, friends and well-wishers I say thank you for being you and thank you for being the kind of human that inspires others to make the world a better place. The world possibly needs you more than ever right now, but let’s not go down that road, this is all about me!
Ben’s Centre grew and grew despite a pandemic, a grade two listed building, a nation with a hang-over from said pandemic, and a cause that would test the mettle of any organisation. The current team made this happen and it has been an honour to work alongside them and watch the work develop into the magnificent service it is today.
My final point in this ground-breakingly extensive leaving statement is to say that I have always wondered how I would feel about handing over the reins to someone else. How would I be able to just step away and let a stranger take the baby I have nurtured for so long. Thankfully, this has not been a problem I have had to face head on. Part of my ten month notice period I complained talked about earlier has meant working alongside Sarah Batty who will replace me as CEO. Sarah is a fantastic addition to the team at Ben’s Centre and I cannot stress enough how comfortable and confident I am in handing over to her. She will be amazing and I cannot wait to hear about her coming achievements.
Thank you to everyone I have had the pleasure to meet on this journey and I hope to meet you all again soon if only with a different hat on! Please keep in touch (you can do so by emailing Daryl@cahoot.org.uk)
Take care
Daryl