Rainbows announces new chief officer

RAINBOWS Hospice for Children and Young People has appointed a new chief executive.

David Strudley will lead the care centre for children and young people until his retirement in 18 months time.

The 69-year-old from Worcestershire has worked in children’s services for more than 20 years, including a decade as chief executive at Birmingham’s Acorns Children’s Hospice.

He has been working part-time at Rainbows since March this year as interim chief executive alongside Mandy Ashton and will be tasked with putting into place a new threeyear strategy for the charity.

Due to be launched later this summer, it will include plans for hospice services to be taken to communities across the region to support families who find it difficult to get to the hospice.

David, who is chairman of Together for Short Lives UK Transition Taskforce, said: “The next three years are really important for Rainbows.

“There are so many families in the more remote parts of the region that find it so hard to access our services and we want to eradicate that.

“During my time at Rainbows I will have the strategy firmly in place ready for a permanent chief executive to take the reins in 2018.

“The job of finding our next chief executive is a big one and we must ensure we find the right person for this crucial appointment.”

Mandy Ashton will continue to support Rainbows working alongside its director of care.

David Strudley, a former chief executive at Acorns hospice in Birmingham, has been announced new chief executive of Rainbows Hospice in Loughborough on an 18-month contract that ends in 2018.