It is with sadness that I must announce I will be stepping down from my role as Chief Executive of LUPUS UK at the end of March 2024.
I have been a part of the charity since spring 2011, originally as a volunteer, before being offered a full-time staff role that started in October 2011. I then occupied several roles within the charity before becoming Chief Executive in March 2020.
I am extremely grateful for my opportunity to contribute to the work of LUPUS UK during the last twelve-and-a-half years and it is an honour to have the confidence of the trustees to lead as Chief Executive. I have been fortunate to work with many incredible people from our staff team, trustees and volunteers to the amazing clinicians and researchers supporting the community.
There are several developments during my time as Chief Executive of LUPUS UK that I am proud to have overseen:
• NICE recommendations for the first two medicines (belimumab and voclosporin) to be licensed specifically for the treatment of lupus. Decisions which involved significant contributions from people living with lupus.
• The support for our community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with regularly updated information and guidance about shielding, vaccines and treatments.
• The Board of Trustees has continued to diversify, with a broader range of professional skills and personal experiences.
• The staff team has grown to include new roles, providing more direct support to our volunteers and members of the community.
• We have welcomed lots of volunteers, many of whom are leading new groups in regions throughout the UK, providing more opportunities for people with lupus to come together.
To aid the trustees in recruiting and transitioning to a new CEO, I have offered an extended notice period. LUPUS UK will soon announce how they will approach recruiting a capable and committed successor to lead the charity into its next phase of development.
I intend to take a break after leaving LUPUS UK and will consider my next steps. Until that time, there is a lot of work still to do. Over the next few months, we will be:
• Recruiting for a new role – Young People and Family Support Officer.
• Deciding grant recipients for our autumn 2023 research funding round.
• Publishing a new version of our booklet, “Lupus and the Skin”.
• Completing accreditation for the Patient Information Forum (PIF) TICK Scheme.
• Finalising the change of LUPUS UK’s legal form to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
• Setting our budget and objectives for 2024.
I continue to work closely with staff and volunteer colleagues to complete these projects and support people with lupus in our community.
Elaine Holland, Chair of LUPUS UK, says:
“I, and the Board of Trustees, will be very sorry to see Paul leave LUPUS UK. It has been an honour and a privilege to work with Paul, in all his different roles with the charity, but especially during the last three-and-a-half years since he became CEO. He certainly went through a baptism of fire taking on the role just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit and lockdown was announced. Paul’s steady hand and professionalism saw the charity not only survive but thrive during this time and he can be proud of the initiatives he spearheaded to provide our community with extra support. Paul’s hard work, dedication and commitment to the charity and all its beneficiaries has been outstanding.
There will be opportunities later to properly thank Paul for his work, and to wish him well for the future. The Board of Trustees have started the process of recruiting Paul’s successor and further announcements will be made in due course.”
Written by
Paul_Howard
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Well I'm selfishly very sad to see you move on, Paul, as I thought you were a brilliant advocate for us and I enjoyed and appreciated our interactions during your time in the role. But I think change is good and hope this transition leads you somewhere really exciting and positive. Congratulations and good luck! Thank you for everything you have done for all of us with lupus, we are extremely grateful.
Thank you for the very valuable contribution you have made to Lupus UK and the unending support offered to the lupus community. Am sad to see you go but wish you every success, health and happiness in the next chapter of your life. Isobel 😊
From what I've seen you've helped make Lupus UK one of the most effective health charities/campaigns in the UK. Hope you enjoy the well earned break and what ever you go on to do.
Thank you for your commitment and for helping to bring, information, education and support to us luppies. Good luck in the future and in whatever you chose to do.
Dear Paul,For purely selfish reasons, it is sad to see you go.
It is rare to see such energy and enthusiasm in this day and age. You have the energy which so many of us lack due to our condition.
I wish you every success and luck, not that you need it in the future with your drive. I am sure you'll be successful in what ever you decide to do. Lupus UK's loss will be someone else's gain.
Hi Paul,It sounds like you have made a huge impact for Lupus UK and you should be very proud of everything you have achieved. It will be sad for the charity to wave goodbye to someone who has clearly made a huge impact.
A sincere thank you for being there for me (and many others) providing us with information and support that has taken me and others through diagnosis and the trauma of covid. I wish you all the best, whatever you decide to do in the future. Thank you again, Liz
Hi Paul, thank you for everything you have done to make lupus uk what it is today, you’re going to be missed by many of us. I sit here thinking of all the things that you have done in the past, even before you became CEO.
You deserve to take a break and recharge your batteries before moving onto new adventures. Wishing you good health, wealth and happiness for the future.
Paul, you have been a star, worked really hard and your efforts have been noted. Thank you from all of us, and for being our voice. We have appreciated it and wish you well in your new ventures, new adventures and good luck going forward.
Paul I echo the thoughts of those posters before me but just wanted to add a few words of my own. What a star you've been, a guiding positive force to so many who struggle daily.
Thank you for all you do and have done for us all, you have provided comfort, reassurance and much needed support to many of us so often in need of it.
I too hope your decision has not been forced upon you and I want to send you all good wishes for health and happiness in your future.
Thanks for steering Lupus UK to be such a supportive and proactive organisation, you will be a hard act to follow. I’m sorry to hear that you will be leaving but wish you well in whatever your future may hold.
How sad to read that you are leaving your role next spring!! But I am sure you have come to this decision for the best of reasons and I would like to send my biggest thanks and best wishes to your future. You will be very much missed. But I do hope you will be connected to this forum on line and we will all get to read some words from your from time to time.
So sorry to see you go but go you do with all my best wishes for everything good 🤞👏👍 you will be missed I know and your support and hard work will not be forgotten regards stiff
Thank you for all you have done for us all Paul, not only as Chief Executive but as a supportive and valued member of HU. I wish you the very best of luck for the future. You will be sorely missed
Sad day for us Lupies, but happy times for you. I personally met you many years ago when you first started, such a lovely articulate young man too. We will miss you very much, but I wish you all the very best as you go forward to your next adventure Paul x
I have only been part of this community for a short time. It is striking how much effort you put in for all lupies as a whole, and also the help you have given us individually.
The better health I now have was due to the advice you gave me. So my family and me will always be very grateful.
🙏Very best wishes for whatever you move to in future. Also, I hope the break goes well.🙏
Thanks for setting such high standards in the world of medical charities 💯🏆💪🏃♂️✌️💜🐺🦋✨️🤩
Echoing what my fellow lupies have said. Feel gutted that you are going but thank you for all you have done. We will miss you and your steady prescence. Wishing you all the very best for the future. x
Paul, thank you for all your hard work. Thank you for guiding me through the COVID period when information from other channels was confusing. Lupus UK was my Bible during that time with your regular updates. I wish you luck and happiness in what ever direction you take in the future. Xxx
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