Meet Mike Barker, Chair of Trustees at YMCA Together

Mike Barker – Chair of Trustees

What does your role involve?

My role is mainly behind the scenes. I lead the Board of Trustees, which is there to help support the management team through constructive challenge. We also set the organisation’s strategy and ensure the resources are in place to execute it. We are also there to provide sound financial stewardship. We do that through consideration of information and discussion and debate. We work closely with the senior leadership team to achieve that.

 

What qualities are essential to your work at YMCA Together?

A good trustee brings dedication, expertise, and integrity to their role. In my view, Trustees must have good judgment and decision-making; be good team players and focus on working collaboratively; be open to diverse perspectives, listening to different voices, including staff and volunteers; bring expert knowledge; have the ability to challenge constructively; and be self-aware and willing to learn.

 

Describe your typical working day.

I work for a local council and the NHS in my day job. My work with YMCA Together is on top of that. Taken together, these roles make my day very varied, challenging and rewarding. All of it is focused on helping people to fulfil their potential.

 

What’s the most rewarding element of your work?

Seeing the organisation grow and develop over the last five years has been completely rewarding. The Trustees play only a small role in that reality as the senior leadership team, and everybody who works for the organisation have made it possible.

 

Describe your most memorable moment at YMCA Together.

For me, it was the 175th-anniversary celebration event. It truly brought lots of different people together to share their memories and energy for the organisation and what it is trying to achieve. It helped people focus on remembering where the organisation started, why it started, and how society may have changed in 175 years, but the problems remain the same. It is an inspiring and uplifting moment in the organisation’s history and journey.

 

How do you relax outside of work?

My life outside of work is equally hectic. I like to travel with my wife as much as we can, and of course, Liverpool FC remains one of my favourite ways to relax.

 

If you could change one thing about society to improve the lives of the people you work alongside, what would it be?

I’d get the government to focus much more on tackling systemic inequality, as this is the primary cause of most of the problems facing our society today.