Meet Our Trustees: The People Behind the Mission

Trustee Profile: Be McCarroll

As we mark Trustees’ Week, it’s the perfect time to shine a light on the people who give their time, skills and passion to strengthen our work. At Bristol Charities, our Trustees play a vital role in shaping our strategy, guiding our work, and ensuring we stay true to our values and purpose. They bring a wealth of experience, insight and energy to the organisation – helping us make a lasting difference in the lives of the people and communities we serve.

In this series, we’re introducing you to the individuals behind the boardroom table – sharing their stories, what motivates them, and why they chose to be part of our journey.

Today, we’re delighted to shine a light on Be McCarroll, Chief Executive Officer of Havencare. Be brings a wealth of housing expertise to her role as Trustee at Bristol Charities, where she combines her professional knowledge with a deep commitment to community impact. Passionate about sharing her skills while learning from others, she describes the organisation as “small but mighty” – and values being part of a trustee team united by a shared sense of purpose. Importantly, if you make her a cup of tea, be sure to bring some biscuits and an official tea chart to colour match!

Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your background, and what brought you to Bristol Charities?

My background is housing, it’s how I always start my introduction(!) It is a critical part of everyone’s life, everything stems from having a home, basics like registering for services to being part of a community. So, when Bristol Charities were advertising for Trustees with Housing knowledge I applied. 

Q: What inspired you to become a trustee of Bristol Charities?

Bristol Charities is small but mighty! The range of services and opportunities they provide for local communities is astounding. The focus on the most deprived areas of Bristol and the innovation and ambition of the team is infectious. Over the past year that ambition has been turning into real impact, and I really enjoy being a small part of that work.

Q: What does being part of the Bristol Charities family mean to you?

It means that I can share my skills and knowledge with other people who have a shared sense of purpose. I feel as though I am contributing to local communities. I also learn so much. Whether its insight into the local community or seeing how other trustees approach different topics and conversations. 

Q: Is there a moment from your time as trustee that’s really kind of stuck with you or inspired you?

There have been many moments that have stayed with me, but one story in particular stands out. When I first joined, Charity Wallis (Director of Development) shared how some children were missing school simply because their families couldn’t get their uniforms dry in time for Monday morning. It was a powerful lesson in that something so small, so practical would shape a child’s chance to learn and belong. What inspired me was how Bristol Charities worked with local schools to help fix this barrier by directly responding to the need through the provision of a Community Tumble-dryer. It’s a reminder that systemic issues are often rooted in everyday details, and by paying attention to those, we can make a real difference.

Q: How do your personal or professional experiences help you in your role as a trustee?

I draw heavily on my professional experience, particularly in housing practice whether that’s reviewing policies or thinking carefully about how people live in our properties and communities. On a personal level, I always remind myself that my role as a Trustee is to help Bristol Charities succeed and achieve its mission. That means being constructive, supportive, and focused on offering opinions that move the organisation forward.

Q: Why do you think the work Bristol Charities does is so vital for the city – especially now?

Like many cities, Bristol is under pressure, but its challenges are uniquely complex. Communities are stretched, the cost of living is biting, local services have been reduced, and even the delivery of basic statutory support is under strain. Charities, too, are feeling the weight.

What makes Bristol Charities stand out is its commitment to seeing the bigger picture. Instead of tackling issues in isolation, it looks at the whole: from housing, to providing infrastructure that strengthens other organisations, to offering individual grants. It’s not easy, but this interconnected approach is vital if communities are to not just cope, but thrive.

Q: What would you say to someone thinking about getting involved – as a volunteer, donor, or future trustee?

Do it. We need more people, more skills, more diversity in the trustee and NED space. I think you get a lot from it and charities really appreciate and value the skills that you have. You get to work with some incredible people all focused on the same goal.

Q: In three words or a phrase, how would you describe Bristol Charities?

Ambitious, courageous and fantastic.

Q: Tell us a bit about the new strategy? What does it hope to achieve?

The new strategy sets out a clear vision for Bristol Charities as a true community anchor. An organisation rooted in partnership, collaboration, and empowerment. It recognises that lasting change happens when communities are supported to lead it themselves, and when organisations like Bristol Charities know when to facilitate connections, when to enable services, and when to deliver them directly. It’s about creating conditions where communities can grow stronger, together.

Q: Now, how do you take your tea – we have some pretty specific tea-making preferences in our staff, and we’d love to hear yours?

I hadn’t realized what tea connoisseurs we are! Like Andy I favour Yorkshire tea, milk in first. I like it a good colour (C2 on the tea chart) and in a mug (preferably large enough to dunk a biscuit in).