Page 11 - BOSS Today Issue 53

60 SECOND INTERVIEW
60 SECOND INTERVIEW BOSS Today #53

Musical Chairs

BOSS Today talks to Martin Wilde and Kelly Hilleard, the new Chair
and Vice-Chair of the BOSS Business Supplies Charity from January 2022

BT: Martin, a lot of our readers support many new applicants, as MW: Simply visit www.bossfederation.
will know you as the industry’s well as provide ongoing help to our com/boss-business-supplies-
specialist market researcher and existing beneficiaries. Fund raising charity or email
BOSS Today’s features reporter: has been difficult but, following charity@bossfederation.co.uk
can you tell us a bit about your the successful event held at Belton or call 0845 4501565. All your
history with the Charity? Woods in September, we are back discussions with us will stay
on track. confidential.
MW: 20 years ago a dear friend and
industry colleague died suddenly, BT: What are your plans for 2022 for BT: The Charity has allocated £10k
leaving a wife and two young the Charity? to support the Industry through
children: I saw how the BOSS Future Fund Grants – can you tell
Charity got involved to support MW: Our first priority is to continue to us a little about those?
them financially over many years. do what we have always done –
I was so impressed that I asked help those in need! Hopefully 2022 MW: These are a further expression of
Graeme (Chapman MBE) if I could will see us do this with even more our commitment to help people
help the Charity and he suggested purpose to ensure that the Charity in our industry. Nearly all of
that I become a Trustee… thrives. While the issues of illness, us could benefit from further
bereavement and relationship training to further – or change
BT: Kelly, you’re well known for your breakdown – which are at the – our careers. Often we, or our
work with OPI, what does it mean heart of many of the situations employer, can afford to pay for
to you to be appointed Vice Chair? that we find ourselves trying to this: when neither of those is
help – will sadly not go away, possible, the Future Fund Grant
KH: As we all know, a good Vice Chair lives can be improved by what the comes in.
should be enthusiastic, someone Charity and its supporters do.
that the Chair can trust as a BT: Tell us something about
sounding board to give them BT: To those reading who want to yourselves that few others know.
support, impartial feedback, support the Charity, what they
honest advice and a fresh can do to get involved? MW: It probably says a lot about my age
perspective, so I can only say that (and how loud my singing voice is)
I am thrilled and honoured to be KH: There are many ways: make a that I am the lead singer in a (very
considered as someone who has donation (a one off payment or a loud) progressive rock band. We
these qualities and is good enough regular standing order); give raffle produced our first album a couple
for the role. Thank you all that or auction prizes at upcoming of years ago. There are plenty of
have put their faith in me. events; become a Visitor for your copies still available…
local area; attend a BOSS Charity
BT: Could you tell us a bit about how event and give generously while KH: Well, I don’t have a bad voice
the Charity has supported the you are there. Most importantly either and did attend the Burleigh
sector over the last 18 months? of all, spread the word: the more School of Singing as a wee lass!
people that know about us, the
KH: The Charity has always had a more people we can help.
very personal approach with
prospective beneficiaries being BT: For those reading who may
visited by Trustees and Visitors. benefit from support, can you
In the last 18 months, this contact show how they get in touch?
has been via Zoom or telephone,
but we have still managed to

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