Ruth Kettle
Chief Executive
As Chief Executive of the Inspire North group, Ruth is responsible for ensuring the success of the organisation and in bringing together the work of two outstanding charities.
What is your role within SLT and what are your main responsibilities?
I’m Chief Executive of the Inspire North group, which incorporates both Foundation and Community Links (CL) and their subsidiaries. I am responsible for ensuring the success of the organisation, and in bringing together two great charities to make something better than the sum of its parts. It’s important that I’m a good role model and live our values, as people look to me to set the tone of the organisation. That is why I am so proud we achieved Best Company status and became a top 50 inclusive company. (CL was placed 6th this year).
Why did you choose to work for a third sector organisation?
I’ve always worked in the third sector as it suits my personality in terms of getting things done with the least amount of bureaucracy! I confess I am a rule follower, so I also ensure we follow best practice in whatever we do, from governance to service delivery.
What skills and experience have you brought with you from other roles?
I’ve been CEO of Community Links since December 2014, and have been on a real journey during this time - weathering many storms and achieving great successes. Being determined and tenacious are vital skills. I’ve been a senior leader since 2003 when I joined Community Links, and have been a key part of our continued growth and development into new services and ventures during this time. I’ve worked for a national charity and a small local organisation, so have experience of the challenges and benefits of both of these. This helps inform my decision making even now, many years later. Experience has also taught me to always employ people who are better than me, it’s all about the team work.
I am a mum of two and an adopter. My continuing journey into therapeutic parenting and understanding the impact of trauma helps me every day at work - from thinking about how we can get the best outcomes for the people using our services, to ideas for service delivery, to supporting colleagues.
What is your favourite aspect of the role?
The people. We have some truly fantastic colleagues working for us and some really brave people using our services. It is satisfying to know that our wonderful colleagues are really making a difference to the lives of some of our most deprived and disadvantaged people. To think that someone supported by Inspire North is able to quickly re-establish links with their family and friends, make changes to improve their quality of life and gain their independence is a great motivator for me. Our impact can be truly life changing.
What do you think is the main challenge we face in supporting people to have a better life?
Cuts to social care over the past ten or so years have left many councils struggling to cope with demand and has put more pressure on health and other services. The incidence of mental distress is increasing across all our service user groups, but resources are diminishing, it’s a difficult circle to square! We need to innovate, do more of what works and less of what doesn’t, so measuring impact is becoming pressing.
What inspires/motivates you?
Knowing that change is possible and that we can and do make a difference. Responding positively and helpfully to those seeking for help, even if we don’t have all the answers, can be the difference between a few weeks/months needing support to years of feeling sidelined, unsupported and stuck. I also love thinking whole-system and am excited by the possibilities of service providers in health, social care and criminal justice working together with the third sector to deliver better outcomes for all.
Do you have a catchphrase or mantra and what is it?
My mantra is “look after yourself” because you can’t pour from an empty cup.
What’s your favourite hobby?
The hobby I am most committed to is running and exercise of some kind, as it really helps me to switch off. I completed my first triathlon in 2016 which involved swimming in Roundhay Lake, and since then I’ve entered a couple of triathlons a year. I even completed a standard distance in 2018 which was a 1500m swim, 36km bike and a 10k run on the end! I won’t be doing that again in a hurry, but it felt amazing when I finished.
I’m Chief Executive of the Inspire North group, which incorporates both Foundation and Community Links (CL) and their subsidiaries. I am responsible for ensuring the success of the organisation, and in bringing together two great charities to make something better than the sum of its parts. It’s important that I’m a good role model and live our values, as people look to me to set the tone of the organisation. That is why I am so proud we achieved Best Company status and became a top 50 inclusive company. (CL was placed 6th this year).
Why did you choose to work for a third sector organisation?
I’ve always worked in the third sector as it suits my personality in terms of getting things done with the least amount of bureaucracy! I confess I am a rule follower, so I also ensure we follow best practice in whatever we do, from governance to service delivery.
What skills and experience have you brought with you from other roles?
I’ve been CEO of Community Links since December 2014, and have been on a real journey during this time - weathering many storms and achieving great successes. Being determined and tenacious are vital skills. I’ve been a senior leader since 2003 when I joined Community Links, and have been a key part of our continued growth and development into new services and ventures during this time. I’ve worked for a national charity and a small local organisation, so have experience of the challenges and benefits of both of these. This helps inform my decision making even now, many years later. Experience has also taught me to always employ people who are better than me, it’s all about the team work.
I am a mum of two and an adopter. My continuing journey into therapeutic parenting and understanding the impact of trauma helps me every day at work - from thinking about how we can get the best outcomes for the people using our services, to ideas for service delivery, to supporting colleagues.
What is your favourite aspect of the role?
The people. We have some truly fantastic colleagues working for us and some really brave people using our services. It is satisfying to know that our wonderful colleagues are really making a difference to the lives of some of our most deprived and disadvantaged people. To think that someone supported by Inspire North is able to quickly re-establish links with their family and friends, make changes to improve their quality of life and gain their independence is a great motivator for me. Our impact can be truly life changing.
What do you think is the main challenge we face in supporting people to have a better life?
Cuts to social care over the past ten or so years have left many councils struggling to cope with demand and has put more pressure on health and other services. The incidence of mental distress is increasing across all our service user groups, but resources are diminishing, it’s a difficult circle to square! We need to innovate, do more of what works and less of what doesn’t, so measuring impact is becoming pressing.
What inspires/motivates you?
Knowing that change is possible and that we can and do make a difference. Responding positively and helpfully to those seeking for help, even if we don’t have all the answers, can be the difference between a few weeks/months needing support to years of feeling sidelined, unsupported and stuck. I also love thinking whole-system and am excited by the possibilities of service providers in health, social care and criminal justice working together with the third sector to deliver better outcomes for all.
Do you have a catchphrase or mantra and what is it?
My mantra is “look after yourself” because you can’t pour from an empty cup.
What’s your favourite hobby?
The hobby I am most committed to is running and exercise of some kind, as it really helps me to switch off. I completed my first triathlon in 2016 which involved swimming in Roundhay Lake, and since then I’ve entered a couple of triathlons a year. I even completed a standard distance in 2018 which was a 1500m swim, 36km bike and a 10k run on the end! I won’t be doing that again in a hurry, but it felt amazing when I finished.
