Hello! I am delighted to have joined CTEA as Operations Manager in January 2023. It means a great deal to me to be going to work in an organisation that truly believes in the power and strength of local community and in empowering people within their own communities.
Just a little about myself…. I would like to be thought of as a kind and compassionate person who tries to always be helpful to others. I always try to put my team first and shepherd people together, showing positive leadership to create a team not a collection of individuals.
I believe that work should be a place where you can have fun whilst still working hard. I enjoy being part of a team and encouraging and supporting colleagues to work together in achieving goals. I believe it is important to give praise and that respect and wisdom is something that is earned by the individual person, not by their rank or position. I am passionate about working within local communities and get great satisfaction from seeing a positive impact for local people from the work that we are involved in. I like to take people with me and ensure that all team members have a full understanding and awareness of the ‘whole’ project/task. I am also passionate about my belief in the importance and strength of public services and the role of the voluntary sector.
My family are very dear to me, my three sons; Christopher, Isaac and Jacob, my wife Joy, and my parents who live quite close and whom I visit several times weekly. Although by definition some might refer to me as a ‘carer’ to my parents I simply consider himself just to be their son. My home county of Suffolk is important to me, as is living by the sea and I am drawn and influenced heavily by the huge Suffolk skies and the sound of the sea. I am a long-suffering Ipswich Town supporter and enjoy the whole sense of community of the matchday atmosphere, the ritual of meeting with friends, a pint and something to eat in The Greyhound.
I really enjoy being creative and have a love of colour, these come together in my hobby of making stained glass objects. Another hobby of mine is gin making which is another aspect of my creative side as I explore new types of infusions, I can particularly recommend my Gorse Gin this year!
Colin Baldwin