Katie Tait will work closely with Horatio’s Garden Founder and Chair of Trustees Dr Olivia Chapple to deliver the charity’s strategic objectives and secure a sustainable future. She is currently PR and Public Affairs Director at Maggie’s Centres, the charity which provides free expert care and support in centres across the UK. For Maggie’s, Tait has led teams across marketing, PR, fundraising and public affairs since joining in 2007.
Previously, Tait spent 15 years as a radio producer at the BBC and as a a journalist for broadsheets including The Telegraph and The Times. She is also an advisor to Project Giving Back and is a Trustee of The Charlie Waller Trust.
“I have been following the work of Horatio’s Garden for a long time and been so impressed by the way it has built 7 extraordinary gardens in such a short space of time. The drive to deliver this essential resource for people with spinal injuries has been inspiring. I’m so delighted and excited to lead the next stage of its expansion, working alongside Olivia and becoming part of such a brilliant team”, said Tait.
Dr Olivia Chapple added: “We are thrilled to have appointed Katie as the first CEO. Katie’s expertise and experience will ensure the sustainable growth of Horatio’s Gardens to support more patients and families affected by spinal cord injury across the UK.”
Horatio’s Garden is a UK charity that nurtures wellbeing of people after spinal injury in beautiful, vibrant sanctuaries in the heart of NHS spinal injury centres. The first Horatio’s Garden opened in 2012 and the charity’s mission is to grow thriving communities and biodiverse gardens in all 11 UK spinal injury centres. In each of its gardens, it runs a wide-ranging arts programme which encourages beneficiaries to discover new skills, providing a welcome distraction from life on the ward.