Frances Barker joined the board as a trustee of Pilgrims’ Friend Society in 2025. She shares how her faith, upbringing, and professional journey have all come together to guide her to this role

I was also active in commercial business life as a part-owner and adviser to businesses and charities. This gave me wide experience in management, governance, compliance, and strategy, both in crises and steady growth. My work as a professional adviser was especially intense during Covid-19, though I eventually became unwell and retired from practice. With the support of my husband, retirement became a privilege as it freed me to give my time voluntarily. That is how I became a Trustee of Pilgrims’ Friend Society.

Alongside legal work, I have always been active in the voluntary sector. I have chaired NHS committees and school governors, worked with the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, and opened our home for hospitality and refuge, hosting Ukrainians and others in need. I am also a Magistrate and try to apply my values in that setting. In church life, now at Kesgrave Baptist Church in Suffolk, I have always felt a special concern for older members, encouraging, listening, and offering practical help. Often, the Lord seems to bring into my life one older person at a time, vulnerable through isolation, who needs care and attention. My heart goes out to older people who are lonely and struggling, with families often distant or fragmented.

As a trustee, I bring a mix of legal, commercial, and pastoral experience. I see my role as being a “critical friend,” asking helpful but sometimes difficult questions to strengthen decision-making and ensure the organisation stays faithful to its mission. A central part of Pilgrims’ Friend Society’s vision is maintaining an ethos of Christian kindness, reflecting God’s grace, and meeting spiritual, pastoral, and practical needs in a Christian environment. I am especially passionate about care for those who cannot access it themselves. Too often local authority provision leaves people in poor conditions, with little dignity and no choice. The origins and purpose of Pilgrims' Friend Society call us to offer a Christian alternative, treating each person with respect and kindness.

Looking ahead, I pray that Pilgrims’ Friend Society continues to grow and prosper in its mission. I pray the Lord will provide the right people for the right roles and preserve the unity of spirit across our homes, housing schemes, and Support Office. By God’s grace, I hope to make a humble contribution to that.

Outside of my trustee role, I enjoy gardening, staying active, and spending time with my family. I have four adult daughters, and my husband and I have been fortunate to travel widely — from South Africa and New Zealand to many parts of the UK. Despite these experiences, I remain deeply rooted in my local church and village community in the Suffolk countryside.

Looking back, the threads of my life in caring for older people, seeking justice, pastoral work, and professional experience come together in this role. I believe it is God’s timing, and I am grateful to serve in an organisation with such a rich heritage, committed to dignity, care, and Christian kindness.