INTERVIEW: “Trustee of the Year” Nicola Baggott
Nicola is a trustee of Brody’s Trust, a registered charity on a mission to create a dedicated sensory hub for children with special educational needs (SEN) in Gloucestershire. Inspired by her son Brody’s joy and love for life, their vision is to provide a safe, inclusive space where families can create lasting memories.
Nicola was the winner of the “Trustee of the Year Award” at the Gloucestershire Volunteer Awards 2026.
What inspired you to become a trustee?
We set up Brody’s Trust as a charity in 2024 following our experiences with our son, Brody, and wanting to create a space where children with complex needs can be themselves, families can be supported, and siblings can be understood too.
What skills or qualities do you think are most valuable in this role?
I think the most important thing is having a good heart and believing in the values of the organisation. You also need to be passionate about your cause... being a trustee takes up a lot of your time, and you need to be aligned with your charity to be able to sustain that level of commitment.
Nicola was nominated for the award by by
Lynn Teague, employee of Brody’s Trust:
“Nikki is not a figurehead; she is hands‑on, present, and tireless. She attends fundraising events, supports families during sessions, and works closely with volunteers and staff to ensure the charity runs smoothly. Through her business, BBCcare 10 Ltd, she also sponsors the Fundraising and Governance Officer role, demonstrating her long‑term commitment to the charity’s sustainability.
“What sets Nikki apart is her compassion. She leads with heart, ensuring that every family who walks through our doors feels seen, welcomed, and understood. She has turned personal tragedy into a legacy of hope - one that will support generations of children.”
What has been your greatest achievement so far?
I think probably when we purchased our building (the former Joys Green Primary School near Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean) which is to become Brody’s Sensory Hub. We’ve worked really hard to get to where we are now - we’ve got an adapted kitchen so that children using wheelchairs can get in there and bake with their parents, we’ve got an accessible entrance, and a wetroom so that families where it isn’t safe for them to bathe their children at home can come and use our facilities, free of charge.
Why is good governance so important in the VCSE sector?
The public need to be confident that the work we do stands up to scrutiny so that they know that their donations are being spent in line with charitable objectives. Trustees are ultimately there to make sure that organisations work in the best interest of their beneficiaries.
What are your hopes for the future of your organisation?
We really want to get our final two rooms finished so that we can open the Hub and begin supporting families. Our softplay room and interactive room are still to be finished, so if there are any tradespeople out there who’d like to help, please get in touch!