Trustee’s Week: Angelo Apa on Giving Back Through Service

As we celebrate Trustees’ Week, we’re taking a moment to recognise the people who help shape and strengthen YMCA Cheshire. Our trustees bring their time, skills, and compassion to ensure that our work continues to create positive change across the community.

One of our trustees, Angelo Apa, shares what inspired him to join the YMCA Cheshire board and why he believes others should consider doing the same.

After spending 35 years in the IT industry, including over two decades at IBM and Lenovo, Angelo retired in 2023 and began exploring new ways to give back. Having met our CEO, Mark Hills, and seen a post calling for trustees on LinkedIn, he decided to apply.

For Angelo, one issue that deeply resonates is homelessness. He describes it as “a scourge on our society that has no place in a modern world.” He believes that regardless of the circumstances that lead someone into crisis, it is our collective role to help as many people off the streets as possible and to offer hope and dignity where it’s needed most.

Angelo says one of the most rewarding parts of being a trustee is meeting YMCA Cheshire’s staff and volunteers and hearing first-hand about the impact they have on people’s lives.

Each person in the YMCA is an absolute hero in my eyes,” he says. “They work with people who face real challenges, often in very difficult situations, and they do it with such compassion and dedication. 

Angelo’s life beyond the boardroom is full of energy and variety. He has worked across the UK, Paris, Zurich, and Johannesburg, and even co-founded a coffee company in South Africa which he later handed over to its employees so they could build a better future for their families. He’s also been a Formula 1 marshal, a sailor, a runner, and now drives a historic rally car with his wife as navigator. As we celebrate Trustee’s Week, Angelo encourages others to consider joining YMCA Cheshire as a trustee.

If you have a heart for people and a desire to make a difference, this is one of the most meaningful ways to do it. You don’t need to have all the answers; you just need to care.

We’re incredibly grateful to Angelo and all our trustees for their commitment, leadership, and belief in a fairer, more inclusive community where everyone belongs.

Inspired by Angelo’s story?
Learn more about what it means to be a trustee and how you can get involved by visiting our Trustee Opportunities page https://ymcacheshire.org.uk/vacancies/charity-trustee-3/.

Watch our Board Chair, Adrian, share what it’s like to serve on our board:
Watch on YouTube

Happy Trustee’s Week from all of us at YMCA Cheshire.