Remembering Caroline
The Charity Link team was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our Honorary Trustee, Caroline Wessel, earlier this month.
Sue McEniff, CEO:
“Caroline’s connection to Charity Link began at just 19 years old, when she first volunteered with the organisation, an early indication of the lifelong commitment to helping others that would define her.
She went on to serve as a trustee for over 28 years, continuing a remarkable family legacy of support spanning four generations. Throughout her time with us, Caroline brought not only deep empathy and insight, but also a profound understanding of the charity’s purpose, shaped by her longstanding connection to its work and the experiences of those it supports.
Alongside her governance role, Caroline made an invaluable contribution as a historian of Charity Link. She played a central role in capturing and preserving the organisation’s rich heritage, authoring the 125th anniversary history booklet and later contributing to work marking our 150th year. Her meticulous research and writing extended beyond Charity Link itself to the histories of several of the trusts we manage, including Rachel Daphne Plunket and the Mansion Trust, ensuring that their stories, and the impact they have had over generations, are properly recorded and remembered.
Caroline’s work in documenting our past reflected not only her academic expertise, but her deep belief in the importance of understanding history to inform and strengthen our future. Her contribution means that Charity Link’s story, and that of the wider network of historic charitable trusts in Leicester, will endure for many years to come.
On a personal note, it was a huge privilege to have known Caroline for many years. She was a constant source of encouragement and inspiration, thoughtful, kind, generous, and deeply committed to the people and causes she cared about. She will be greatly missed by myself and by everyone at Charity Link.”
George Oliver, Charity Link Chair:
“Board members are thinking of Caroline’s family at this time, but also thinking of her remarkable involvement in our organisation over many decades.
Caroline was the soul of Charity Link and – as well as being a highly valued trustee – could always be relied upon to contextualise our core mission as the external landscape changed over the years.
Caroline documented the story of Charity Link’s first century. Her work has kept us anchored in our founding purpose.
It’s a legacy that remains particularly relevant today as – once again – we align our fundamental values while reshaping our systems to meet modern need in the age of AI.
Thank you, Caroline.”
To read a detailed obituary about Caroline’s expansive career and interests, published on the University of Leicester website, click here –
Caroline Wessel | About the University of Leicester | University of Leicester
The obituary for Caroline on G Seller Funeral Directors with details of her memorial service on 20th July can be found here.
You can also read more about Caroline’s involvement with Charity Link and her family’s support, in the special edition of our newsletter Thrive, published in January to mark our 150th birthday (page 6 and 7): CL-150th-Edition-Newsletter.pdf and online here: A family history dedicated to Charity Link – Charity Link
You can also read the detailed booklet, created by Caroline to mark our 125th birthday, here: 125-years-of-LCOS-scan.pdf