Trustees’ Week

 

 

What initially interested you in the work of Your Place?

Homelessness is close to my heart, and I have always believed passionately that everyone should have a safe and supportive place to call home. When I was first approached about being a Trustee for Your Place (then Caritas Anchor House), I had just left a housing and homelessness charity for another role and was missing working in the sector, so the approach was perfect timing in a way. When I met Amanda [Dubarry, Your Place Chief Executive] and had a tour round Anchor House, I was immensely impressed at her vision, leadership and psychologically-informed approach to everything the charity does, from support for the residents to the design of the shared spaces.

Can you outline the work you do with us?

I have now been Board member and member of the Services sub-committee for five years. I am also the Chair for the People and Values sub-committee.  No year has been the same and my work has been varied. As with any Trustee, I am “guardian” of our purpose, and ensure that all decisions put the needs of our residents first.  Along with my other Trustees, we share responsibility for governing and directing how the charity is managed and run.  My background in leadership roles in brand, marketing and communications also means that I mentor the fundraising and communications team as needed; for example, over the years this has included work on fundraising strategy, or our communications response to different opportunities. I was also the Board lead for our rebrand from Caritas Anchor House to Your Place, and I work with our Chair, Simon Hall, to continue diversifying our Board. It’s an ongoing project, but a very exciting and rewarding one.

What is the best part of being a Board member at Your Place?

I am extremely proud to be part of the Your Place Board. The best part is being close to the work we do, and seeing directly the impact we make every day one person at a time. Seeing how many people move on and find somewhere more permanent to call home is great, especially when we have 97% of people move on from us and into accommodation for more than six months.

What changes have you seen, both at Your Place and in homelessness more widely, since you have been a Board member?

Sadly, I have seen homelessness sharply rise since 2019.  Not just rough sleeping on the street, but people trapped in poor quality temporary accommodation, hostels, bed and breakfasts or sofa surfing. We have a crisis in our housing system with insufficient social housing and a private rented sector that is expensive and often of poor quality riddled with mould or damp. I have also seen the increasing pressures that this places on local councils, particularly in London and Newham.  The challenge of supporting our residents to find suitable accommodation has certainly increased since I joined the Board.

There are so many changes since I joined that I’d struggle to list them all here but some highlights for me personally:

1. Diversification of our Board – In 2021 we worked closely with the Housing Diversity Network to increase diversity on our Board. This included a development programme for new candidates to create a pool of next generation Trustees with different skills and characteristics. It has been great to see those Trustees grow in confidence and contribute to our work.
2. Rebrand to Your Place – Our new name has been a fundamental part of our ongoing evolution as a growing charity. Our focus is very much on each person and their individual needs as they regain a sense of ownership over their lives. Our new brand and name showed that we are here for each person who comes through our doors, a place to feel safe and to start again.
3. Last but not least, our work with women – We know that women are less likely to be accounted for in homelessness and rough sleeping data due to the different ways they often remain hidden to avoid abuse on the streets. At Your Place, our strengths-based approach and the investment in our dedicated women’s support workers is going from strength to strength. They really understand the needs of women experiencing homelessness and provide tailored support to address and overcome barriers and achieve their aspirations. As an organisation, we’re learning too, and working together to achieve better outcomes for women is something I’m immensely proud of.