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We sat down with another one of our Trustees, Ellie Stacey, to talk about how she became one of our board members.
Why did you want to be a Trustee at Reset?
I got involved in community-led welcome once I stopped being a headteacher. My old job took every inch of headspace, and once it was over, I started thinking more widely and was struck by a poster with statistics about the number of refugees welcomed worldwide, under the caption, “Is Europe full up? You decide…” It really challenged my thinking about this country’s level of compassion. I had moved to Cornwall, and got involved with Bude Refugee Support Group. Through this, I got to know Reset as the mainstay of Community Sponsorship. When they advertised for a Trustee role I applied as I thought that I might have something to offer from my old career and relocation to a very different part of the UK from Oxford.
What does a Trustee at Reset do?
We work as a team to secure and challenge the direction of the organisation. We support the staff by celebrating the good and challenging when we need to, but very much in the spirit of being an organisation that is open to learning. We evaluate what we do and make sure that we know our own strengths, and that we address any gaps in our knowledge through training and/or finding out more. We meet four times a year either in London or online and use this time to discuss the direction of Reset and any pressing issues that may require us to make decisions.
How did you become a Trustee at Reset?
It was a similar process to how Reset are recruiting now! I had a CV prepared, but I used my cover letter to talk about my experience of Community Sponsorship and being a headteacher and how I felt I could be a useful voice on the board. I was so excited to learn that I had got an interview. The interview was a really friendly process, where I met with Reset’s CEO, Kate and the previous Chair, Chris, and we chatted about my experiences and I was given the chance to explain why I would be a good fit for making decisions with the rest of the Reset board.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about being a trustee for Reset?
Make contact and find out more. It’s such a great way to join up with people from different walks of life and to step onto their shoes. I would recommend it to anyone even remotely considering it. You don’t have to have experience of being a Trustee, you just need a willingness to learn and want to get involved!
Thank you Ellie!
Our trustees play a critical role in enabling our organisation to deliver its mission. As a trustee at Reset you will be responsible for:
We’re currently recruiting for people to join our board. If you think this could be an opportunity for you, please refer to our Information Pack on how to apply.
Please note the deadline for applications is 31st March 2023 at 5pm. If your application does not have a cover letter your application will be not be considered and you may not receive a response from us.
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Read all news and insight from our initiatives
See coverage of Reset UK in the press and media
Find out how Community Sponsorship helps refugee families in need build a new life in the UK with confidence and dignity.
How do I sponsor a refugee family? How does the process work? Reset is here to support you every step of the way.
We’ve designed toolkits to make it easy for you if you’re involved as a lead sponsor or a local authority.
Wherever you are on the fulfilling and thrilling journey through Community Sponsorship, we have training courses, videos, articles and more, all designed to help your group and the family you support.
From drop-in sessions to UK-wide networking events, we bring together people and professionals involved in all stages of the Community Sponsorship journey.
Make a direct difference in the world by getting involved with your nearest Community Sponsorship group – or starting one up yourself!
Make an extraordinary difference to the lives of people who have lost everything by signing up to our (free) Landlords for Refugees register.
Not everyone can donate their time, so if you are choosing to donate money today instead or as well as, thank you. Your generosity is vital to the work we do support community-led welcome of refugees.
Help others by sharing your account. Why were you attracted to community-led welcome? What worked, what did you learn, what has the experience been like for you?
Reset empowers volunteers to welcome refugees into communities across the UK. Find out about us and the kinds of programmes we’ve been involved with.
Research, monitoring and evaluation are essential for making evidence-based decisions that will support Community Sponsorship to grow and flourish.
Sponsoring a refugee family is a significant responsibility. We advocate for Community Sponsors to ensure that they are properly supported throughout their journey.
Our advocacy focuses on representing the views of Community Sponsors to the Home Office to support them in implementing the necessary operational changes.
We also represent the views of Community Sponsors to other key stakeholders, including Local Authorities, international organisations, the wider resettlement field, housing providers and financial institutions. We also use our voice to campaign on policies affecting refugees. We are members of the Together With Refugees coalition, campaigning for a more humane approach to people seeking protection in the UK.
