Introducing our new Trustees

Towards the end of last year, CASBA recruited three new Trustees. Here they introduce themselves and talk about their hopes for the charity.

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Melina Tsui
How did you find out about CASBA? 
I was contacted on the Reach Volunteering website
 
What made you want to become a Trustee?
I admired the meaningful work that CASBA do and the lasting impact that CASBA has on service users. The focus that CASBA puts on equipping people with the ongoing skills they need as adults, really resonated with me. And I also thought my marketing strategy expertise could add a lot of value as well - I saw a need that I thought I could help fill. I grew even more interested as I met more people during my interviews. Everyone in the organisation is so genuine and invested in what they’re doing, and CASBA really and truly puts service users at the centre of everything they do. That’s something that made me feel even more strongly that this was the right fit for me.
 
How have your first few months been?
Great, already feel like I’m getting stuck in. Involved in a few different work streams already and I love that in my role, I can help steer the organisation forward.
 
What have you learned so far? 
Having come in from the corporate sector I’ve learned about how funding and grants work, as that’s new to me. I’ve also learned about the different amazing projects we are doing like Pregnancy to Parenthood as just one example. 
 
What are you looking forward to doing most as a Trustee?
1. Helping CASBA extend its reach, build its profile, find its voice as a meaningful brand and community leader.
2. Help it find a business model that’s the right fit, and grow it financially through additional revenue streams to ensure its longevity.

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Lisa Tomlinson
How did you find out about CASBA?
The last CEO, Rob Legge, and I had worked together in a few capacities over the years, he let me know that CASBA were looking for a trustee with my background and I thought it would be an opportunity to use my skills to help a really great charity.
 
What made you want to become a Trustee?
 I was just coming to the end of four years as a school governor focused on SEN. I really enjoyed this role but was keen to help a smaller charity who might really benefit from HR and strategy support.
 
How have your first few months been?
It’s been great to be involved with CASBA and see the success of the Christmas campaign. I’m still getting to know how everything works so I’m hoping to be able to be more involved in the future. 
 
What have you learned so far?
It was interesting to see how many people in the community really support the work of CASBA and see the impact its service has on those who they support.
 
What are you looking forward to doing most as a Trustee?
Watching the charity develop and grow over time and see the impact it makes on the service users.

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Gina Patel
How did you find out about CASBA?
I found out about CASBA Advocacy when I was looking at doing a voluntary placement working with people with disabilities. I started following their social media channels,  CASBA followed me  back, and the rest they say is history!

What made you want to become a Trustee?
I’ve worked with people with all kinds of disabilities for over 12 years in different capacities. I work for the NHS now but disability rights is my passion and in the past year, I’ve rediscovered how important my passion is to me and how much I really missed it.  I'm a young  person and there aren't many people my age who are a Trustee, I feel it is a honour to be a Trustee of a fantastic organisation!
 
How have your first few months been?
Being a young person with a disability myself, this is the first time I’m a Trustee so I’m learning along the way. In a nutshell, it has been VERY daunting but enjoyable!
 
What have you learned so far?
I’ve personally learnt about the work of CASBA and the difference they make to adults with learning disabilities
 
What are you looking forward to doing most as a Trustee?
Three simple words - Making a DIFFERENCE!

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CASBA is delighted to have three such dynamic and committed Trustees on board and we all look forward to working with them.