Meet the Trustees

Tony Vardy chairs the Board of Trustees of CB Plus.

He has introduced our new monthly feature in the Newsletter, profiling each Trustee in turn.

This month’s blog features a conversation with Jessica Brayne in our ongoing series, Meet the CB Plus Trustees. To read more trustee blogs, visit CB Plus News.

Introductions

Tony Vardy (TV): Thanks for speaking to us, Jess. Can you tell us a little about your work and family life outside CB Plus?

Jessica Brayne (JB): I am Head of Membership and Regional Development for the Living Wage Foundation. I feel lucky to have a job where we directly improve peoples’ lives, and where I get to work with lovely colleagues.

Earlier I took a degree in Anthropology at LSE, and had a spell as a chef in some London restaurants and at a gastropub. Outside work, my five year old Sam and Cockapoo Pepper keep me busy in my spare time. Recently we made the move from Barnet to York and are doing up a rather crumbly eccentric Victorian house. We walk a lot, love to spend time in the garden and enjoy making nice food.

Becoming A Trustee

TV: How did you become a Trustee with CB Plus?

JB: I’d been aware of CB Plus’s great work when I was a Barnet Councillor. I was looking for a trustee role where my prior experience would add value and approached CB Plus, and happily I was accepted as a Trustee.

Current Role

TV: What is your current role as a Trustee?

JB: I only joined recently so am still learning a lot about the charity. I sit on the Risk and Compliance committee, covering safeguarding which had been one of my interests as a local Councillor.

Trustee Experience

TV: How would you describe your experience as a Trustee – any particularly memorable points?

JB: So far it’s been very good. I’ve been impressed by how knowledgeable and conscientious all the trustees and staff team are. As an infrastructure charity, our work is complicated and multi-faceted and it’s taking a little while to wrap my head around all of it. I’m grateful to have experienced colleagues to work with. I enjoyed meeting everyone in person at our recent trustee and senior team evening, when it was lovely to have more time to contemplate the development of the charity

Future Challenges

TV: What do you see as the biggest challenge for CB Plus from here?

JB: Navigating the increasing complexity of needs people are experiencing alongside the limited funding available due to Council budgets. Community groups are vital to the resilience of their communities and many are currently struggling for resources. Our offering must be both very effective and cost-efficient to help navigate this.

TV: Many thanks, Jess.