Celebrating Our Trustees

This Trustees’ Week, we’re celebrating the dedicated, passionate people who work behind the scenes to help Grow thrive.

When people hear the word “trustee” it can sometimes sound a little distant and can evoke images of formal boardrooms and long policy documents. But at Grow, our trustees play a pivotal role in our organisation. They bring their expertise, skills, and lived values to ensure we stay grounded, sustainable, and focused on supporting young people across Sheffield.

Running an impactful charity requires more than good intentions. It needs robust structure, strategic vision, and constant care. Our board brings diverse expertise across several key areas that keep Grow safe, effective and future‑focused:

• Governance: Keeping our mission clear, transparent, and aligned with the highest standards of charity leadership.
  
• Finance: Ensuring financial stability, managing budgets responsibly, and building long-term resilience so we can plan for the future with confidence.
  
• Safeguarding: Prioritising the safety, wellbeing, and dignity of the team and every young person that joins our programmes.
  
• Fundraising: Building sustainable funding streams to keep our doors open and our impact growing.
  
• Youth development: Informing our coaching and training models to ensure our programmes genuinely address the barriers young people face.

A few words from our trustees

Beyond their strategic guidance, it’s the personal heart our trustees bring to Grow that makes all the difference. We asked a few of our board members to share what inspires them, what they’ve learned, and what gives them hope for the future.

For trustee Rachel Dale, staying involved comes down to watching young people rediscover their potential. Rachel shares:

“I’ve always been passionate about enabling people to flourish, have opportunities and choice about their future, which is exactly what Grow’s work achieves.”

“Seeing young people who previously would have described themselves as anxious, isolated or stuck, speaking confidently about their growth and future hopes in front of a roomful of people is testament to how effective Grow’s programme is. Society presents so many obstacles to young people trying to build their lives, but Grow consistently sees positive change in the young people they support. As a trustee, it’s a privilege to use my experience to support this vital work to continue.”

That sentiment is echoed by trustee Miriam Timms, who highlights the joy of celebrating trainee milestones. Miriam says:

“What keeps me motivated is I strongly believe in Grow’s values and mission. I’m passionate about supporting young people to reach their potential, boost their confidence and access opportunities, and Grow encompasses all of this. Watching young people share their stories at the employment celebrations, it’s clear to see the positive impact that Grow has and it’s a joy to be a part of.”

Good governance isn’t just about strategy – it’s about people. Trustee Tommy Henderson-Reay reflects on how his role at Grow constantly brings him back to what matters most:

“Being a trustee at Grow has continued to remind me that it’s all about people. It’s all about supporting people to move to a better place mentally and physically. To support people effectively, you need a good organisation that functions well and being a trustee helps facilitate that. It’s a really rewarding and stimulating role and I’m honoured to be able to play my part.”

As we look ahead, our trustees help us dream bigger while keeping our foundations strong. Trustee Sam Prosser shares what excites him most about the road ahead:

“What excites me most about Grow’s future is the opportunity to extend our reach and make a positive difference to the lives of even more young people across Sheffield and beyond.”

“Over the next year, I’m particularly excited about building on our work with young people who are not in education, employment or training, while exploring opportunities to take our mission to new audiences, including those in formal education. I believe there is real potential to reach young people earlier, open up new opportunities and help more of them realise their strengths and potential.”

“I’m also excited about strengthening Grow’s long-term financial resilience by developing more diverse and sustainable sources of income. This is important because it will give us the stability and confidence to think bigger, innovate and increase our impact.”

Thank you to our board

Whether they are reviewing financial forecasts, guiding safeguarding policies, attending trainee celebrations and fundraiser events, or shaping Grow’s long-term strategy, our trustees give their time voluntarily because they believe in the power of young people.

To our entire board – thank you for your wisdom, dedication and unwavering support. Grow is stronger because of you.