Vision for Volunteering Lead

laura.lowther@visionforvolunteering.org.uk

With 15 years in the North-East charity sector, Laura joins the team from her role as Head of Volunteering at St Oswald’s Hospice in Newcastle - she is a Trustee with VODA North Tyneside and TimbaDash Theatre. She has broad strategic development experience and an interest in values, culture and inclusion.

Laura is most proud of her work with specialist Lymphoedema Service staff and volunteers during the pandemic; delivering a volunteering programme which meant shielding patients could still receive expert care at home, winning a Hospice UK Award for ‘Innovation in Care’. One of the best things she has ever done is volunteer for a year from her mobile phone for Newcastle West End Food Bank, helping mobilise Newcastle United fans to support their local community.

Aside from her children, partner and dog, her great loves include bobbing about in the North Sea and listening to BBC Radio 6. She believes volunteering makes the world go round.

Laura is committed to ensuring Vision for Volunteering is inspiring and inclusive – amplifying brilliant people, places and projects.

Learning and Storytelling Officer

sarah.tranter@visionforvolunteering.org.uk

Before moving into the voluntary sector, Sarah worked in the public sector across Oxfordshire, Swindon and London. She worked mainly in policy, strategy, performance management and engagement, working on anything as varied as potholes, community safety, children’s social care and more. They had a particular focus on corporate social responsibility and equity and diversity.

During lockdown, Sarah had what she describes as a ‘Covid crisis’. She quit her job to do some soul-searching and write a sci-fi novel (still unfinished, sadly) and from there went on to run a small local charity providing free hot cooked breakfasts for those experiencing food poverty or homelessness in Swindon.

In their spare time, Sarah can be found playing video games, watching women’s football or drinking tea. Sarah is thrilled to be with the Vision for Volunteering Team as the Learning and Storytelling Officer. They bring a love of stories and a love of brilliant people doing brilliant things.