New appointments bolster charity’s support for people facing financial insecurity

Turn2us, the anti-poverty charity, has this month (September 2023) appointed three new trustees to assist its work offering support to people facing financial shocks and challenging the systems and perceptions that cause financial insecurity. 

Kaveed Ali, Richard Edgar, and Jenny Oklikah have all accepted the invitation to take the organisation’s newly launched strategy forward, joining the current 10 trustees.

With these new trustees Turn2us seeks to further its offering to people facing financial insecurity amidst the cost-of-living crisis. 

Kaveed brings a wealth of experience to his trustee role, with a career spanning the private, public, and voluntary sectors. Before starting in his current position at UK Community Foundations he led Dementia Friendly London on behalf of the Mayor of London. He has also worked in community engagement for the Alzheimer's Society and the Lifeline Nehemiah Project, a grassroots NGO based in Sierra Leone. 

 On his appointment, Kaveed said:  

“I am delighted to be joining Turn2us as a trustee. We are committed to moving power to people experiencing financial hardship and to get to the root of what causes financial insecurity.”  

Richard Edgar is a Brighton-based broadcaster and journalist. He now works in financial services in the City of London after two decades at the BBC, Reuters, the Financial Times, and ITV News, where he was economics editor.  

Richard adds: 

“It’s a critical time to join the organisation when demand for what Turn2us provide is so clearly growing. I will be focused on bringing my experience to the role and I look forward to contributing as positively as I can to its urgent mission.” 

Jenny Oklikah’s experience spans central and local government, the non-profit and community sectors. She spent over 12 years developing government policy, including on serious youth violence. She is currently Director of Strategic Growth at Dallaglio RugbyWorks, which supports young people excluded from mainstream education. Previously, she was CEO of Fight for Peace, an international organisation working in communities affected by inequality and violence.

 Jenny concluded: 

“The work of Turn2Us matters because alleviating poverty and financial insecurity is fundamental to decency, justice and human rights. Turn2Us provides important services for people affected by the cost-of-living crisis, and they are committed to challenging the systemic factors that cause financial insecurity. This is essential at a time when food banks are becoming normalised, and in-work poverty is increasing. For these reasons I’m proud to join Turn2us.”

Thomas Lawson, chief executive at Turn2us, commented: 

“We are really happy to welcome Kaveed, Jenny and Richard to our board of trustees. 

“They join us at a time in which we plan to be part of a solution to eradicate poverty across the UK. People used to come to us when life shocks like bereavement, unemployment or redundancy had an impact on their finances, but now people just can’t afford the basics to get by. 

“Our new trustees will play a significant role in guiding our work. They’ll help us make sure we can all afford life’s basics, but more than that, we can all thrive. 

“In Richard we have found someone with an understanding of the effect of monetary policy on everyday life. In Jenny we have someone with deep expertise in community strengthening and Kaveed brings a huge background in diversity, which speaks to the heart of our strategy. 

“As we focus more on the root causes of financial insecurity across the four nations this strengthened and re-invigorated board will help us with work which has never been more urgent.” 

The new appointments come as Turn2us enters its 126^th year of tackling poverty, which is also the first year of its new five-year strategy, Tackling Financial Insecurity Together (2023-2028). The charity continues to offer grants, practical information and support, but is also committed to working together with others to challenge the systems and perceptions that cause financial insecurity.