We are delighted to announce that Sarah Lantsbury, the former Director of Operations, is taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer at Headway East London.
Sarah started volunteering at Headway East London when she was 16. “My mum (Miriam Lantsbury) told me if I quit sixth form I had to volunteer until I found a job – so I did and I loved it!”
She soon found a role working at a local GP practice, but continued volunteering at Headway on Wednesday mornings. She was determined to work at Headway, but it was not an easy road:
“I first applied for a job at Headway when I was 21 as a coordinator. I didn’t get it (no favouritism here!) but I carried on volunteering and Tony offered me a job the following year.”
Since joining the team in 2007, Sarah has worked as a Coordinator, Senior Coordinator, Deputy Day Service Manager and Day Service Manager, until becoming the Director of Operations in 2022. She has seen first-hand how the charity has grown and developed over time:
“When I first started as a Coordinator, I managed the transport and supported members with lunches – cheese sandwiches onsite and orders from local cafes – that shows you how much things have changed!”
As the Director of Operations for the past 2 years, Sarah learned a lot about the strategic direction of the charity and working to our mission. When the CEO position became available, she felt it was the right time to apply:
“The members, staff and volunteers need someone who knows them, knows their potential, and will do whatever possible to provide opportunities to reach that potential.”
Sarah has been appointed after a rigorous recruitment process, led by Peridot Partners and our Board, and co-produced by an Advisory Group of staff from across the organisation. Each department nominated someone from their team to represent the voice of staff and ensure members’ were consulted throughout the process. This included:
· Reviewing the job description
Based on feedback from members and staff, the Advisory Group re-worded the job description and all changes were accepted by the Board.
· Creating a welcome letter from members, which talked about the type of person they were looking for, what they wanted them to achieve, and what Headway is like.
If you haven’t seen Jason Clark’s poem yet, it’s a fantastic watch!
· Shaping the interview process
To ensure that member voice and engagement was a key part of the process, we:
o Asked members from all services if they’d be interested in being part of the interview panel.
o Member Marie-Claire took part in both interviews alongside a front-line staff member (Katya), board members (Glen, Steph, Tim) and Rachel from Peridot.
o Asked members and staff for input on interview questions.
o Arranged member engagement sessions as part of the second interview round, where candidates had a tour of the centre and did activities with members, and staff and volunteers took notes and feedback from members about what they thought.
o Asked candidates to write a one-page profile which was distributed in the centre on the interview day, to aid members’ awareness and give an insight into how they would communicate with our community.
“We are grateful for the support of everyone to conclude the search process for our new Chief Executive.
We saw many excellent applications, and in the end were in unanimous agreement that Sarah was the standout candidate.
I am delighted that Sarah has taken on the role and we now look forward to supporting her and the team to deliver their strategy so that present and future members of Headway East London continue to thrive.”
Glen Hodgson, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Never content to rest on her laurels, Sarah has big dreams for Headway:
“My ambition for Headway East London is that our community lives out its mission.
That we work with members in the wonderfully creative and collaborative ways we know how.
I want us to be recognised for the innovative ways we reach new people and provide opportunities for members. I want us to celebrate where members are today, never forgetting the life changing experience they’ve had to bring them through our doors, and I want us to make things better for those that haven’t started this journey yet.”
We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Headway East London!
