Reaching People welcomes new trustees

Reaching People would like to extend a warm welcome to our two latest trustees, Kiran Kala, CEO of the Emerald Centre, and Tracey Waterfield. 

 

Kiran joined the Emerald Centre in 2012 as a Community Development Manager on a nine-month contract and after eight years became its Chief Executive during the Covid lockdown period. 

 

The charity was established to provide education, recreational, social and training opportunities for the local community, with a particular focus on the Irish population of the city. It is also home to the St Patricks’ football teams and has the only full-size Gaelic football pitch in the region. 

 

The Emerald Centre has been a valued member of the Reaching People network for many years and Kiran’s predecessor was also on the Reaching People board. 

 

Kiran explains a bit about her background: “My experience of working in the community spans over a period of 40 years. My interest in community development started whilst I was at Middlesex University in the 1980s where I undertook a Social Science degree. 

 

“I later looked to take up opportunities in sectors where I thought I could make a difference to address inequality and improve the lives of others. This included experience in local authorities and later at Connexions Leicestershire. 

 

“Through accepting continuous learning, I have served on three school boards as a Governor in Leicester during the past 20 years. I have learnt that a ‘good’ board member is someone who listens to staff, provides strategic advice and information, has a sound background in operational protocols and respects other board members. Add a sprinkle of vision and determination and this would be the making of an ‘excellent’ trustee on any board to help drive change, grow resilience and embed sustainability within an organisation. 

 

“I believe that I’m bringing some key skills to the Reaching People board including bid writing, business management, change management, conflict resolution and governance. I’ll also be bringing lived experience of supporting staff and observance of good governance practice to enable the charity to continue its mission to build the capacity of the voluntary sector.” 

 

Tracey Waterfield retired from Leicester City Council earlier this year after 44 years in the public sector. In her last role at the Council, Tracey managed the Leicester Employment Hub project for ten years, looking to help disadvantaged people by matching them up with employment opportunities. 

 

Previously, she worked for the Skills Funding Agency, promoting apprenticeships to businesses.“I’ve always been about apprenticeships and lifting a light into a hidden world,” says Tracey. 

 

“In the Council role, the key was to give employers an understanding of what people are really like, regardless of any perceived challenges to recruitment in their backgrounds. We were looking to widen access to recruitment opportunities through our networks, of which Reaching People was one. 

 

“We were trying to help all network partners by getting people supported through different funding steams and in a position to work. 

 

“I’ve been a lifelong public servant with a passion for working out how we can help people.” 

 

Having qualified early in her life as a teacher, Tracey is now volunteering in a local school to support her daughter, who is now a teacher herself. 

 

“When the opportunity to become a Trustee at Reaching People came up, it was a perfect match for me. To the charity, I can bring my knowledge of employment, procurement and funding processes, as well as my connections with so many people, within the City Council and externally across Leicester.”