Wednesday, August 03, 2011
STAR National, Now STAR-ing…
The office is bustling with fresh faces and new ideas as volunteers get creative and Jennifer and Sinead join the national team.
This summer has been one of transition at the STAR National office as familiar faces leave to start new projects abroad and two new members of staff join the national team. James, previous Student Network Co-ordinator, has swapped his placard for a rucksack and headed off to South-East Asia, whilst Kevin, the previous Finance and Admin Manager, is working with refugees in South Sudan. Lucinda stepped in for a couple of months to organise Committee Training. Emma, STAR Chief Executive, and Emily, STAR Volunteering Co-ordinator, are keeping up their good work and doing a fab job welcoming the new team.
The new Student Network Co-ordinator, Jennifer, joins STAR National from Oxford where she has spent the last five years campaigning and volunteering with STAR Oxford and Asylum Welcome. She holds a BA in Modern Languages and an MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies. Having been wowed by new committee members at the training in July, she can’t wait to start working with groups on campaigning and events in the coming year.
The new Administrator, Sinead, joins STAR from our friends, the Zimbabwe Association, and she continues to work part-time with the lovely Asylum Support Appeals Project. She has a degree in Education Studies and has been working in the refugee movement for three years.
A host of volunteers have also been bringing their own spark to STAR National this summer, fresh with new ideas and first-hand experience to help us develop resources and strengthen our support structure for the coming year.
Ellen is updating the fundraising Group Guide and securing sponsorship for our November conference, whilst Dana is working on training and events – thanks for helping to make the Committee Training a huge success! She’s also preparing materials to help you make your English conversation classes even more fantastic next term. Lamine is helping Sinead keep our finances in order while Jess and David are helping with the website and writing great articles like the latest one on the stats from UNHCR. Check it out! A big thanks also goes to Bareen and Hannah who have been a great support to the office during the transition.
Over the next two months we’ll all be working together to help make your freshers fairs better than ever and to ensure that we’ve got a selection of exciting new resources for you in October. Why not drop into the office to say Hi, or get in touch on Facebook to share any bright ideas? STAR National is also looking for a volunteer to fill their spot at the Brighton marathon. It could be you!
Posted by STAR team on 03/08/2011 at 04:39 PM
