Through Unity’s Team
Vicky Torrance Interim Executive Officer
Vicky currently works as a charity consultant, helping a range of charities develop their capacity and improve their sustainability.
She has over 20 years’ experience of working within the community safety and criminal justice fields as a practitioner, project manager and advisor. She has 15 years’ experience of working with victims of crime, particularly those bereaved through homicide. She is passionate about victims’ rights having been a victim of domestic violence herself. She is a member of the London Independent Victims Commissioner’s Victims Reference Group and is also the Executive Officer for Escaping Victimhood. Vicky has been a friend of Through Unity since its inception, supporting our fundraising, volunteering at Family Days and even once running the British 10K in aid of Through Unity.
In her spare time, Vicky is an avid baker who is studying for a Diploma in Baking as Lifestyle Medicine at the Sourdough School.
Sandra White Chair, Trustees
Meet Sandra, a dedicated advocate committed to empowering young individuals to overcome obstacles and reach their full potential. Sandra boasts an impressive track record, with leadership roles in influential programs such as the accredited VOYAGE program at the Metropolitan Black Police Association and the highly successful Youth Leadership program at Oxford University. Her expertise extends to strategic leadership positions at Catalyst Housing and the Young Brent Foundation, where she has played a pivotal role in capacity building within local voluntary sector groups and local authorities, collaborating with organizations like London Action Trust and the Young Brent Foundation.
Sandra's commitment to Through Unity dates back to 2010, when she has consistently championed the cause of building capacity and empowering members to transform the lives of families affected by homicide.
In her role as Chair at Through Unity, Sandra brings an impressive wealth of management experience, spanning over 30 years across the corporate, public, and charitable sectors. Beyond her chairmanship, she also serves as a trustee for Manhood Academy Global, an innovative rites-of-passage program for young people. Previously, she held a Non-Executive Director position at EduAction and currently chairs the Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum, demonstrating her dedication to various community-driven initiatives.
Sandra's commitment to social betterment doesn't end there. Her day job is as Director of Programmes at the Royal National Children's Springboard Foundation, a social mobility charity. In this role, she collaborates with the independent schools sector to provide transformative education opportunities to children who need it most, further underscoring her dedication to making a positive impact on young lives.
Andy Bull Trustee
Risk Assessment & Special Review Team, UBS AG / Trustee for Through Unity
Andy’s background is in banking - mainly in operational risk management, governance and control - through which he has had many great opportunities to travel internationally, which in turn has provided him with valuable insights into different countries and cultures. Until three years ago Andy had no knowledge of Through Unity or the vital support that it provides to those affected by homicide. That may not be altogether surprising as he seems himself as very fortunate not to have been exposed, personally, to the horrors of violent crime. However, he quickly came to understand just how important the charity’s work is, and how it aims to provide support to the wider circle of people impacted by the aftermath of homicide - those who may not normally benefit from the established victim support networks. He has lived in Tower Hamlets for ten years and, whilst fascinated by its history and cultural diversity, he’s all too aware of its problems with crime and deprivation.
His strong desire is to put to good use the experience he’s gained during his career, spanning almost 40 years in the banking sector, as well as his network of friends, colleagues and associates, for the benefit of my local community, and in particular, to help Through Unity meet, if not exceed its aspirations for growth.
Bev Griffiths Trustee
In 2021 Bev’s cousins 20 year old son, Aiden, was watching television with his pregnant wife in their apartment in Tulsa, Oklahoma USA. A domestic dispute broke out in the apartment next door and a fire arm was accidentally discharged through the apartment wall, hitting Aiden in the head. He was declared brain dead at the scene. Bev has observed the importance of community and support for her cousin, Aiden’s siblings, friends and of course his young wife and unborn child.
In working with Through Unity, Bev found the opportunity to use her professional skills, gained through 25 years working in financial services and wealth and investment management, to help provide the structure, governance and support to rebuild the charity, strengthening its purpose for growth into the future. Bev has seen just how much work there is to be done to provide victims, survivors and communities with the support they need. With a particular passion for social mobility, Bev is also looking forward to leveraging her kind hearted and talented network to support Through Unity on its journey.
Sobitha Sashikumar Trustee
Change & Transformation Leader, AXA
Sobitha has over 20 years of experience in the financial services sector, mainly banking and insurance. She specialises in programme management which has included planning, budgeting and resourcing amongst other things.
When she joined Through Unity, she was clear in wanting to give something back to a deserved cause and Through Unity felt like it may be a good opportunity to do just that.
Having fled the war in SriLanka as a minority Tamil, living in Guyana and thereafter growing up to be an adult in East London, she has had significant exposure to violence.
She feels that, now after the pandemic, we are able to interact more with our members, contribute more and she feels honoured to be part of this cause. She feels that she can help in many ways, using her experience to help the charity sector. By doing this, she’s extending support to the wider community, through regular interactions with the families of the bereaved.
She seeks to enable Through Unity to take huge strides in providing support to its members, communities and to all those who need it.
David Angell Trustee
Has worked in digital marketing, SEO and communications since 2004. Notably he worked as an award-winning member of the Google Ads team at Google’s EMEA HQ advising companies from SME to multi-national. He also launched and managed Google’s UK programmes for Google Grants, Google Earth Outreach and the YouTube non-profit programme. He also ran Online Communications for former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg prior to and through the 2010 election. He is Director of Wordsmith Digital and Associate Director of Brand Response.
David is has been Trustee since 2018 and volunteers working across IT, technology and digital marketing.
Paul Lucraft Trustee and Treasurer
HPaul has a degree in Economics from London University and is a Chartered Accountant having trained with Touche Ross (Now Deloittes) in London, Paul has enjoyed a successful 25+ year career in financial services spanning Finance, Credit and Fraud Risk and payment cards.
He worked for TSB and Lloyds TSB for 12 years in finance, credit risk and fraud prevention. He then worked for MasterCard for 9 years, rising from regional risk manager to General Manager. Six years ago he stepped down from MasterCard as General Manager of the UK and Ireland region.
In 2006, Paul launched his own specialist payments and risk consultancy business and works to provide expert support to many payments organisations. This is his primary area of activity but in addition he has a portfolio of other roles.
Paul has been involved with Through Unity since 2017 and is Treasurer.
Contact
E-mail: reachingout@throughunity.org
Phone: +44 7754 191989
Address: Knowledge Dock 4-6 University Way LONDON E16 2RD