Anbreen Bi's story
How a charity trustee fair connected a charity and an
aspiring trustee
“I benefited enormously from charities growing up and recognise the important role they play in society.”
“There weren’t many people of my background – working class, BAME, having grown up relying on benefits - at Cambridge University,” says Anbreen Bi. “But I had family and friends just a call away. They spurred me on, kept me going.”
It was this understanding of the importance of strong family ties that attracted Anbreen to Fastn, a charity that works with families to strengthen relationships.
After graduating in medicine from Cambridge University, Anbreen went on to study a Masters in psychiatry at King’s College London. It was here via the Getting on Board Student Board Bank that she was introduced to Fastn.
“I just stumbled across a workshop that Getting on Board put on in alliance with KCL and the KCL student union. I realised that being a trustee was the perfect way to use my skills and passions to help a charity and it was just what I was looking for.”
“I’ve volunteered for a number of charities since I was 16 and I was keen to apply my professional skills in a trustee position.”
The workshop was part of the Student Board Bank, a first of its kind programme that also included a Charity Trustee Fair where charities looking for young trustees were able to recruit students directly.
“I met the CEO of Fastn and it started from there,” says Anbreen.
“Fastn believes that investing in dependable relationships from an early age can help people thrive throughout life. It is an approach that resonated with me.
Anbreen is ambitious for the charity sector.
“I benefited enormously from charities growing up and recognise the important role they play in society.”
“I want voices like mine to be heard and to encourage others to make their voices heard too. More than anything, I want to open the door for other minorities and young people to make a real difference to people’s lives.”
