July 10, 2025

From Apprentice to Advocate: My Year on the PSS Board

When I first joined PSS as their inaugural Board Apprentice, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I knew I was stepping into a space that not many people who look like me, or share my lived experiences, often get the chance to enter. What I didn’t know was just how much this opportunity would shape my thinking, challenge me to grow, and reaffirm something I’ve always believed: representation truly matters.

Over the past 12 months, I’ve had the privilege of sitting in rooms where key decisions are made, decisions that affect real people and the vital services they rely on. I’ve witnessed first-hand the dedication, care, and deep thought that go into leading an organisation like PSS. And more than anything, I’ve been made to feel like I belonged. Not as a token voice. Not as a box ticked. But as someone whose perspective mattered.

Why Board Apprentice Matters

Initiatives like Board Apprentice exists to open doors. And for some of us, those doors haven’t always felt open. It’s no secret that boardrooms across the country don’t always reflect the communities they serve. That’s not just a diversity issue, it’s a decision-making issue. When voices are missing, so are insights, experiences, and solutions that could make things better.

Initiatives like this are more than symbolic gestures. They’re practical, meaningful ways to break down barriers. To build confidence. To give people a seat at the table, and the chance to see themselves in roles they may never have imagined. It’s about creating a ripple effect, because once you’ve been let in, you’re more likely to hold the door open for others.

What I’ve Learned

My time on the board has taught me so much. Not just about governance, strategy, and social care, but about the power of listening. The importance of asking the right questions. The value of bringing your whole self to the table, even when you feel unsure.

I’ve seen how leadership at PSS isn’t about hierarchy, but about heart. About community. About putting people first. And that’s something I’ll carry with me forever.

I’ve also learned that sometimes, the biggest growth happens in the quiet moments, the side conversations, the shared reflections, the times you feel seen and heard.

What Comes Next

Although my apprenticeship has officially come to an end, this isn’t goodbye. I’m incredibly proud to share that I’ve been invited to join the PSS Board as a trustee later this year. That means I’ll continue to support the organisation, contribute to its future, and champion the values that brought me here in the first place.

And for anyone reading this who’s ever questioned whether spaces like this are for people like you, let me be clear: they are. And they must be. Because until all voices are truly heard, none of us can say we’re doing our best work.

A Final Thank You

To everyone at PSS – thank you. Thank you for believing in this programme. Thank you for welcoming me so warmly. Thank you for showing what inclusive leadership really looks like. You’ve not only shaped my journey and reminded me why this work matters.

My hope is that more organisations follow your lead. That they see the value in opening up their boardrooms to fresh perspectives, different lived experiences, and future changemakers. Because real change doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when someone makes a choice to say yes.

And to the next Board Apprentice, whoever you may be – get ready. You’re about to begin something truly special.