We’re super excited to introduce our brand new Communications and Events Officer Pauline Holt – the latest addition to the Action Foundation team. Pauline will be keeping you updated with all the latest Action Foundation news here on the website, social media channels and via our email newsletters, as well as organising events and liaising with the media.

As we bid Katie Bryson goodbye as she starts her full-time role supporting the refugee sector with their communications at IMIX, it’s time to get to know Pauline and give her a warm Action Foundation welcome…

Tell us a bit about yourself

I live with my husband, Adrian and youngest daughter, Sophie (23) by our beautiful coast in North Tyneside and like to get the sand between my toes on our fantastic local beaches. I also love to get out on my bike when I can with cycling friends. During the first lockdown I got more into gardening and now have a raised bed where I grow vegetables – it’s a work in progress! I love reading and am very excited that there’s an Action Foundation book club. I can’t wait until travel restrictions can lift as my older daughter, Holly (24), lives in Italy so I’m looking forward to visiting her when we can.

What’s your career background?

I’ve been a newspaper journalist for most of my career, specialising in health issues and later in magazine feature writing. I love hearing about people’s lives and strongly believe in the power of storytelling to help create an understanding of and empathy with others’ situations. For the past three years I’ve been Communications and Marketing Coordinator at Children North East – another local charity that helps vulnerable babies, children, young people and their families in our region.

What’s your new role?

I’m taking over from the talented Katie Bryson as Communications and Events Officer and can’t wait to build on her great work, further raising the profile of Action Foundation so that more people are made aware of our charity and become involved with us, either as a client, staff member, volunteer, fundraiser or other kind of supporter.

What drew you to apply for a job at Action Foundation?

Action Foundation is such a dynamic charity that has achieved so much for asylum seekers and refugees in such a short space of time and I feel really privileged to now be part of that progress and hopefully help make a difference through my work. I’m so excited about joining an organisation that really values and promotes diversity and inclusion.