A day in the life of our charity staff and volunteers

A day in the life at Zetetick Housing Charity

Learn more about what it’s like as our charity’s staff and volunteers

Meet some of the amazing people behind our charity who make it possible for our tenants to live independently. Find out what a typical day looks like for them and how their roles make an impact. Today we’re looking at two of our staff members, Anne Mari and Claire, as well as Lydia, a volunteer of ours.

Anne Mari – Director of Finance

“Outside of being an important member of our charity staff, Anne Mari is a mum of two busy teenage boys, one of whom is our resident Zetetick photographer! She’s been singing in bands for 30 years and is about to go into the studio to record a new album.

Where do I start…? No day is the same! As Director of Finance many of my responsibilities are dictated by financial quarters (budgets, annual reports and accounts) and the monthly calendar (i.e. payroll). But my role goes beyond numbers – I need to be in tune with all parts of our charity and its staff, from operations to HR and digital, reacting to challenges as they arise.

At a strategic level, I communicate with the board and Chief Executive, providing financial insights to help make decisions to direct the charity. I also manage my amazing finance staff who are crucial to keeping the organisation running like clockwork.

But the biggest impact I make is through tenant advocacy. By liaising with local authorities, our charity can ensure our tenants get the right housing benefits to meet their needs, allowing them to continue to live independently in supported housing.”

Claire – Property Supervisor

“I have worked as staff at Zetetick Housing Charity for over 14 years now. First as a seasonal gardener, then part of the Maintenance team before becoming Property Supervisor in Croydon as the charity grew. 

One of the things I love about my being part of the charity staff is that every day is different! I meet with the team each morning looking at what jobs need doing and the staff who will be doing them. This includes gardening, plumbing, repairs and decorating.

The biggest impact I have is getting to know the tenants and supporting them to make their home the best it can be. I know all the tenants by name, and we always have a good chat and a laugh. That’s the great thing about having an in-house Maintenance team – we get to know our tenants and build relationships with them, which makes carrying out repairs (and any upheaval associated with them) less stressful for everyone.

Having got to know our tenants over a period of time, I really value the opportunity to treat them with the respect they deserve, giving them the home they want.”

Lydia – Marketing and Engagement volunteer

“As volunteer charity staff, my volunteering days at Zetetick mostly involve creating a range of social media content for Zetetick’s Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn profiles. My day starts with a quick chat with Zetetick’s Marketing, Engagement & Development Manager, Emma, who briefs me on what content is needed that day or where else I can support as a volunteer.

By creating social media content, I hope that this drives more engagement on Zetetick’s social media channels which in turn raises awareness around their mission, drives donations and even encourages more people to volunteer.

I’m really grateful that where I work allows me to take several days a year to volunteer and use my skills and experience to make a positive impact. I chose to volunteer with Zetetick as I think that their mission and what they are trying to achieve as a charity is so valuable and unique. Before volunteering with Zetetick, I’d never heard of this model of providing housing but since becoming a volunteer, I have seen so many examples of where they are really making a difference.”

Volunteer with Zetetick