Home-Start Portsmouth would like to share the below news about the resignation of our CEO Joanna Toms –
”I have some news to share with you.
I have made the incredibly difficult decision to resign my position as Home-Start Portsmouth CEO. It has been one of the great privileges of my life to belong to and work for Home-Start, but since my beautiful husband Gareth died suddenly and tragically in July 2024, it has taken all my effort and motivation to be present and I feel it’s time for a pause. I am not leaving to go to another role, rather taking a rest and working out who I am in this new life that has been thrust upon me. I am looking at my departure as an opportunity for the charity I love so dearly, and though it has been a difficult and emotional decision, for me and Home-Start Portsmouth I firmly believe it is the right one.
There’s a word I came across the other day, happenstance. It means when people come together by chance in an unexpected encounter that makes them very happy. A lucky meeting that was completely unplanned. What a marvellous happenstance it was, finding a poster in my local library asking for volunteers in 1998 that led me to find this wonderful organisation first as a volunteer and then as a Coordinator in 2000, it’s been a glorious, wonderful ride. Volunteering and community, the champion and solution for many of our society’s challenges, is my passion. I’m in awe of and so proud of our volunteers, our children, parents and our partners. How lucky have I been, being part of such a community.
It has been a pleasure working at Home-Start Portsmouth, I feel very honoured.
With very best wishes
Jo”
Home-Start Portsmouth wishes Jo every bit of happiness with her future and is grateful for 27 passionate years starting as a volunteer, and now retiring as a CEO.
There is currently an Interim CEO in post, Iain Cooper, and the recruitment for a permanent CEO will commence in the next few weeks.
