Welcoming Our New Trustees

This week is Trustees Week 2025, a national celebration that shines a light on the nearly one million people who volunteer their time and energy as trustees across the UK.

Trustees play a vital role in keeping charities and community organisations strong, accountable and focused on their purpose. They help guide vision and strategy, make sure resources are used wisely, and ensure that communities have a voice in the decisions that affect them.


At Eastside Community Trust we want to say a huge thank you to every trustee who gives their time, care and skills to help our community thrive. Your leadership makes a real difference.

Trustees Week runs from 3 to 7 November, with opportunities to connect with others, share experiences and learn new skills. It is a reminder that trusteeship is not just about governance, but about people coming together to build stronger, fairer communities.

Welcoming Our New Trustees

At our recent Annual General Meeting, we were delighted to welcome new additions to the Board of Trustees at Eastside Community Trust, including a new Chair.

The recruitment process focused on finding people who bring lived experience, local knowledge and a commitment to inclusion, sustainability and community connection.

We are proud to introduce the new diverse and passionate members to the team, who share our vision for Easton, Lawrence Hill and the wider BS5 area.

Paul Hassan (New Chair)

Paul has lived in Easton for more than 30 years and brings a wealth of experience in community development and partnership building. His work supporting the integration of refugee and migrant communities has helped shape inclusive neighbourhoods across Bristol. We are thrilled to have his deep local knowledge and leadership guiding the board.

Megan Belcher

Megan is a long-time advocate for Disability Equality and the Director of the Bristol Disability Equality Forum. Having recently moved to BS5, she is passionate about creating spaces that are accessible and welcoming to everyone.

Lakhraj Minhas

Lakhraj is a sustainability leader with experience across sectors, with a strong focus on inclusive and responsible community development. She is committed to promoting wellbeing and belonging for all who live and work in Easton.

Alan Russell

Alan has worked for many years supporting children, young people and Disabled people. He values connection and inclusion and is inspired by Eastside’s commitment to creating spaces where everyone feels welcome.

Henri Owen

Henri has led inspiring community-focused work around climate justice and organising. They now support non-profits to strengthen their systems and governance, bringing a practical understanding of how values and structure work hand in hand.

Kate Monkhouse

Kate has lived in Easton for five years and brings experience in facilitation and social change across the voluntary sector. She is passionate about learning, reflection and community care, values that sit at the heart of Eastside’s approach.

Maca Gomez-Gutierrez

Maca lives in Redfield and is a dedicated Eastside volunteer. Originally from Colombia, she brings lived experience of migration and a deep passion for belonging and collective community power.

Meet the rest of our amazing trustees by visiting the Our People page.

Looking Ahead

We are excited about the experience and perspectives these new members of the team brings. Together they will help steer Eastside Community Trust through the next stage of our journey, ensuring that our work continues to reflect the voices, needs and hopes of our community.

As we celebrate Trustees Week, we encourage anyone who is curious about trusteeship to get involved. Becoming a trustee is a powerful way to learn, give back and help shape the future of local communities.

Thank you to our trustees, past and present, for your care, your time and your belief in what we can achieve together.

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