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BOARD OF TRUSTEeS
Catherine Brown
Catherine Brown practised as a barrister for 15 years at Kings Chambers, Manchester, working mostly in the field of personal injury and industrial disease, representing clients in the County and High Court, as well as providing advice in writing and in person. She also became involved in the recruitment and training of junior barristers and mentoring people from underrepresented backgrounds who wanted to enter the profession.
After a career change 6 years ago, she turned her attention from the law to personal and professional development, retraining as a coach and facilitator and developing a portfolio career also encompassing roles on regulatory tribunals. She specialises in taking the skills and knowledge from the courtroom to a wider arena, helping experts and other witnesses understand what is expected of them in the legal process but also developing courses and workshops around confidence and communication.
"Having come from a working-class background to qualify as a barrister, I was immediately drawn to the mission of the charity when I helped my former Chambers in supporting one of their projects. The passion of the young people and those working with them on behalf of RECLAIM really left an impression and I did some further training with them before having the opportunity to become even more involved in furthering their work as a Trustee."
Monica Mwanje
Monica is the founder of MM Creative Solutions; a consultancy that provides strategic business and organisational development support for organisations seeking growth in nuclear and other regulated sectors. She has successfully worked with organisations of all sizes (microbusiness through to multinationals) that deliver: professional services, engineering and construction services and technical services. Monica has worked in the nuclear sector since 2003 and she is a Chartered Chemical Engineer. In 2019, Monica co-founded the not for profit initiative Diversity and Inclusion in UK Nuclear.
Access to opportunities and the chances for talent to shine is not always equal. The important work RECLAIM does advancing youth leadership, instilling confidence and enabling access to greater opportunities, challenges the status quo and helps make change happen. Monica is keen to help this important mission and becoming a trustee is a way in which she can actively support.
Vic Langer
A campaigner by trade, Vic has led the campaigning functions at both the National Union of Students and Save the Children UK and has led organisations in the youth and migrant rights sectors. Vic is particularly interested in how communities can both build power and hold power to account. She currently leads the campaigning and fundraising functions at Good Law Project.
Outside of work, as well as being on the Reclaim board, Vic is the Chair of the New Economic Organising Network (NEON) an independent network of activists. To relax Vic likes to swim, and can usually be found in one of London’s many open water swimming venues or lido’s.
"As a woman who grew up in a working-class household on various council estates across the north of England, I know first-hand the importance and impact of the work that Reclaim does. I wanted to become a trustee at Reclaim to make sure that more working-class young people are supported to achieve their full potential."
Kay Polley
Kay is co-head of movement building and campaigns at the Finance Innovation Lab, and also a freelance consultant, currently working with funder The Fore.
For ten years, Kay led the work of TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru / Together Creating Communities), the UK’s oldest community organising charity. At TCC Kay supported a range of communities in running successful campaigns, from the local to the national. Before this, Kay had positions with the British Red Cross and Oxfam.
Kay has held several governance roles, including as a trustee of the City of Sanctuary and as non-executive director of Friends of the Earth.
“Growing up in a working-class household in the North of England, I had no sense that people from my community would ever have the power to change things. When I started my career and realised that people like me absolutely can and should be involved in making decisions, it was a really transformative moment. That’s why I’m so proud to be Chair of the board at the amazing RECLAIM.”