The Connection Team has over 80 members of staff, 16 Trustees and 500 volunteers who bring a wealth of expertise and knowledge, which support The Connection’s frontline services.

Leadership Team

Pam Orchard
Chief Executive Officer

Sarah Makhlouf
Director of Services

Elizabeth Charles
Director of Fundraising & Communications

Iain Chance
Director of Finance and Resources, Corporate Services

Board of Trustees

Why were you drawn to The Connection?

I worked with the former CEO of The Connection on a scheme to provide work placements to homeless clients looking to re-enter the job market, and was very impressed by what I saw of The Connection’s work, and the talent and dedication of the people who work there.

What’s your favourite TV show to binge watch?

Currently bingeing on Seinfeld, about 20 years after everyone else!

What about your past experiences made you want to become a Trustee here?

I often saw people rough sleeping in the areas where I walked to get to and from work. I found it difficult to work out what I could do to help people in this situation other than donate money and I wanted to do something more tangible and also to understand the issues and possible solutions better.

What’s the best holiday you’ve ever had?
I am very lucky to have enjoyed lots of fabulous holidays – I am always planning the next one. The best holidays are ones that transport you to a completely different environment whether that is snorkelling in the Galapagos with penguins and seals or eating fermented duck egg in Vietnam, I always want to spend a holiday doing something completely different to my home life.

Why were you drawn to The Connection?

Everyone deserves to be safe and secure, and to be given a chance to fulfill their potential. I love that the team at The Connection get to know people as individuals and provide deep and tailored support.

Would you rather be super-strong or super-fast?

Super-fast. I would visit friends and family who live far away and go to places across the world that I never thought I’d get to see.

What about your past experiences made you want to become a Trustee here?

I had been volunteering for charities supporting people experiencing homelessness for a couple of years, when I saw that The Connection was recruiting for trustees. So I knew a little about the issues around homelessness, but have learnt a great deal more as a Trustee.

Do you have any hobbies/hidden talents?

I love running. I’m a member of the Clapham Chasers running club and try to run a different marathon each year. In my spare time I love gardening, particularly trying to grow salad and vegetables.

Why were you drawn to The Connection?

Why were you drawn to The Connection?
I feel strongly that homelessness is the root of many social issues in a person’s life. I was already a trustee of Mayday Trust that also works in homelessness.

What’s your favourite food?
Thai food is my favourite.

What about your past experiences made you want to become a Trustee here?

I spent 17 years as a civil servant, just down the road from the Connection in Whitehall, working on many different policy areas, including public health. Since then I have worked as a policy and government relations consultant with not-for-profit organisations who want to improve their advocacy and to better influence government policymaking and legislation.

This is an area I think the Connection can make a huge impact, translating their unparalleled knowledge and evidence of what works on the ground into tangible policy solutions that could have improve outcomes for rough sleepers at scale. I hope that I can play a part in making that happen.

What’s your favourite TV show to binge watch?

Succession. Totally over the top but so very watchable.

What about your past experiences made you want to become a Trustee here

As someone who had lived and worked in central London for over 30 years, I was increasingly aware of the rise of homelessness and wanted to find a way to help. It was the Connection’s particular approach to tackling some of the most complex and apparently intractable challenges that drew me to the organisation.

What’s your favourite TV show to binge watch?

Having worked our way through more or less everything without sub-titles in lock-down, The Bureau and Call My Agent are now current favourites.

What about your past experiences made you want to become a Trustee here?

I have worked in deprived parts of the UK for ten years as a priest and have worked in other places to make relationships between advantaged and less advantaged communities.

What’s your favourite TV show to binge watch?

Cricket or rugby. Otherwise series like The Crown or Borgen.

Why were you drawn to The Connection?

The purpose of serving homeless people in this part of iconic London is what drew me to Connection along with the long ties between Connection & Coutts.

Would you rather be super-strong or super-fast?
Super Strong

What about your past experiences made you want to become a Trustee here?

Having lived and worked in London for many years I’ve always been very aware of street homelessness and have been saddened to see that increase in recent years. I had the privilege of growing up in long term social housing and I believe that everyone should have the right to a safe home.

I’m fortunate to have worked in the homelessness sector for a number of years and know the incredible work that happens to support people out of homelessness.

Would you rather be super-strong or super-fast?

Hmm, tricky… Probably super-fast so I can catch my dog when he decides to take-off….

Why were you drawn to The Connection?

The style of the organisation and approach towards homeless people is quite unique. Calling them ‘clients’ is not only refreshing but also puts a complete different emphasis on how the organisation wants to connect with their target group and help them back into society.

Do you have any hobbies/hidden talents?
Music and woodworking

Why were you drawn to The Connection and what about your past experiences made you want to become a Trustee here?

I do not believe that homelessness should be an inevitability. Growing up, my family didn’t always have much money, but I was fortunate enough to have experienced academic and professional successes that helped prevent me from “falling through the gaps”. It is important to me that I now use my skills as a policymaker and campaigner to contribute towards a fairer society.

What’s your favourite food?

This is hard. I love food and I daydream about starting a supper club or publishing a cookbook but I struggle to refine my dream menu, let alone my favourite dish… But, despite my fancy ambitions, there is nothing quite like the comfort of a jacket potato!

Why were you drawn to The Connection and what about your past experiences made you want to become a Trustee here?

I have worked in Whitehall for several years so the work of The Connection is local and relevant, and Covid-19 proved that people could be helped off the streets.

Before joining the Cabinet Office I ran a regional charity & worked on a Homeless fund with the Friends of St James & Portsmouth City Council to tackle the issue where rough sleepers had risen from 4 to over 80 in a short period.

What’s the best holiday you’ve ever had?

The next one

Why were you drawn to The Connection and what about your past experiences made you want to become a Trustee here?

Pre-pandemic, I volunteered at the Connection for over 10 years, helping with the breakfast service. I found the work rewarding, the staff members inspiring and the relationship-centric culture of the Connection refreshing. When I saw the opportunity come up to further support them leveraging some of my other skills, I couldn’t wait to apply.

What’s the best holiday you’ve ever had?

A trip to Ethiopia a few years ago. Tasty food, welcoming people, fascinating history & culture and the best coffee you’ll ever taste.

Why were you drawn to The Connection and what about your past experiences made you want to become a Trustee here?

I live in a part of London, not far from St Martin in the Fields, where you see a lot of homelessness, and it’s an issue which I feel society has a vital responsibility to address. The work of The Connection is very important, and I particularly like the supportive and holistic way in which it works with its clients.

I’ve worked in the past as an ad hoc volunteer supporting the homeless but wanted to become involved over the longer term, and also in a way which could draw on my work in governance and government. So having seen the valuable work of The Connection, I was delighted when the opportunity came up to apply to join the board of Trustees.

What’s your favourite food?
It’s not a food, but starting the day with a good coffee is one of life’s small but very important pleasures.