Harriet Ballance
People and Communities Manager
Harriet joined the Foundation’s newly established Development Directorate in May 2019 to lead on our work in local areas around the UK. Harriet’s role brings together local experts in selected towns around the UK to look at how services for people facing complex social issues can be made more sustainable and effective.
Harriet came to the Foundation from a stint as Acting Director of the Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees (AVID), a national membership organization for groups who visit people held in indefinite detention in the UK. Prior to that, she led a local community organization for the Gypsy and Traveller communities. Harriet has a particular interest in social justice issues arising from migration and mobility and has pursued this through postgraduate study and research.
Having seen first hand the way in which increasingly challenging and complex social issues are affecting communities, as well as the unique role and reach of small charities in addressing them, Harriet is excited to be working in an organization and role which is highly strategic in providing resources to support vital work in this area.
Outside of work Harriet enjoys cooking, yoga, writing and trying to create a garden on her tiny balcony in North East London.
