At the OnSide Annual Network Summit, held this year at WEST Youth Zone in Hammersmith and White City, we were thrilled to see Unitas Trustee Janaki Allen recognised with the Outstanding Trustee Contribution Award. This prestigious accolade celebrates her exceptional service and dedication to Unitas and the wider OnSide network.
Janaki has been a Trustee of Unitas for an incredible 5.5 years, joining just before our doors first opened. Her commitment, passion, and selflessness have been evident every step of the way, and her impact is felt across the entire organisation.
In addition to fulfilling her Trustee duties with the utmost diligence, Janaki goes above and beyond, volunteering weekly on reception during Junior sessions. This hands-on approach allows her to connect directly with our young people, their families, and our volunteers, embodying Unitas’ values of inclusivity and community.
Janaki’s leadership as Chair of the Delivery Committee has been transformative. She has established a model that ensures openness and accountability, scrutinising Unitas’ programme to ensure young people receive the best possible offer. Her innovative work has been so impactful that the model has been adopted across several other Youth Zones within the OnSide network, benefitting countless young people.
Described as a “wise counsellor” in her nomination, Janaki consistently ensures that decisions are grounded in the real-life impact they have on staff, volunteers, and, most importantly, our young people. As her colleagues say, “A conversation with Janaki is never a conversation wasted.”
Her award citation captured her immense contributions beautifully:
“Janaki’s dedication, passion, and tireless commitment to supporting Unitas’ young people at both operational and strategic levels are of the highest order. Her work exemplifies the profound value Trustees bring to organisations like Unitas.”
Congratulations, Janaki Allen, and thank you for your extraordinary service to Unitas Youth Zone. You have set a gold standard for Trusteeship and shown just how powerful the role of a Trustee can be in shaping opportunities for young people.
