As Settle approaches the start of its second decade supporting care-experienced young people, the charity is celebrating the leadership of Rob Trimble, its founding Chair, who is stepping down after nine years of service. Rob has been part of the Settle journey since the very beginning and helped shape its ambitious mission to prevent homelessness for care-experienced young people, working alongside its founders Rich Grahame and Katie Slee.

During his tenure as Chair, Rob has used his vast experience and expertise to support the organisation’s growth and development from a start-up to a well-established thriving charity that has supported over 600 young people and grown from zero to approaching an annual budget of £1 million. He has led and supported a diverse board which has supported the organisation’s growth in reach and profile. The charity is at a significant moment of opportunity with ambitious plans for further growth and Rob will remain a keen supporter and ambassador for this vital life-changing work.

Rob’s successor is Sarah Byrt, who joined Settle’s board in 2022 and will become the new Chair of Trustees in July. Her fellow trustees and the whole team at Settle are delighted Sarah is stepping into the role and know she will provide passionate and dedicated leadership for the organisation. After a career as a City lawyer, she moved to the third sector 10 years ago, inspired by volunteering for a homelessness charity. Sarah is now Assistant Head of Legal at the Salvation Army, supporting its work in areas such as homelessness and modern slavery. When she joined the Settle Board she was inspired by the charity’s vision to make a significant long-term impact on the lives of young people.

Rich Grahame, Chief Executive of Settle, says:

"As our founding chair, Rob has been instrumental in growing Settle from an idea into a flourishing charity that prevents hundreds of young people from becoming homeless each year. Rob has ensured that Settle’s growth has been sustainable, underpinned by good governance and always putting young people at the heart of our strategy and decision making. He has been with us since the very beginning and I want to thank him on behalf of everyone at Settle for his leadership, vision and support over the last decade and the enormous impact this has had on the lives of so many marginalised young people in London.

I'm delighted that Sarah Byrt will be Settle's new chair. Sarah has already added an immense amount to the organisation since joining in 2022 and brings with her a wealth of expertise and experience from the charity, legal and homelessness sectors."

Rob Trimble, outgoing Founding Chair of Trustees at Settle, says:

"When we created Settle, we knew that we were responding to the grim reality of youth homelessness in London; and in particular the challenges faced by care-experienced young people. Since those first days ten years ago we have carefully built a dedicated team under the amazing leadership of Rich Grahame, and it makes me proud to know we have transformed the lives of so many young people. I am excited that Sarah Byrt is taking up the role of Chair and I look forward to encouraging and supporting the team from the sidelines as Settle grows and develops in the years to come."

Sarah Byrt, incoming Chair of Trustees at Settle, says:

"We’re so grateful to Rob for all he has contributed and it’s a great privilege to take over the reins from him as Chair at this exciting time for Settle. I’ve enjoyed being a Board member under his expert leadership and supporting Settle’s transformational work with young people. I'm really looking forward to working closely with the excellent team at Settle as they help break the cycle of youth homelessness."