Stephen Burns appointed new Chair of Trustees at Toynbee Hall

Stephen Burns appointed new Chair of Trustees at Toynbee Hall

Stephen Burns quote feature image

The Trustees and team at Toynbee Hall are delighted to announce that after an open and engaging recruitment process, Stephen Burns will be joining the charity as our new Chair of Trustees.

Stephen is Executive Director for Care and Communities at Peabody, and brings huge experience in leading strategically to enable strong and successful community based partnerships. He will add a wealth of practical skills and a strong understanding of many of the communities with whom Toynbee Hall works most closely, and can draw on a deep well of governance experience within a range of charities whose missions closely align with that of Toynbee Hall.

Stephen replaces Julian Corner, who is stepping down after six transformational years as Chair of Toynbee Hall, during which time the organisation has restored and revitalised not only its physical assets, but its strategy and vision and deepened its connections with the community around us.

Toynbee Hall’s governance will also be further strengthened by the appointment of Muna Yassin, Chief Executive of London charity Fair Money Advice, as a new trustee. She will join the Board at the same time as Stephen.

Looking forward to taking on the role, Stephen Burns said:

I am very excited and honoured to become the chair of this great east London institution.  To me, Toynbee Hall represents all that is positive about charities in general and grassroots community organisations specifically.  It has a long history and a modern outlook.  It is financially sound and sustainable for the future.  It listens to and supports the voices of the local community and its Board and staff team bring skills, passion and commitment to their efforts.


I am extremely grateful to Julian and the Board for handing me the mantle of an organisation that has been so expertly steered through a lengthy process of redevelopment and renewal and is stronger for it.  I look forward to working with the Board, CEO Jim Minton, and the senior leadership team to build on the success achieved to date and to deliver Toynbee Hall’s vision.

Welcoming Stephen to the Board and reflecting on his time at Toynbee Hall, Julian Corner said:

Stephen is a fantastic appointment, and I’m really pleased to be handing on the responsibility and privilege of being Chair of Toynbee Hall to someone of his calibre, passion and experience. I have enjoyed my time as Chair enormously, and have been lucky to work with a brilliant and committed board and team.  Jim’s leadership in particular has been crucial to steering us through these difficult times. Like community organisations around the country, Toynbee Hall is needed more than ever, and so I hope the organisation now has strong foundations on which to build lasting change, working hand in hand with communities around East London.  I will always feel a part of Toynbee Hall, and leave with warmest wishes and genuine excitement for the next chapter in its incredible history.”

Muna Yassin, Chief Executive of Fair Money Advice, who will also be joining the Board, said:

I’m delighted and excited to join the Board of Toynbee at a critical time for our communities. They face immediate and life-affecting challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis, and meaningful economic and social recovery from Covid-19. Our communities also face entrenched systemic inequality that underpins the exclusion and marginalisation of our Black and diverse ethnic communities.  These challenges mean the work of Toynbee is needed now more than ever and I look forward to working with the Board, Jim and the wider team to support Toynbee’s pioneering approaches to shaping a fairer and happier future.

The process was supported by Starfish Recruitment, and led by a group of Toynbee Hall trustees, chaired by Husna Mortuza, who added:

All of the Board were delighted with the strength and range of candidates who put themselves forward. And we are so pleased to be welcoming Stephen to steer us through the next vital period on Toynbee Hall’s journey. We are also delighted to be welcoming Muna to the Board. Over recent years the Board has developed and aligned itself to support the organisation and its values, and both Stephen and Muna will add incredible experience and expertise at just the right time.

On behalf of the team at Toynbee Hall, Chief Executive Jim Minton added:

We’re delighted to welcome Stephen as our new Chair. He brings great experience, and a real appreciation of the work we do; a wealth of knowledge; and values that really align with our mission and ambition. We are all looking forward to engaging him in shaping our strategy and helping us ensure we really do all we can to shape the fairer and happier future that the communities we work with want and need. It is also great to welcome Muna onto the Board, and the qualities that both she and Stephen will bring give us real confidence for the future.


I also want to extend an enormous thank you on behalf of all the team to Julian who has given an exceptional six years of leadership and service as our Chair. Under his stewardship our organisation has really transformed itself and the way it works with the communities around us. We are hugely grateful for all he has achieved and look forward to working with Stephen as we build on the strong foundation he has left.

Stephen will begin his term as Chair from the end of February 2022 and Muna will also join the Board at that point.

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