Meet Briony Grassie, our dedicated Volunteer Coordinator at Kyra. Briony’s role involves recruiting, supporting, training, and coordinating our incredible volunteers. In this post, we’ll explore Briony’s journey to Kyra, her vital role in managing our volunteer team, and the exciting projects she’s currently working on to enhance our community.

Briony’s Journey to Kyra

Briony’s journey with Kyra began during her time as a Probation Officer when she first learned about the organization in its early days. Later, while working at the British Red Cross, where she coordinated a project supporting people who were lonely or socially isolated, Kyra continued to resonate with her.

Drawn to the organization by the wonderful things she had heard and the broad range of opportunities it offered to women, Briony felt a strong connection to Kyra’s mission. Her own experiences with domestic violence and mental ill-health further deepened this connection, as she admired the safe, supportive space Kyra provided for vulnerable women. Her involvement with Kyra deepened a few years ago when she volunteered to deliver online Yoga sessions after qualifying as a Yoga Teacher.

When the opportunity came up to become the Volunteer Coordinator in June 2023, during Kyra’s 10th Anniversary year, it felt like a perfect fit. The skills she developed in supporting and guiding vulnerable individuals, both as a Probation Officer and at the British Red Cross, translated seamlessly into her role at Kyra.

Briony’s values and experiences align closely with Kyra’s mission, making her transition into this role feel like a natural progression.

Kyra’s Volunteer Coordinator

As Kyra’s Volunteer Coordinator, Briony wears many hats. She’s responsible for recruiting and coordinating our incredible volunteers, ensuring they’re supported, well-trained, and fully integrated into Kyra’s activities.

One of the most rewarding aspects of her role has been hearing the inspiring stories of women who have accessed Kyra’s services—especially those who have gone on to become volunteers or who have shared the positive impact Kyra has had on their lives at local events.

Witnessing the unwavering dedication and commitment of our volunteers each day, and seeing members grow in confidence and feel empowered to be themselves, fills Briony with a deep sense of pride to be part of the Kyra team.

Briony’s Current Projects

Briony has been busy with several exciting projects lately. Last month, Briony was rowing down the Ouse as part of Kyra’s Dragon Boat Race team – who won the Best Dressed Team award!

When she’s not fundraising and rowing, Briony is working on a few different projects. A fun project in the pipeline right now is to organise taster Yoga sessions for Kyra members, offering them a chance to explore yoga in a welcoming, friendly environment.

Another of Briony’s current projects is coordinating training with My Sight, a charity dedicated to helping people live well with sight loss. With over 2 million people in the UK living with sight loss, Briony is committed to making Kyra more accessible for partially sighted members. She’s working on bringing My Sight experts to Kyra to provide advice on how we can better support partially sighted members, ensuring our services are as inclusive and accessible as possible.

Closing Thoughts

Briony’s dedication and passion have made a huge impact on Kyra’s volunteers and members, helping to create a truly supportive community.

We encourage you to learn more about volunteering or supporting Kyra’s initiatives.

A heartfelt thank you to Briony and everyone who contributes to Kyra’s mission of empowering women.