Backup announces Sarah James as a new Trustee of the charity. A long-standing member of the Backup team as its PR consultant, Sarah will continue to spearhead the charity’s outreach to industry media and now, also play a part in guiding its direction.

Through her work with Backup and as CEO of industry PR company, Gasoline Media, Sarah has seen the challenges freelancers face first-hand and is passionate about promoting the work Backup does in helping when times are tough. As part of her work for Gasoline Media’s clients and through her interviews for the Backup Podcast, Sarah regularly gets to talk to freelancers about their experiences, good and bad, of what the industry has to offer. It is a broad insight into the wellbeing of the industry and something Sarah is keen to do more of as she looks forward to her first year as a trustee.

“I’ve worked with Backup for almost a decade and the work we do is one of the things I love most about my job,” she says. “Being invited to be a Trustee of the charity is an honour and I’m delighted to take on the role. The industry is constantly changing and the people who work in it are facing new challenges as a result. It is vital that Backup can keep pace with their needs.”

Sarah is also passionate about education and wellbeing, seeing Backup’s remit as not just providing support when things go wrong, but also playing a part in equipping industry professionals with the skill they need to work better, not harder.

“Financial and accounting decisions can be daunting, Backup is looking for ways to give freelancers the tools to stay financially resilient with initiatives like the Financial Literacy workshops. These are hosted by The BACK LOUNGE’s Suzi Green and Paul Jones from UK Live Event Freelancers Forum and PDFs are available on the website.” Sarah continues. “Alongside this, the wellbeing resources like the funding for Mental Health First Aider courses are vital. Increasing the numbers of Mental Health First Aiders in the industry is key to supporting technicians and creatives, whether they are working in a theatre, on an event stage or tour bus.”

As a Backup Trustee, Sarah is uniquely placed to continue to help spread the word about what Backup can do, not only in times of crisis, but every day.  She is also committed to raising awareness of the great work that Backup Partners, Ambassadors and Fundraisers are doing to support ongoing work. By listening to practitioners, Backup can stay up to date with the issues that affect the industry and its workers, to promote better working practices and react quickly in times of need.

“I’m delighted to welcome Sarah to the Board of Trustees at Backup,” says Backup Chair, Lee Dennison. “As we continue to position the charity at the forefront of supporting the live events industry, it’s vital that our board reflects the experience, knowledge, and passion that drive this sector forward. Sarah is a fantastic addition, bringing not only a wealth of industry insight and understanding of how to truly engage with our community, but also a strategic focus, energy, and empathy that align perfectly with Backup’s mission. I’m personally looking forward to her input and support as we continue to grow and strengthen the charity’s impact.”

You can view our full Board of Trustees here