The Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) has recruited a Data and Insight Manager who lives with a disability and has highly commended the global-sailing charity’s ethos.

Joanne Eley brings with her a significant amount of experience to her new role. She previously worked as Systems and Development Manager for P3, a national charitable organisation which works in schools, communities, and other places to provide help for the homeless, as well as support work and exciting learning opportunities for young people through the National Citizen Service programme.

As someone living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – a disability which can cause joints to easily dislocate – Joanne praised her new employer for its ethos, as the JST offers people of mixed abilities the chance to explore their potential at sea.

She says she is honoured to be a part of the work JST does and will be assisting the shore-based team with its move to a new CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system, on-hand to help JST employees utilise the system to the best of their advantage.

Joanne said: “I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome so I know what it is like feeling limited by a disability – but the fact the JST welcomes everyone with inclusive sailing experiences just gives me such a feel-good factor and even a renewed confidence that I can do anything I can put my mind to.

“I am really pleased that I can bring my experience to an organisation like the JST” continued Joanne “I really want to help make a difference to support a charity that does such great work and play my part in giving something back.”

Patrick Fleming, JST’s Chief Executive welcomes Joanne to the team and commends her passion for the job and notes that they will continue to support her as she works around her condition.

He said: “Joanne is going to be a great addition to the team and her passion for data in all its forms shines through. We will be here to offer our support whenever she needs it.”

The new recruit will be working from her home in Nottingham and living more than 150 miles away from JST’s head office in Southampton, is benefitting from the sailing charity’s recent move to a virtual office, post-Covid.

The JST charity offers people of all abilities the opportunity to climb aboard their tall ship Tenacious for an immersive sailing experience and relies on funding from the public. Since its founding in 1978 the Jubilee Sailing Trust has welcomed more than 50,000 people on board.