Where Diverse Perspectives are Celebrated: My First Year at Sanctuary

After graduating from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Politics and International Relations, I wasn’t sure where I would end up, but I knew I wanted to work somewhere I could make a meaningful difference.

I joined Sanctuary last year and quickly realised this graduate programme was the place I’d been searching for.

Before I applied, truthfully, I hadn’t heard of Sanctuary before. However, as I progressed through the application stages, every conversation and assessment revealed more about the organisation, the work it did, the people who worked there, and the values it had. By the time I received an offer, I was convinced Sanctuary was the perfect fit, and I feel so lucky to have been given this opportunity.

One of the first things I learned about Sanctuary is that it’s a Disability Confident employer. As someone with a chronic illness, I was worried about starting in a structured corporate environment – a massively different pace from what I was used to at university. But during recruitment I raised my concerns and immediately felt reassured that my health needs would be supported, not just tolerated, but actively accommodated. That commitment hasn’t wavered. Across every team, colleagues listen, adapt, and celebrate diverse perspectives. I constantly hear and see strives being made towards being a better place to work.

This sense of active assistance is felt through the support you are consistently given – which starts on the first day. Prior to joining Sanctuary, I had never worked a “real” job before – only having experience in volunteering throughout uni. However, over the last year these nerves have absolutely settled. The thorough induction process immediately eased the concerns I had, being given the chance to see in person the work that different business areas of the company do, as well as speaking to senior leaders (including the CEO!) and hearing from them first-hand. I quickly gained a picture of how each department drives the organisation forward. That early exposure has helped me hit the ground running and see how I could grow my career here. Learning and support are continued throughout the programme, with workshops being ran for grads for essential skills, and other opportunities for learning and development. It is not just in the experiences though, but also the people. No matter how new you are, your ideas carry weight, and your contributions don’t get lost in the pile.

This was felt in the two placements I have experienced in my first year.

My first placement was with the Strategy and Engagement team, where I helped design a youth engagement programme aimed at strengthening our connection with younger tenants. This work has been woven into Sanctuary’s upcoming youth strategy, so I can see the direct impact of my efforts.

My second placement immersed me in Property and Housing - working with the complaints team and others in the area, giving me front-line insights into our tenants’ concerns and challenges our operatives’ day-to-day face. I’ve gained confidence using Sanctuary’s internal systems, sharpened my Excel skills, and learned to analyse data in ways that shape operational decisions.

My next placement, which I am due to start next in early October, will be in Business Change, being able to work on a transformative programme dealing with regulatory changes – such as Awaab’s Law – where I am hoping to gain skills in areas like project management and stakeholder engagement.

They say your first job is always the toughest, and if that’s true, I’m optimistic it can only get better from here. I’m excited to build on everything I’ve learned, take on greater responsibility, and continue learning and developing within Sanctuary.