News: Remembering Teresa Smith, former Peeple Trustee

Here are a few words from Sally Smith, our CEO, following the sad news about the death of Teresa Smith, former Peeple Chair of Trustees:

Teresa was an original member of the advisory group which supported Mike O'Regan and Bernard Clarke in the developing the vision and mission for the charity – and then advising the board and management on the practicalities of developing and delivering the Peep Learning Together Programme. She contributed, in particular, to establishing the research, which became such a foundation of our success. 

In 2012, Teresa became a trustee at a pivotal moment for our charity.  Martin Roberts, then Chair, said he wanted her on the board because she was the ‘wisest woman he knew’. That was the point at which I took over as CEO and I came to benefit not just from her wisdom but also her compassion and kindness – which permeated the entire board. She became Chair in 2013. It was such a privilege and a pleasure to work with her. I knew I could always rely on her insight and judgement  – as well as her willingness to listen when I needed time to talk. She stepped down as Chair in 2018 but continued to serve on the board until last year, when we appointed her to the honorary position of Listening Ear and Drinking Buddy (LEDB) as she loved to share a glass of wine or cup of coffee with her friends and colleagues at Peeple and we all hoped to benefit from her wisdom and kindness for many years to come. 

Teresa was a much respected and well-known researcher, academic, lecturer and government advisor.  In every area of her work she was concerned to address disadvantage, poverty and injustice. She was a member of the University of Oxford's Department of Social Policy and Intervention . 

She attended our whole staff Celebration Day in 2022 when she embraced the spirit of fun and spent the coffee break leading by example in the playground (including on the zipwire!). 

Here are just a few of the thoughts from Peeple staff and board:

“Teresa was such a joyous yet wonderfully wise lady.”

“She was a wise, energetic and intelligent person, totally dedicated to supporting the work of Peeple from the very beginning. She will be missed by so many colleagues and friends alike.”

“So sad. I will always remember her vibrancy and sheer niceness.”

“Teresa was a beautiful, kind, warm, generous person.”

We are very honoured that Peeple is one of the family’s chosen charities, and for the generous donations that will help us continue our work supporting families, that Teresa helped to start.

I love this picture of Teresa, holding the wonderful cake she baked for a Little Peeple event, lighting up the room with her beautiful smile!