On Friday 16th January 2026, colleagues past and present, trustees, and friends came together to celebrate Joanna Burrows as she marked her retirement after years of dedicated service to the charity sector, including over a decade with Love4Life. The lunch was a joyful and emotional occasion, filled with laughter, shared memories, and heartfelt thanks for someone whose influence will be felt long into the future.

Former colleagues travelled from near and far to celebrate and reflect with Joanna on her time with the organisation, while trustees joined the celebration to express their gratitude for her leadership, insight, and unwavering belief in Love4Life’s mission.

Joanna joined Love4Life (then Twenty Twenty) in 2013 as the charity’s first ever fundraiser. From the outset, she played a vital role in building and shaping the organisation’s fundraising approach, laying strong foundations that continue to support its work today.

Originally a qualified nurse, Joanna has been involved in charity work throughout her life and is deeply passionate about supporting those who are marginalised by society. Her previous roles included piloting a social rehabilitation project for Age UK, fundraising for Epilepsy Action, and working in project management for Voluntary Action Melton. These experiences brought a depth of understanding, compassion, and professionalism to everything she did at Love4Life.

Born and brought up in Kenya, Joanna has travelled extensively and has a strong commitment to inclusion and equality. This global perspective has influenced her approach to fundraising and relationship-building, helping to ensure that Love4Life’s work reaches people from a wide range of backgrounds and communities.

The celebration itself was filled with warmth and humour. A Joanna-themed quiz, featuring memories from colleagues alongside playful “would you rather” questions, brought plenty of laughter and captured her personality perfectly. Joanna was also presented with a poem written especially for her, reflecting the affection and appreciation felt by those she has worked alongside over the years.

Over the last 13 years alone, Joanna has helped to ensure that around 10,000 young people have gained access to vital support. Her work has made a lasting difference, providing guidance, education, and care at crucial moments in young people’s lives.

Joanna was instrumental in guiding the organisation through a significant period of change, including the transition from Twenty Twenty to Love4Life. Her vision and steady leadership helped the charity navigate this change successfully and emerge stronger and more resilient.

As Senior Fundraiser, Joanna played a central role in diversifying Love4Life’s fundraising strategy. She helped establish the major donor programme, initiated the development panel, and promoted the charity’s Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) workshops for both schools and workplaces. These initiatives have strengthened the charity’s sustainability and extended its reach.

Above all, we thank Joanna for her kindness, integrity, and genuine care for people. She has been a trusted colleague, a mentor, and a constant source of encouragement.

As Joanna begins her well-earned retirement, we continue with enormous gratitude for everything she has given. Her legacy lives on in the thousands of young people supported through Love4Life and in the organisation she has helped to shape.

Thank you, Joanna. You will always be part of the Love4Life story.