Meet Dr Hana Ibberson, Finance Assistant Volunteer at the Cambridge City Foodbank

Hana, a mother, author and third-generation Christian, moved to Cambridge two years ago and quickly fell in love with the city. Not long after settling in, she wanted to give back to the community she now calls home and started volunteering with our Foodbank.

We spoke with Hana to learn more about her background, her role supporting our finance team and how she spends her time outside of volunteering.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Before starting a family, I lived in Singapore, where I worked as a linguistic trainer and served as a missionary with Worldwide Evangelism for Christ. I’m now an author and continue delivering lectures in linguistics at colleges. I started my family in Colchester, but I moved to Cambridge about a year and a half ago. I was immediately drawn to the city; the beautiful green spaces, the historic buildings, and the welcoming atmosphere.

What made you want to volunteer with the Foodbank?

Once I was settled in Cambridge, I really wanted to find a way to contribute to the local community. I heard about Cambridge City Foodbank through a staff member, and its mission strongly resonated with me. I learned that the Foodbank’s finance team needed support, and with the office located right next to my home, it felt like the perfect ‘divine appointment’! I believe those who have the time and are physically able to should always support their local community, and volunteering with the Foodbank felt like a rewarding way to do that.

Can you tell us a little more about your role and how you’ve found the experience?

As a Finance Assistant, I support the Senior Financial Officer and the wider team with a variety of tasks that help them to manage their workload. My work mainly focuses on the behind-the-scenes administrative and financial tasks, ensuring everything is accurate and up to date. I think most people are only aware of the Foodbank’s incredible frontline work, but there’s so much happening in the background to keep the operation running smoothly. Knowing that the work our team does helps the entire organisation work effectively is something I find very fulfilling.

What do you enjoy doing outside of volunteering?

As a mother and wife, much of my time is spent with family. Outside of that, I love staying active and creative! You will usually find me completely immersed in my writing. I am the author of six books and am currently in the midst of working on my seventh: ‘God-moments: True stories from the Spiritual Realm’, which draws on years of my and my husband's experience of mentoring others in Christian spiritual life.

When I’m not writing, I will likely be baking, cooking or gardening – and I have a strong appreciation for nature and keeping our outdoor spaces beautiful. Especially in a city like Cambridge, the environment is so lovely that I often go on long walks to stay physically active and take in the views. I also enjoy litter picking in my neighbourhood to keep our shared space lovely and clean for our community!