Chloë Darlington, Policy and Campaigns Manager Policy and Campaigns Manager Expand Chloë Darlington, Policy and Campaigns Manager Chloë has a Masters degree from Edinburgh University and developed her communications and fundraising skills as a producer of plays and drama festivals in Edinburgh. Since then, she has worked in the children and young people’s voluntary sector, initially as External Affairs Manager for the young people’s helpline Get Connected (now The Mix) and then as Communications Officer for youth participation at Woodcraft Folk. With an increasing focus on campaigning and social justice, she became Policy and Campaigns Manager for Children England in 2014. Chloë continues to support Woodcraft Folk in volunteering activity and has been a trustee of Trust in Children, which makes grants to projects around the world helping children to access education, since 2004. Contact: chloe.darlington@childrenengland.org.uk 020 3597 6296 / 07980 26 26 11
Hannah Slater, Research and Learning Officer, 4in10 London Child Poverty Network Hannah Slater, Research and Learning Officer, 4in10 London Child Poverty Network Expand Hannah Slater, Research and Learning Officer, 4in10 London Child Poverty Network Hannah's role includes leading on research projects on issues around child poverty in London, organising best practice and capacity building events, and working with the voluntary sector, local authorities and the GLA to improve practice and advocate for policies to reduce child poverty in the capital. Hannah has been with Children England since June 2013 and has also worked on the Engage London programme. In previous roles she has worked in EU-focused policy research and advocacy for a small NGO in Brussels, she has carried out casework for an MP, and campaigned with an international human rights charity. She recently completed an MSc in global politics and civil society at LSE. Contact: hannah.slater@childrenengland.org.uk.
Kathy Evans, Chief Executive Chief Executive Expand Kathy Evans, Chief Executive Kathy joined Children England in 2010 as Deputy Chief Executive, leading Children England’s Programmes as the DfE’s Overarching Strategic Partner for the VCSE sector. She became CEO in April 2013. After graduating from Trinity College Cambridge, Kathy took a full-time CSV volunteer placement in a children’s home, leading her to train in counselling and to work with young people in secure accommodation for several years. She moved into policy work in 1997: firstly for DrugScope, specialising in drug treatment for young people; then to The Children’s Society where she remained for 8 years, as its Policy Director. During her career Kathy has been the Chair of the Standing Committee for Youth Justice, a trustee of the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, a member of the ACMD Hidden Harm group and DCSF Care Matters advisory group. She was also consultant to the Police Foundation and Justice, devising potential alternatives to Youth Courts, to support the Independent Commission on Youth Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour. Kathy is also passionate about her role as a Humanist Celebrant for the BHA, performing non-religious weddings and baby namings whenever she is able! Contact: kathy.evans@childrenengland.org.uk
Laura Payne, Project Manager, 4in10 London Child Poverty Network Laura Payne, Project Manager, 4in10 London Child Poverty Network Expand Laura Payne, Project Manager, 4in10 London Child Poverty Network Laura is a committed campaigner with over a decade of experience working on issues of poverty and disadvantage faced by children in UK. Laura joined us from Barnardo’s where, as Head of Campaigns, she had notable national and local successes with child sexual exploitation and care leaver accommodation campaigns. Prior to that Laura coordinated the End Child Poverty Campaign, which will be a great experience to draw on as she builds the activities of the network to address the key child poverty issues London now faces. Contact: laura.payne@childrenengland.org.uk
Lisa Byrne, Director of Finance and Central Services Director of Finance and Central Services Expand Lisa Byrne, Director of Finance and Central Services Lisa Byrne joined Children England in 1993 and is a member of the Senior Management Team. In her role as Director of Finance and Central Services she has responsibility for all finance and personnel functions across the organisation. In her role as Company Secretary Lisa administers the governance tasks for the Trustee Board. Lisa holds a CIPD qualification, is a School Governor for a secondary school in East Sussex and is a Trustee of a small charity in Brighton. Contact: lisa.byrne@childrenengland.org.uk
Sue Beckett, Membership Officer, 4in10 Sue Beckett, Membership Officer for 4in10 Expand Sue Becket, Membership Officer for 4in10 Sue joined 4in10 as Membership Officer in May 2015, having previously worked in the membership teams of both Amnesty International and NCVO. She has worked mainly in the voluntary sector, having started as a volunteer at Friends of the Earth after leaving art college. In addition to recruiting more members for the 4in10 network, Sue’s role involves producing 4in10’s newsletter and helping to promote and run the network’s events.
Sue Thomas, Outreach Manager Outreach Manager Expand Sue Thomas, Outreach Manager Sue was previously a Regional Manager for the Safe Network and Champion For Children for Stoke on Trent. She has always worked closely with the Children’s Service, Local Safeguarding Children Boards and Strategic Partnerships. Sue’s current work involves supporting the development of safeguarding policy and business practice across children’s services in the Midlands and North of England and occasionally elsewhere. Primarily within the third sector, Sue works to champion co-production and collaboration between local authorities and other children's services, most of all championing the 'voice' of children, young people and young adults facing significant challenges in their lives. Sue currently leads on the Inclusion Participation project funded by the Stoke on Trent City Council, developing the Listen To My Voice training resources and toolkit, to enable schools, health, voluntary sector and other partner services to engage effectively with children, people and young adults as well as parents, carers and guardians. Sue has been an independent member of the Stoke on Trent fostering panel for some years and, having been a national trustee of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, her next adventure is exploring a role as a trustee for the Donna Louise Trust. Contact: sue.thomas@childrenengland.org.uk