Chloë Darlington, Policy and Communications Manager Policy and Communications Manager Expand Chloë Darlington, Policy and Communications 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 Communications Manager for Children England in 2014. Chloë has been a trustee of Trust in Children, which makes grants to projects around the world helping children to access education, since 2004. Contact: [email protected] 020 3597 6296 / 07980 26 26 11
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: [email protected]
Keisha Emanuel, Research and Learning Officer, 4in10 London Child Poverty Network Expand My name is Keisha Emanuel I joined 4in10 in November 2019. We operate as a network, connecting with our members to learn from lived experiences of poverty to affect change. I work as the Research and Learning Officer looking into different aspects of child poverty in London, and exploring how we can better support London’s families. I am passionate about empowerment and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities who are affected by poverty and seeing opportunities within policy agendas for these voices to be heard by key decision makers. Previously I have worked as a front line practitioner within early intervention, youth justice and educational sector providing support to vulnerable families. I have seen the effect that austerity has had on families living in various parts of London and am driven to affect change in this area from a policy perspective. I love working with people: relationship-building will be pivotal to my role as I build connections with devoted workers who are just as committed to eradicating child poverty.
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
Liza Dresner, Community Outreach Officer, 4in10 London Child Poverty Network Expand Liza Dresner, Community Outreach Officer, 4in10 London Child Poverty Network Liza Joined 4in10 following her ‘retirement’ after 13 years as CEO of Resources for Autism, a front line service charity. She has always worked in direct delivery and with over 45 years of experience of the sector both as a volunteer and in a paid capacity and brings extensive knowledge of disability, refugee, women and children, HIV and homelessness services. What links them all has been a lifelong commitment to fighting poverty and discrimination in both political and practical forums. She has been an active campaigner for the rights of the child from her school days to her current role as Community Outreach Officer with 4in10.
Noori Piperdy, Policy and Communications Intern Expand Noori is currently doing a placement year here with Children England as our Policy and Communication Intern, previously completing her 2nd year at Queen Mary University of London studying Politics and International Relations and a summer internship at Ipsos MORI in Public Affairs. She also volunteers for 2020Change, a youth empowerment organisation and at the Wally Foster Community Centre, the largest community centre in Hackney. She's particularly interested in social issues, especially regarding justice reform and the failure to rehabilitate offenders efficiently, as well as equal treatment for children in education regardless of cultural heritage or economic background. She's looking forward to influencing children's policy in these areas as well as others. She will be doing all things policy and communications, but specifically with The ChildFair State inquiry and producing a positive news blog on the website: 'Make the Most of Monday'. If you have any ideas regarding policy and communications, you can get in touch with her at [email protected]england.org.uk.