KINSHIP - Key Persons
Beverley has spent 30 years working within the children's social care sector. She is currently Associate Director for Practice and Impact at the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory. She works on expanding the capacity of the Nuffield FJO to make its evidence count on the practice front by making connections, developing conversations, and fostering opportunities for innovations and activities that will unlock systemic change in the family justice system. Beverley has previously worked in frontline roles within social work practice and management roles in local authority and family court settings. She is also a member of the FDAC partnership. In June 2018, Beverley received an MBE for her work with children and families.
Job Titles:
- Founder and Chief Executive, Surviving Economic Abuse ( SEA )
Nicola is an expert in economic abuse as it occurs within the context of coercive control. She has worked in the violence against women and girls (VAWG) sector since 2006 and held policy-influencing and research roles before moving into charity leadership.
In 2016, Nicola was made a Winston Churchill Fellow and travelled to the United States and Australia to explore innovative responses to economic abuse. It was her determination to ensure that women in the UK have access to the same responses that led her to establish Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) in 2017. The charity's mission it to raise awareness of economic abuse and transform responses to it.
Nicola is also an Emeritus Research Fellow in the Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit (CWASU), London Metropolitan University and a Visiting Senior Fellow in Social Policy at the School of Law and Social Sciences, University of Suffolk.
In October 2020 she was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to victims of domestic and economic abuse.
Job Titles:
- Digital Marketing and Marketing Specialist
- Director of Services and Digital
"Emma joined Kinship in July 2020 to set-up our award winning Covid-19 Kinship Response, having previously supported the charity as a strategic consultant focussing on programme development." read Emma's full bio
Emma joined Kinship in July 2020 to set-up our award winning Covid-19 Kinship Response, having previously supported the charity as a strategic consultant focussing on programme development.
Her role encompasses service design, strategy, digital transformation and impact, leading on our development into Wales and volunteering. She now oversees our National Lottery Digital Fund project, ensuring that all our services for kinship carers meet their needs.
Previously Director of Education and Prevention at Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, she won The King's Fund GSK Impact Award for their Cut Films behaviour change youth programme. Most recently she was interim Co-CEO at Animal Free Research UK, responsible for governance, marketing, fundraising, retail operations and strategic development.
Constantly curious, Emma is a qualified digital marketing and marketing specialist with experience in developing exciting brands and user-led websites. She's worked at The Children's Society, BAFTA and the British Safety Council to deliver high impact award winning communications and fundraising campaigns.
She lives in Edinburgh with her husband, two dogs and two cats and is incredibly passionate about creating services that really work for kinship carers.
Job Titles:
- Regional Programmes Manager for the South of England
"Fiona is passionate about supporting families to ensure they receive the right support at the right time." read Fiona's full bio
Fiona joined Kinship in April 2023 and holds responsibility for ensuring high quality and impactful programme delivery in the South. Previously, Fiona has managed services in both local authority children's social care, as well as commissioned family support services in the voluntary sector.
Fiona is an analytical thinker with a proven track record of managing outcomes-focussed and highly successful commissioned services. Fiona is passionate about supporting families to ensure they receive the right support at the right time.
Fran is an experienced marketeer who has held Director level roles in charities and social enterprises including Turning Point and at social housing provider Places For People. Fran currently works with the National Collaborative Outreach Programme which supports the government's social mobility goals in increasing the number of young people from underrepresented groups going into higher education. With kinship care experience working with her family to support the upbringing of her nephew and niece, Fran was motivated to join the Board of Kinship to help make life easier for other kinship carers, and to help as many children as possible stay within their families.
James is an experienced strategist, specialising in developing new teams and digital ventures within and for organisations. James started his career at Deloitte before moving to help setup an AI platform at a leading Magic Circle law firm. James has since moved to WT Consulting, and is responsible for building out the UK practice.
James is an entrepreneurially-minded professional with a postgraduate degree in Strategy and Innovation from the University of Oxford and a BSc in Economics & Politics from the University of Southampton.
I am a kinship carer to my oldest grandson who is 9 and who has been with us since he was 18 months old. I am also an adopter of 25 years with three adult adopted children and three more grandchildren. I worked as a social worker in my first career and then as a lecturer in further and higher education until I retired early to care for my grandson. My main subjects were safeguarding, children and families and children's development. I like to socialise with friends and family, go for walks and read. As well as my involvement with Kinship I also volunteer as an independent visitor for a care leaver and her baby and I campaign with a local adoption group to improve adoption support.
Jayne represents local authorities, children and adults. She has developed expertise in the most serious cases with concurrent criminal proceedings involving charges of murder, assault and sexual abuse. Her extensive experience encompasses cases of non-accidental injury, neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children. She is currently developing a pro bono advice service within chambers for a charity that supports grandparent carers. Jayne has a particular interest in representing vulnerable clients and those lacking capacity which has led her to establish the Court of Protection team within chambers.
Job Titles:
- Senior Policy Adviser and International Secretary at the Labour Party
Joe is a Senior Policy Adviser and International Secretary at the Labour Party. He has previously worked for a number of Members of Parliament which developed his policy and strategy expertise on a number of different areas including in housing, social security, social care and criminal justice.
As a Councillor in Lambeth, Joe sat on the Corporate Parenting Board and the Children's Services Scrutiny Sub-Committee. In particular, he focused on ensuring young people's voices were heard and that they were able to evaluate and mould services and delivery.
In previous roles, Joe has worked as a teacher, at NGOs in Brazil and Senegal, with Lambeth Palace to tutor a family from Syria and at Volvo as Continental Material Planner.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Senior Partner at Ernst & Young
Julian is a senior partner at Ernst & Young and has over 25 years' experience in financial services. He leads in the Wealth & Asset Management sector and has gathered experience in the UK, Australia and the US. Julian's experience encompasses a wide variety of disciplines including assurance, regulatory advice, governance, risk and M&A, working with innovative start-ups through to large international firms.
He holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics from Imperial College and is a chartered accountant (ACA). Julian has two teenage children, and experience of adoptive care in his wider family.
Job Titles:
- Head of Volunteering and Peer Support
"I believe services should be done by and with local people and not done to or for them." read Karen's full bio
Karen has worked in the voluntary sector for many years, developing and leading programmes and policy, focusing on empowering individuals and communities to overcome challenges. She has delivered and managed numerous community programmes, including those for disabled people, young care leavers, isolated older people, homeless people, people with mental health support needs and unemployed people. Previously she has set up a national falls prevention dance programme and worked for organisations including FoodCycle, Age UK and Volunteering Matters.
All of the programmes Karen has developed have involved volunteers. She is passionate about volunteering and user-led community development - giving people a say in how to improve their local communities and supporting them to have a role in doing so.
"I believe services should be done by and with local people and not done to or for them."
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Programmes
- Associate Director of Programmes With
"Katrina is Associate Director of Programmes with Kinship, supporting the growth, development and evidencing of Kinship's programmes." read Katrina's full bio
Katrina is Associate Director of Programmes with Kinship, supporting the growth, development and evidencing of Kinship's programmes. She brings a strong background in the mental health sector, programmes delivery, scaling and governance. Driven to address inequalities to promote positive outcomes for all families, Katrina brings a wealth of experience in tailoring preventative solutions to meet the needs of a diverse range of families. She draws on expertise in co-production and a knowledge of the evidence base for what works to support the needs of children and families who have experienced significant life challenges. Her work has focused on leading national teams to develop systemic solutions that reduce barriers for families in seeking the support they need, and to inform service development that provides impactful support and advocacy for families and communities.
Job Titles:
- Lead Therapeutic Practitioner
"At Kinship, Khalida will be looking to implement best practice and embedding therapeutic approaches in our one-to-one and peer support programmes, providing training and supervision for all frontline workers." read Khalida's full bio
Khalida joined Kinship, as Lead Therapeutic Practitioner in November 2023 bringing with her a wide-ranging wealth of knowledge and experience of working with emotional and mental health and wellbeing. At Kinship she will be looking to implement best practice and embedding therapeutic approaches in our one-to-one and peer support programmes, providing training and supervision for all frontline workers; working in co-production to create a newly designed menu of training workshops for kinship carers and be involved in maximising Kinship's digital reach and impact through Kinship Compass.
Khalida is an Integrative Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor and Trainer who comes to Kinship from Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest where she was their Clinical Services Manager. She has worked with clients as young as 4 and as senior as 80. She works flexibly, creatively and collaboratively with trauma informed and compassion focused lenses, adapting to meet the needs of individuals, groups and organisations so that they might harness their innate knowledge, power and potential. Culturally aware with humility, Khalida feels privileged and honoured to do the work she does, enjoying meeting people where they are at and working with them to move towards a more confident and aware self.
Job Titles:
- Head of Digital and Content
"Lauren is driven by making an impactful difference in people's lives, by using innovative technologies and working with people with lived experience to create the services they need." read Lauren's full bio
Lauren joined Kinship in February 2024 to lead the new digital and content team, bringing experience in digital, marketing and communications from across the third sector.
Lauren is driven by making an impactful difference in people's lives, by using innovative technologies and working with people with lived experience to create the services they need.
Lauren most recently worked for Young Scot, where she oversaw the development of a new website, content approach, marketing function and acquired the ERYICA Quality Label in recognition of the information governance processes implemented. She has a Diploma in Digital Marketing and has previously worked for organisations including YouthLink Scotland, SCVO and Euan's Guide.
Job Titles:
- Co - Director of Policy and Communications
"Lisa has extensive experience of building and leading campaigns, communications and public affairs teams across the charity and public sector, delivering award winning campaigns delivering changes to behaviour, policy and legislation." Read Lisa's full bio.
Her main experience and interest is in children's policy, having worked on issues ranging from better support for children in the criminal justice system to equipping parents to talk to their children about online safety at organisations including NSPCC, Barnardo's and the LGA.
She is driven by developing innovative and impactful ways to bring about change, testing new ideas to work to achieve cut through and empowering people with lived experience to be the agents of change.
Most recently, Rhiannon and Lisa shared the role of Director of Policy, Communications and Campaigns at Become, the national charity for children in care and care leavers. During their tenure, they built the charity's influencing and communications capacity across research, policy, PR, digital and participation; successfully lobbied for the inclusion of care leavers in the terms of reference of the Government's Independent Review of Children's Social Care; and developed a successful inclusive recruitment process to bring care-experienced communications and participation professionals into the charity's workforce. They also oversaw the launch of Become's first social media campaign for National Care Leavers Week 2020, #whenIwas18, backed by celebrities including Samantha Morton, Annie Mac and Deborah Francis-White, who supported the charity's call for better support for care leavers.
"Lucy joined Kinship (then Grandparents Plus) as Chief Executive in September 2015. While at the charity, she has overseen a merger, strategic review and name change to reflect the charity's focus on transforming support for kinship families." Read Lucy's full bio
During this time, the charity has grown in size and impact, including through pioneering evidence-informed programmes, expanding peer support approaches and influencing policy and practice. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she led Kinship's activities focusing on understanding, advocating for, and responding to the specific needs of kinship care families, with significant extension of support services across England and Wales. Since then, Kinship has led the development and delivery of two new national services for kinship carers in England, the Peer Support Service and Training and Support Service, both funded by the Department for Education.
Lucy is a Trustee for Children England.
She is a frequent media spokesperson on kinship care, including recent interviews on BBC News, Sky News, Channel 5 News, BBC World at One, BBC Five Live and Radio 4 Woman's Hour.
Previously she spent 11 years at The Fostering Network where she was Director of External Affairs and then Director of Development. Her teams led the successful Staying Put campaign, the introduction of Mockingbird, the London Fostering Achievement programme, the development of The Skills to Foster, delivery of Foster Care Fortnight and foster carer recruitment projects with the Department for Education and local authorities.
She has a PhD in Politics from Southampton University and has worked in research roles in universities and the voluntary sector. She has three children, who are all at secondary school.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of Clarke Holland Estate Agents
Natalie is Managing Director of Clarke Holland Estate Agents. A busy family run business that sees her and her husband work alongside each other managing their team to sell people's homes as well as managing their own and other property investors portfolios. Her knowledge of property and the Estate Agency industry enables her to be best placed to support others to start their own Estate Agency, this is done via a mentor based franchise. Women's Property Network is a monthly property support group that Natalie set up with her partner Michelle after spotting a need for the event for females in property to come together and form lasting friendships.
Natalie is mum to four and a kinship carer for her niece who resides with her and her husband on a Special Guardianship Order. Natalie has been a befriender to kinship carers in the north east of England and believes that support for kinship carers is a must. Kinship care is something that is misunderstood and under supported, as a kinship carer she herself has at times felt very alone, let down and put upon. Her hope for her role is to help grow the charity in order to support those in her position who really need to have their voice heard. Charity and children are subjects that Natalie is passionate about she is also a trustee for Hope 4 Kidz, a governor for a local school and is a volunteer for the Parent Child Home Program being trialled in the North East of England after being brought over from the USA.
"I'm extremely passionate about making sure our kinship carers are able to access free information and advice so they don't suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights." read Nicola's full bio
I have 17 years' experience of working in the advice sector. I started working for Kinship as an advice worker in 2015 and have been a senior advice worker since 2018.
I previously worked as a specialist welfare rights adviser for the Citizens Advice Bureau; representing service users in appealing many types of welfare benefit cases. Previous to that I was a generalist adviser providing general advice including, housing, debt, consumer, family, community care and benefits. I have also worked as a detached youth worker, befriending young people on the streets providing informal education to on a one to one basis and in group environments.
I'm extremely passionate about making sure our kinship carers are able to access free information and advice so they don't suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights. I'm also passionate about making change through social policy so that kinship carers don't have to suffer in the future.
I love to travel and be outdoors, preferably by the sea and I'm crazy about VW split screen campervans!
Elaine Farmer is Emeritus Professor of Child and Family Studies at the University of Bristol. She spent several years as a social worker in the UK and Australia before moving into research and teaching. She used to teach on the qualifying post-qualifying programmes in social work at the university and was formerly the Head of the Centre for Family Policy and Child Welfare at the university. Her research interests on which she has published widely include foster and residential care, the reunification of separated children with their families, child protection and kinship care. She has undertaken studies in a number of Department of Health and Department for Education research programmes, including on child protection, residential care, family support, adoption and neglect.
Her publications include: Kinship Care: Fostering Effective Family and Friends Placements (Jessica Kingsley 2008); Spotlight on Kinship Care: Using Census micro data to examine the extent and nature of kinship care in the UK at the turn of the twentieth century (University of Bristol 2011) and The Poor Relations? Children and informal kinship carers speak out (University of Bristol 2013). The latter study was an investigation of informal kinship care, funded by the Big Lottery. She also worked with a team of researchers on the Grandparent's Plus study ‘Growing Up in Kinship Care: Experiences as Adolescents and Outcomes in Young Adulthood' (Grandparents Plus 2017).
Job Titles:
- Co - Director of Policy and Communications
"Rhiannon has more than a decade's experience delivering successful communications, engagement and campaign strategies across the charity, private and public sectors." Read Rhiannon's full bio.
Motivated by bringing together different communications disciplines to deliver engaging, integrated and impactful campaigns, Rhiannon has experience in successfully securing changes in policy and practice at local and national level. With experience working for national charities including Whizz-Kidz, NSPCC, Re-Engage (formerly known as Contact the Elderly) and Anchor-Hanover, she's led teams working across PR, digital, campaigns and external affairs.
Rhiannon was part of the team behind Sport England's flagship This Girl Can campaign, and went on to team up with her job-share partner Lisa Watch to lead the external affairs for the it, securing support from Parliamentarians and key stakeholders.
Most recently, Rhiannon and Lisa shared the role of Director of Policy, Communications and Campaigns at Become, the national charity for children in care and care leavers. During their tenure, they built the charity's influencing and communications capacity across research, policy, PR, digital and participation; successfully lobbied for the inclusion of care leavers in the terms of reference of the Government's Independent Review of Children's Social Care; and developed a successful inclusive recruitment process to bring care-experienced communications and participation professionals into the charity's workforce. They also oversaw the launch of Become's first social media campaign for National Care Leavers Week 2020, #whenIwas18, backed by celebrities including Samantha Morton, Annie Mac and Deborah Francis-White, who supported the charity's call for better support for care leavers.
"Sandie joined Kinship in December 2023 as Director of Development, leading on Fundraising and Business Development activities for the organisation. Sandie is passionate about ensuring support is available and accessible to the most vulnerable in our society." read Sandie's full bio
Sandie joined Kinship in December 2023 as Director of Development, leading on Fundraising and Business Development activities for the organisation. Sandie's role will help Kinship realise our ambition to support as many kinship carers as possible across England and Wales, by working with Local Authorities, statutory funders, and other funding partners.
Sandie moved to the charity sector in 2010 after a successful 15 year career in online advertising and sponsorship. Working for companies such as Associated New Media, Sky Digital, and her own successful start-up business, Aura Sports, Sandie's clients included household names e.g. RFU, ECB and many Premier League football clubs.
With 10 years' experience working at one of the UK's largest children's charities, Sandie is passionate about ensuring support is available and accessible to the most vulnerable in our society. At Action for Children, she launched their Crisis Fund - supporting over 12,000 families experiencing financial crisis to access emergency grants, and devised and managed a portfolio of fundraising priorities which delivered real impact for children, young people and families.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Peer Support
"What I love about Kinship is the level of passion that everyone shares to make a difference for kinship carers and the children they are looking after." read Sarah's full bio
I'm Sarah and I joined Kinship in February 2022. I oversee the Peer-to-Peer Support Service for kinship carers.
My career has focussed on building and improving services that enable people to live well in their community. I've worked at large and small charities, as well as a local authority. Most recently I worked at Versus Arthritis, where I supported the scale up of evidence based programmes and collaborated with commissioners and healthcare leaders to improve NHS services for people living with musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain. I also volunteer at a local environmental social enterprise as chair of the board of trustees.
What I love about Kinship is the level of passion that everyone shares to make a difference for kinship carers and the children they are looking after.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Advice, Training and Information
"I'm constantly amazed at the resilience I see in people, and this drives me to bring accurate, relevant information to people in a way that they can access and helps them make the right choices for themselves." read Shirley's full bio
Hello, I'm Shirley and I was excited to join Kinship in January 2024.
From my early career as a nurse, I've been passionate about people getting the right information, advice and care. Over many years delivering services in the voluntary sector I've had the privilege of getting to know many inspiring people who, despite their challenges, strive to make a difference for themselves and others. I'm constantly amazed at the resilience I see in people, and this drives me to bring accurate, relevant information to people in a way that they can access and helps them make the right choices for themselves.
Widely experienced in leading service delivery across the UK through in person and community support, advice lines, print and online information and peer led support, I've led transformative change that embraced technologies and integrated them alongside the very best people delivered front line support and advice.
Outside work, I'm a keen walker and lucky enough to live in south Wales where I can be regularly found on my local stretch of the Welsh coastal path or at weekends up in the Black mountains or Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons). If I'm not out walking, I'll be at a music gig big or small, probably singing along though not necessarily in tune!
Job Titles:
- Regional Programmes Manager for the North of England & Wales
"Victoria is passionate about change for carers and educating people on the challenges of kinship care." read Victoria's full bio
Victoria joined Kinship in December 2020 as a Project Worker, the first in Wales, to launch the pilot of Kinship Connected across 2 local authorities. This was a huge success and the project went on to be commissioned. Victoria was made Senior Project Worker in 2022 owing to the huge success of the pilot and her dedication and passion towards other projects across the organisation.
In September 2023 Victoria was successful in being appointed Regional Programmes Manager, a role which gives her great pride to take forward.
Prior to working for Kinship, Victoria worked in various roles within the training sector and also for a local authority for the Youth Offending service and Children Services. Victoria is also a previous kinship carer to 2 nieces and so brings both personal and professional experiences to the role.
Victoria lives in Barry in South Wales, with her husband and 2 teenage children and their Labrador, Hugo, she is step-mum to 2 step-sons. Victoria loves spending time with her family and visiting the beach for walks. She is passionate about change for carers and educating people on the challenges of kinship care.
"I'm Vikkie and I joined Kinship in June 2021. I provide administrative support for the CEO and wider Executive team. I also oversee all recruitment and onboarding for the charity…" read Vikkie's full bio
I'm Vikkie and I joined Kinship in June 2021. I provide administrative support for the CEO and wider Executive Team. I also oversee all recruitment and onboarding for the charity. I provide governance support for the Board of Trustees, Finance Committee and Kinship Carer Advisory Group, as well as administrative support for our Professionals and Researchers networks. I also support on HR & Operations, Fundraising and Events.
Job Titles:
- Senior Digital Project Manager
"I love my role because of the people I work with - their commitment and initiative are second to none."
Hello, I'm Yeen. I manage digital projects for Kinship, for example delivering Kinship Compass and the digital touchpoints of our services.
I have been managing projects and products for publishers, non-profits and digital agencies for over 10 years. I love collaborating and building teams that are skilled and passionate about what they do.
I was born and raised in Malaysia, living in Bristol now. You will often find me with a coffee cup in hand. When I'm not working I love cooking, hiking, and visiting art galleries.
Job Titles:
- Ofsted 's National Director
Yvette became Ofsted's National Director, Social Care in April 2018. Prior to taking up this post, Yvette was Director of Children's Services in the London Borough of Merton, a position she held for over 9 years following a 20 year children's services career in London.
Yvette's career has been shaped by her passion for making a difference for children and in particular the most vulnerable; her commitment to creating an environment across all children's services where the very best practice can thrive; and a deep interest in system, organisational and institutional self-evaluation to support continuous improvement and effectiveness. Yvette has two adult children, one with autism, and prior to her current post was a longstanding FE Governor and keen supporter of a range of children's charities, including serving at board level for a number of years.