I was delighted to become Chair of Trustees of Kids Inspire in September this year. I have been involved with Kids Inspire from the very beginning, and first became a trustee way back when it was founded in 2007.  I was then a secondary school headteacher and I saw on a daily basis how hard-pressed services were just not providing the depth or range of support that was desperately needed.  And so Kids Inspire was born and it has supported quite literally thousands of people since then and the number is growing every year.

Now in my third spell as a trustee, I am delighted that I have the opportunity to support Kids Inspire in the role of Chair of Trustees.  Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the charity is well-run, complies with charity law, is financially sound and uses its resources effectively (a bit like governors of a school or directors of a company).  These are essential roles, and the reason we do them is so that Kids Inspire can provide its much needed support to more and more children, young people and families now and into the future.

We are seeing greater and more complex needs than ever before, heightened by the experience of the pandemic.  Throughout these challenging times, Kids Inspire has focused on meeting those needs, often in new ways, and on building the strength of the charity.  Today Kids Inspire is in a strong position and this is thanks to everyone who works for or supports the charity.  So much has been achieved and so many have benefitted from Kids Inspire’s services.  We will continue to support countless more children, young people and families and it is a privilege to become Chair of such an amazing charity.

Simon Carpenter

Chair of Trustees