Make the text size: smaller | bigger | reset

Barnardo's Chief Executive - Anne Marie Carrie

Anne Marie Carrie on taking over as Barnardo’s Chief Executive:

Somebody recently said to me that there is no such thing as a hard to reach child - just one that is easy to ignore. Barnardo’s reaches out to these children, protects them, supports them and gives them a voice. I will continue in our relentless pursuit to reach the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.

"I grew up on a tough estate in Easterhouse, Glasgow. This area still remains one of the poorest parts of the country. Today almost all the children are born into poverty and life expectancy is 66, lower than in North Korea. I was lucky. I had a loving and supportive family that believed in the power of education and as a result my siblings and I have done very well. But a number of my friends were involved in gang and drug related violence and it was singer Frankie Vaughn’s youth clubs that offered a sense of hope to them. It was in these youth clubs that I saw first hand how timely intervention could transform children’s lives.

"Since then I have been passionate about working with children. I was a youth worker in my community. I went on to become a teacher and then moved on to roles in children’s services both at local and national government level. That is why Barnardo’s and I are a perfect fit – the organisation’s values reflect my own.

"Our work with more than 100,000 children, young people and families makes us an authoritative and credible voice. We shall use this voice to speak out fearlessly on behalf of the most vulnerable who struggle to represent themselves. Our relations with government will reflect the type of organisation we are – pragmatic, problem solving and solutions focused.

"Lifting children out of poverty will always be a key priority for Barnardo’s and we want to see the Government end child poverty by 2020. I also want to work with Government to close the opportunity gap between rich and poor when it comes to education. Like our founder, Dr Barnardo, I believe that education has the unique potential to transform generations and break the cycle of poverty. As well as tackling disadvantage we will continue to focus on our most vulnerable children; those in care; those who care for a loved one; and those who are abused, raped and exploited for sex.

"Public funding is going to be tight in the next few years and Barnardo’s will be needed more then ever before. The organisation is robust and we will come through this difficult time. It is crucial that we are ready to take advantage of the opportunities that change brings by being flexible and effective."