Naval Children’s Charity Board of Trustees announces new Chair

The Board of Trustees of the Naval Children’s Charity (NCC) are delighted to announce that Mr
Christopher Tite will succeed Mr Alistair Sheppard OBE as the new Chair of the Charity when Alistair
completes his five-year term of office 24 th March 2022.
We welcome Mr Tite as our new Chair and look forward to exciting times ahead as we move towards
our 200 th anniversary in 2025. Christopher is a member of the Greenwich Hospital Advisory Board (a
Crown foundation and the Navy's oldest charity) and a trustee of other significant charitable and
private trusts. He was previously a trustee of the Fleet Air Arm Museum and the Tall Ships Youth
Trust.
On his successor’s appointment, Alistair Sheppard said: "I am delighted that Christopher brings his
extensive experience from the naval charitable sector that will ensure the great work and momentum
of the Naval Children’s Charity continues.”
Mr Sheppard has overseen a period of great success and change in the Naval Children's Charity's
near-200 year history.
During his tenure, the Charity has undergone a change of name and a transition from our long-
serving CEO Monique Bateman to our current chief executive Clare Scherer.
The strategic overview he led during 2019 broadened the scope of the Charity’s services.
NCC now provides support for all Naval children, not just those in distress, with a particular focus on
the development of resources including our children’s books Zoe and The Time Penguin and Henry
and the Time Rabbit.
Over the past five years, the team has grown to five dedicated caseworkers, delivered resources to
thousands of children across the UK and awarded over 5,000 grants to Naval families.
Clare Scherer, Chief Executive, said: “We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Alistair for his outstanding
work as Chair, leading the Charity through a strategic overview, change of name and clear focus on
the future work supporting our Naval Children. I am delighted with the appointment of Mr Tite and
look forward to working with him to develop our support and help to our Naval Children.”
About NCC
The Naval Children’s Charity has been helping Naval Children since 1825, for nearly 200 years. We
help children, up to the age of 25, whose parents have served in the Naval Service (Royal Navy, Royal
Marines, QARNNS, WRNS, Reserves or Royal Fleet Auxiliary).
We help around 2000 children directly each year and many thousands more through our resources
and work with communities and other organisations.
We believe that…to be the child of someone who is, or has been, in the Naval Service should be a
positive and enhancing experience – something to be borne with pride. For those children where life
is more difficult, we are there to help.
For further information or comment, please contact Clare Scherer, CEO on
ceo@navalchildrenscharity.org.uk 023 9263 9536 or 07947 691 950

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New book for when mums go away, Henry and the Time Penguin

Our new book is here! Henry and the Time Penguin was written especially for mums who have to go away. You can email us for a free copy at book@navalchildrenscharity.org.uk Remember to give us your name and address and let us know if you want the Henry book for mums going away or the Zoe book for dads going away.

First Annual Meeting Trinity House March 2020

Earlier this year we held our First Annual Meeting as the Naval Children’s Charity and launched our new brand. Several of our families that had received support from us in the past travelled up to join us and shared their stories with those present. We are hugely grateful to them for this and will be sharing the videos of their stories with you all shortly. The Chairman, Alistair Sheppard, and the Chief Executive, Clare Scherer, gave those present an overview of the origins of the charity and our plans for the future.  

Our thanks go to Trinity House for the use of their beautiful building, Chamberlain’s of London for the delicious food and Farr Vinters for the champagne. If you would like to know more about us please do get in touch, we would love to hear from you.

We have been supporting Naval children since 1825, nearly 200 years, when the first orphanages were opened in Portsmouth and Chatham and then as the needs of our children have evolved and developed over the years we have changed and evolved and developed into the Charity we are today. We hope that we are going to continue to develop and make impact into our children’s lives as we go forward. Families come to us for help and we respond quickly and with compassion to their unique challenges so that we can deliver what they need.

If you think we could help you please do get in touch either by using the form on the website or by contacting us directly by email caseworkers@navalchildrenscharity.org.uk or by phone 023 9263 9534

We have created a short video with highlights from our Annual Meeting at Trinity House, March 2020. Click to watch.

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