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Meet our team

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Clare Scherer MBE

Chief Executive

023 9263 9536

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Sara Smith

Head of Welfare

023 9263 9534

Jo McEvoy

Head of Finance

02392 984 775

kim

Kim Hill

Project Manager

02392 984 775

Milly

Milly Luxford

Digital Marketing & Community Engagement

02392 984 775

Jodie Corney

Data Administrator

02392 984 775

caroline

Caroline Stapleton

Admin Support Officer

02392 984 775

Our Caseworkers

caseworkers@navalchildrenscharity.org.uk
023 9263 9534

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Cheryl Owens

Caseworker Team Manager & Neurodiversity Lead

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Paris Brimecome​

Senior Caseworker & Education Lead

new-worker

Julie Whittingham

Caseworker & Safeguarding Lead

NCC new worker 7

Angela Huntington

Caseworker & Security/Benefits Lead

Frankie Staffe

Frankie Stride

Triage Caseworker​ & Wellbeing Lead

DESPOINA

Despoina Sarikou

Triage Caseworker​​

Allison Donnelly

Allison Donnelly

Outreach Caseworker Scotland

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Karolina Kubica

Outreach Caseworker Southwest

Work with us or volunteer

If you would like to volunteer for us we would love to hear from you. We have opportunities in our office in Portsmouth and around the UK helping at some of the events we attend. Please contact us if you can help us.

 

Vacancies

Head of Programmes & Funding

Closing date:
Friday 11th August.

We are seeking a Head of Programmes & Funding to lead the development of our Life Chances programme for young people. For more information please see the Job Description or contact jo.mcevoy@navalchildrenscharity.org.uk

Applicants to send in their CVs and a covering letter to Jo McEvoy, Head of Finance.

Apply
Job Description

Volunteer and Community Lead

Full Time

The primary focus of the Charity is delivery to beneficiaries through the caseworking team.   The role is responsible for the coordination of the Charity’s representation at community events and interaction with the community, fundraisers, and volunteers.

Download Job Spec
Apply

Chair of Trustees

We are seeking a new Chair of Trustees to lead our Board as we build on our 2020 Strategy, ensuring we remain a relevant and effective organisation. 

Apply

Volunteer

If you could spare us some time helping at one of our events or a few hours in the office we would love to hear from you.

Apply

Get Involved

If you would like to volunteer for us or raise us some funds
please get in touch.
Find out how
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HELP
CONTACT US

How we can help you

Apply for Financial Assistance using the Lightning Reach portal.

For applications for financial assistance you can apply by clicking on Register for Help below which will take you to the Lightning Reach portal. This platform is provided by our trusted partner, Lightning Reach, a social impact startup which uses secure technology to make the application process as quick and safe as possible for you.

Register for Help
A simple 3 step process
  1. Register and complete your profile here
    When asked to specify which of the Armed Forces you have served in, make sure to select ‘Royal Navy’, ‘Royal Marines’, ‘Merchant Navy in support of the Armed Forces’ or from the roles / industries list to ensure you are matched to Naval Children’s Charity.

  2. Once you’ve completed your profile, you should receive a support match to The Naval Children’s Charity. Click ‘continue’ to complete and submit your application.

  3. Provide your supporting evidence and submit your application to The Naval Children’s Charity.

Once your application has been made a caseworker will be in touch as soon as possible, this is usually within 3 days.

The profile you create on the Lightning Reach portal can also help you to find and apply for support from other support organisations easily and securely. We recommend that you submit your application to The Naval Children’s Charity first before submitting applications to other organisations.

For help with completing your application, visit Lightning Support and search for ‘The Naval Children’s Charity’.

If you have a question or not sure what help you need and require information or advice please use this online form.

Online Enquiry Form
Alternatively, If you would prefer to call our casework team, we can be contacted on 023 9263 9534, our office hours are 0830-1600 Monday to Friday.

How we can help you

The Naval Children’s Charity supports children up to and including the age of 25 whose parent(s) serve or have served in the Naval Service: Royal Navy, Royal Marines, QARNNS, WRNS, their Reserves and the RFA. If you need information or advice regarding support for your child(ren) please fill in the form to the best of your knowledge. One of our caseworkers will then contact you.

If you would prefer to call us we can be contacted on 023 9263 9534, our office hours are 0830-1600 Monday to Thursday and 0830-1300 on Friday.

Clare Scherer

Clare started as a consultant with the Naval Children’s Charity in 2008 and became Chief Executive in 2018. She has a background in Fundraising, Strategy and Charity expertise. She is Co-Chair of the Educational Trusts Forum, Vice Chair of the SCiP Alliance Management Group, Chair of the SCiP Alliance Funders Forum and on the Steering Group of the SCiP Alliance Voice of the Service Child. She is a Trustee and Treasurer of Children England, a member of the Institute of Fundraising and the Institute of Leadership and Management and a Fellow of Clore. She was the General Manager and founder of Winston’s Wish West Sussex. She has a degree in Engineering and holds City & Guilds in Upholstery and Design and was formerly a member of the Association of Lighting Designers, working in the Theatre industry as a Lighting Designer in the 1980s.

Sara Smith

Sara has been working for the Naval Children’s Charity for just over 7 years, initially as a caseworker and now as Head of Welfare, responsible for the team of caseworkers. She previously worked for the Naval Families Federation and RN FPS. She has been a Naval spouse for 25 years and became a Naval mum when her son joined the RN in 2019. Her lived experience from being in a Service family is one of her main strengths and helps every day in her role with the charity, as she understands the challenges that some of our families are dealing with, and giving the empathy to empathise and identify the support that they and their children require.

Jo McEvoy

Jo McEvoy joins us as Head of Finance following a successful track record with over 30 years experience in the charity and not-for profit arena. Jo is FMATT qualified and is experienced in key financial processes, implementing change, monitoring financial performance, minimising financial risk, forecasting, payments, and general accounting duties. Prior to joining the NCC Jo worked for over 17 years as a Business and Finance Manager for a national fishing charity and was a key member of their Senior Management Team leading on all financial matters from payments to year end audits.

Kim Hill

Working in education outreach for the past 7 years, Kim is incredibly passionate about promoting fair opportunities for all young people, regardless of their background and circumstances. Bringing her experience of project and events management to NCC, Kim has worked in a variety of roles designing and delivering programmes for young people and their supporters.

KLAUS

Milly Luxford

Milly has been blessed to have had a varied career, which took her all over the world and allowed her to meet some truly wonderful people.

As radio broadcaster in commercial radio she had many incredible adventures included time spent with, and reporting on the UN in Cyprus and out on operations in Afghanistan. This led her to join BFBS (British Forces Broadcast Service). Traveling and broadcasting to our Armed Forces in NI, Gibraltar, Brunei and finally Germany.

Milly decided to hang up her headphones when she found out about a fantastic opportunity at the Naval Children’s Charity, and hasn’t looked back. She is also ‘Mum’ to Klaus, the office mascot!

Jodie Corney

Jodie is an experienced administrator with a background in libraries & archives and data management.

Caroline Stapleton

After graduating in English Literature, Caroline spent 16 years in London as an Executive Assistant within the media and financial sectors, returning to her hometown of Portsmouth following the birth of her first child.

Prior to joining NCC Caroline was Secretary at the Globe & Laurel Magazine (the Journal of the Royal Marines) for 5 years where she gained great insight into Corps life and working for a Charitable organisation.

Cheryl Owens

Before coming to NCC, Cheryl was a College Lecturer for 10 years following roles in the community as a Parent Liaison Officer and Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator/Library Manager in a primary school. Prior to this she was employed by the NHS as a Personal Assistant to Consultant oncologist and urologists. She has experience in the Naval community.

Paris Brimecome​

Paris is passionate about supporting families that are struggling. May that be a one off crisis or challenges that family life brings along. Paris has been with the charity for 5 years and previously worked for The Royal Navy and Royal Marines welfare for 17 years, where she saw first hand the challenges serving families experienced. Paris has also worked in a refuge for young mum’s with babies, managed three homeless hostels for the council and worked in a unit for young people with additional needs. Paris loves to spend time with her daughter who is a primary school teacher, DIY and travelling where she can snorkel and experience nature’s wonders.

Julie Whittingham

Julie has been passionate about supporting children and young people, since she qualified as a Youth and Community Development Worker in 1995. In 2003 she joined the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Welfare team as Youth & Community Officer, where she worked for 15 years. This helped her develop her understanding of military life and the impact of service life on children. In 2018 she joined the Pastoral Team at Oaklands Catholic Secondary School as Safeguarding & Welfare Manager, where she worked for 3 years, prior to joining the charity as one of our Caseworkers. Julie is Portsmouth born and bred, she is married to Darren and they have an elderly black cat called Lars.

Angela Huntington​

Angela initially trained as a Midwife and enjoyed this career for over 10 years before taking time out to have a family of her own with her Royal Navy partner.  She then moved on to become a caseworker for Citizens Advice, advocating for vulnerable families in need of support and joint working with Social Services locally. She has experience of supporting families through tough times and understands the complexities of living within the Naval community.

Frankie Stride

Frankie is a psychology graduate with experience in mental health, learning disabilities and forensic care. Frankie is a naval child herself and also has a serving naval partner.

Allison Donnelly

Allison has been working with young people and families in a community setting since 2001 . She has recently joined our team as Outreach Caseworker based in Helensburgh Scotland were she will be working with other partner agencies supporting submariner families and veterans. Allison herself is a submariner family with her husband serving for over 20years. Prior to this Allison worked for a local Youth Charity managing Young Carers Service . She has vast experience in working within the Third Sector and community based projects supporting children and young people.

Karolina Kubica

Karolina graduated in International Relations with specialisation in global security and children in conflict areas. She has gained valuable experience working with the Armed Forces Community throughout her work at SSAFA helping serving personnel, veterans, and their families in a time of need. She is passionate about supporting those with no voice – animals and children, advocating for children with learning difficulties and disabilities. Based in Plymouth, Karolina will be an Outreach Caseworker for the Southwest region

Volunteer

If you would like to volunteer or raise funds to help us support Naval Children enter your details below and we will get in touch with a volunteer pack