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2005 November 7 - Birmingham based children's charity looks to the future with a new head office tea

A Birmingham based children’s charity, currently celebrating its silver jubilee year, is looking to the future with a new support, finance, fundraising and communications team.

Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF), the only organization in the UK dedicated to stamping out childhood liver disease, has recently appointed a family support officer, young persons support officer, finance manager, supporter fundraising manager and communications officer.  All positions will be based at its head office located on Great Charles Street. 

The appointments will help the charity achieve its business objectives for the next three years.  These include expanding its support service for families of children with liver disease, enlarging its education programme for healthcare professionals and developing its research programme.  Other key aims include raising awareness of children’s liver disease amongst the general public and achieving an increased fundraising target of £1.5 million per annum to meet these objectives. 

Stacey Sangster, 27, from Stourbridge has been appointed family support officer. Stacey will be responsible for providing emotional support to families of children with liver disease by attending clinics in the three main liver unit hospitals (Birmingham Children’s Hospital, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds and King’s College Hospital, London), and a number of regional clinics around the country.  A key role will also be to offer telephone and email support to families, and to look at ways to develop CLDF’s support services in the future.  Stacey has a background in support work and counseling.

Beth Hunt, 33, from Worcester, has been appointed young persons support officer.  Beth will be offering support to young liver patients and their siblings via clinics and through telephone and e-mail contact.  Beth will also be developing literature specifically designed for young people and looking at ways to help young liver patients with the transition to adulthood and the unique problems this can present.  Beth has 11 years experience in youth and support work.

Gillian Baylis, 48, from Knowle, Solihull, is CLDF’s new finance manager.  Gillian’s responsibilities will include the production of budgets, management accounts, payroll and analysis of income and expenditure.  Gillian previously worked as the financial controller of a healthcare company.

Sarah Briggs, 25, from Kings Heath has been appointed supporter fundraising manager.  Sarah will be responsible for increasing CLDF’s network of supporters and fundraisers, managing CLDF’s wide range of fundraising schemes and events and identifying new fundraising opportunities. Sarah worked in sales for 14 months prior to joining CLDF. 

Rachel Markham, 30, from Leicester, has been appointed communications officer, responsible for developing a public relations campaign to increase awareness of children’s liver disease and the work of the Foundation.  Rachel previously worked as a PR Executive for a national retailer.

Catherine Arkley, chief executive of the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation says, "CLDF faces many challenges over the next 25 years.  Most people don't realise that two children a day are diagnosed with liver disease in this country - that's greater than the incidence of childhood leukaemia. Many of these diseases are life threatening, but all mean a lifetime of care. Each year we need to raise more money to fund new research projects, educate more healthcare professionals and support more families.  Development of the head office team will help ensure that we can meet our objectives and enable us to continue the fight against childhood liver disease”.

Ends

For further information on this story please contact Rachel Markham,
Children’s Liver Disease Foundation on 0121 212 6012, e-mail: communications@childliverdisease.org

Note to editors:

The Children’s Liver Disease Foundation is a unique national charity that fights childhood liver diseases through funding pioneering research and educating healthcare professionals and the general public. Formed in 1980, it provides professional, emotional support to families affected and is the only organisation of its kind in the UK.