National Literacy Trust staff
Find out who we are and what we do by clicking on the images below.
Directors
Abigail Moss
Deputy Director
Abigail was appointed as deputy director of the National Literacy Trust in March 2010. She supports all aspects of our work and its contribution to social justice and growth. Before joining the National Literacy Trust, Abigail led a local government improvement programme at Museums, Libraries and Archives London and from 1999 to 2009 was at Arts Council England, London, latterly as Director of Children and Young People’s Strategy. She has also worked as a secondary English teacher, literacy coordinator and a performer and is on the board of Arts Inform, a cultural education charity.
Jacky Taylor
Company Secretary
My role is to offer a good support service to the teams who are delivering our aims and objectives. I am responsible for a number of core functions including office management, health and safety, IT support, HR and charity governance.
020 7820 6257
jacky.taylor@literacytrust.org.uk
Jonathan Douglas
Director of the National Literacy Trust
Jonathan Douglas was appointed Director of the National Literacy Trust in January 2007. Previously he was Head of Policy Development at the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, where he also worked as Head of Learning and Access. Prior to that, he was Professional Adviser for Youth and School Libraries at the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. He has also worked as a librarian and in children’s services for Westminster Libraries. Jonathan is on the Advisory Committee of the Man Booker Prize and the Chair of Governors at his local primary school.
Communications
Fiona Lewis
Head of Communications
I campaign for literacy, championing its vital importance to all our lives. I raise awareness of our work and convictions, disseminating the findings of our research and insights, to inform literacy policy and practice. To carry our messages, I produce printed materials and online content, develop relationships with key media, and work with corporate supporters and other partners.
020 7820 6253
fiona.lewis@literacytrust.org.uk
Communities and Local Areas
Andy Parkinson
Communities and Local Areas Lead (Maternity Cover)
I am providing maternity cover for Emily McCoy until November 2012, working with local authorities to develop a strategic approach to literacy that will impact on those who can benefit the most.
Emily McCoy (on maternity leave until November 2012)
Manager
020 7840 9558
emily.mccoy@literacytrust.org.uk
Development
Conal Presho
Head of Development
My role is to ensure we have funding for our work to transform lives through literacy. I support the development team in their roles to engage businesses, trusts, foundations and individual supporters, and to generate income from our resources, training and events.
020 7820 6250
conal.presho@literacytrust.org.uk
Diana Stewart
Development Coordinator
I am responsible for generating income through our major donor fundraising programme, building relationships with individuals who have a particular interest in improving and developing literacy. I also work with our Communications Team, organising fundraising events for the NLT, so that we can continue to transform lives through literacy.
020 7820 6251
diana.stewart@literacytrust.org.uk
Jack Sallabank
Brand Partnerships Manager
Our social marketing activity aims to inspire more people to read, more regularly, for both pleasure and personal advancement. It is focused on making reading accessible and attractive to everyone, however diverse their taste or their ability. I manage our brand partnership activities, which we use to engage our target audiences.
020 7820 6266
jack.sallabank@literacytrust.org.uk
Lianna Ovenden
Corporate Development Manager
I work with businesses that have an interest in literacy to create partnerships that meet the needs of employees, customers and the communities the businesses work in. Engagement from the business world is crucial for funding projects and supporting the long-term development of literacy. My role is dedicated to building that link for the NLT.
020 7820 6252
lianna.ovenden@literacytrust.org.uk
Lorna Taylor
Development Officer
I am responsible for generating income from trusts, foundations and government to fund our work. I work with teams internally to develop projects, identify potential funders and secure donations. I also help to maintain our fantastic network of supporters who fundraise for the NLT by taking part in challenges and events.
020 7820 6252
lorna.taylor@literacytrust.org.uk
Ronan Cahill
Events and Administration Officer
I help the NLT to transform lives by coordinating events developed to share knowledge, research, policy, analysis and news with literacy professionals, empowering and encouraging them to make a difference in their jobs. I also assist the Head of Operations by supporting my colleagues administratively in many tasks.
020 7820 6258
ronan.cahill@literacytrust.org.uk
Finance
Information
Hannah Metcalfe
Website Manager
I manage the National Literacy Trust's website, ensuring that all our professional audiences - for example, practitioners, policy makers and researchers - can access information, analysis and resources to support their own work and transform lives through literacy.
I also work closely with project teams to ensure that the website supports the effective delivery of our work on the ground.
020 7587 1842
hannah.metcalfe@literacytrust.org.uk
Paul Jackson
Database Manager
I ensure that the information available to all of our staff is as accurate, up to date and useful as possible. I provide data analysis and reporting to help our teams effectively measure their progress against project objectives and to inform future delivery.
020 7840 9557
paul.jackson@literacytrust.org.uk
Sam Brookes
Head of Information
I am responsible for our internal information systems, and ensuring that information is shared effectively across all teams in order to meet their objectives. I also oversee the strategic development of our websites, which provide our wide range of stakeholders with access to relevant and engaging information on how literacy transforms lives.
020 7840 9552
sam.brookes@literacytrust.org.uk
London Literacy Champions
Networks
Premier League Reading Stars
Jim Sells
Manager, Premier League Reading Stars
Families from our target audiences often feel that educational activities are not for them; yet sport, and in particular, football, has the power to inspire. Working directly with all 20 Premier League clubs, we gain the "permission" needed to take part in educational activities: our project is perceived as a football activity, which enables us to reach those who need it most.
020 7820 6263
jim.sells@literacytrust.org.uk
Research
Christina Clark
Head of Research
Through my work I provide children, young people, their parents and literacy practitioners with a platform to voice their opinions on a variety of literacy subjects. I work closely with project staff and our communications and policy teams, translating our research findings into cutting-edge practice. Working alongside project staff, I explore the impact of our work.
Talk To Your Baby
Bianca Bailey
Foundation Years Officer
I am responsible for the Talk To Your Baby web content and resources, which aim to support early years professionals and ensure that children become good communicators, enabling them to do well at school and to go on to lead happy, fulfilled and successful lives.
020 7820 6265
bianca.bailey@literacytrust.org.uk
Words for Life
Tom Mattock
Website Manager
I design and develop the Words for Life website. The site aims to inspire more people to read more regularly, for both pleasure and personal advancement, and is focused on making reading accessible and attractive to everyone, however diverse their taste or ability.
020 7820 6255
tom.mattock@literacytrust.org.uk
Words for Work
Laura Kenwright
Project Officer
One of our strategic aims is to increase awareness of speaking and listening as key to overall literacy development. I support the Project Manager by co-ordinating and planning Words for Work, a project that enables young people to explore notions of communication and employability working with volunteers from the business community, encouraging aspirations to be raised and communication skills to be developed.
020 7820 6276
laura.kenwright@literacytrust.org.uk
Sally Melvin
Project Manager
One of our strategic aims is to increase awareness of speaking and listening as key to overall literacy development. By targeting young people with low self confidence, the pilot I have devised uses creative consultation to unlock speaking and listening skills. I am developing partnerships between schools and local businesses to investigate communication in the workplace.
020 7840 9556
sally.melvin@literacytrust.org.uk
Young Readers Programme
Caroline Phythian-Sence
Programme Manager
I work closely with the rest of the Young Readers Programme team and the National Literacy Trust more broadly to develop our programmes in order to reach disadvantaged children and their families. In addition to research and evaluation, I work on funding proposals and the financial side of things, and represent our work to our outside partners.
020 7820 6273
caroline.sence@literacytrust.org.uk
Irene Picton
Project Manager
I visit new Young Readers Programme project coordinators in schools, libraries and other community organisations to train them in how to run our programmes. I pass on practical tips and ideas for books and events to help inspire the children and families they work with to enjoy reading. My job role includes researching and developing our programmes, and I occasionally attend events and read stories in silly voices.
020 7820 6270
irene.picton@literacytrust.org.uk
Lizzie Poulton
Project Manager
As a Project Manager I train and assist projects in all elements of the programme. I also work on the website and on resources and booklists to make sure our coordinators have the tools to run engaging and motivating events.
020 7820 6269
lizzie.poulton@literacytrust.org.uk
