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
Jane Woodley
Media and Public Affairs Officer
I secure national, regional and sector media coverage to reach a range of stakeholders. I also coordinate our public affairs activity, organising a range of events to engage parliamentarians and policy makers.
020 7820 6256
jane.woodley@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
Anna Jones
Business Development Manager for Schools
I oversee the development and delivery of our resources, training and events. I promote our work to schools and other literacy professionals and ensure that we deliver the best possible service. I also liaise with companies and other organisations on a variety of promotional and advertising opportunities.
020 7820 6254
anna.jones@literacytrust.org.uk
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
Kimonda Chesaina
Administrative Assistant
I assist the Conference Administrator and Finance Officer to ensure financial procedures and conferences run smoothly.
020 7587 1842
kimonda.chesaina@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 Administrator
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.
020 7820 6258
ronan.cahill@literacytrust.org.uk
Finance
James Kamau
Finance Officer
020 7840 9559
james.kamau@literacytrust.org.uk
My role supports NLT in fulfilling its financial obligations. I assist the head of finance in the production of timely and accurate financial information.
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
Jennifer Cole
Project Officer
I support across all aspects of the Literacy Champions programme including contributing to resources and delivering training. I am responsible for developing case studies and communicating project outcomes. Literacy Champions aims to empower volunteers from local communities to work with families to encourage parental engagement and inspire a love of reading.
020 7820 6274
jennifer.cole@literacytrust.org.uk
Lucy Williams
Project Manager
I am responsible for developing and managing the Literacy Champions programme. I develop strategic plans, training and resources to support local coordinators to deliver the programme locally. Literacy Champions aims to empower volunteers from local communities to work with families to encourage parental engagement and inspire a love of reading.
lucy.williams@literacytrust.org.uk
020 7820 6274
Networks
Francine McMahon
Network Adviser (secondary)
In this role, I am privileged in being able to research theory while developing and capturing outstanding literacy practice in English and across all subjects in secondary schools.
It is my belief that if we as a teaching profession talk about and share strategies that help pupils speak, read, write and think, then we not only inspire our profession, but will give our younger generation the best possible chance in life. Formerly, I was an Assistant Head Teacher in a secondary school in Tower Hamlets and a Secondary National Strategy Literacy consultant. I also now work as a Senior Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University for Teach First.
Judy Clark
Primary Adviser/Talk for Writing Adviser
My role is Primary Adviser to the Network for schools and literacy professionals. As a teacher, leader and literacy specialist consultant I’m charged to help seek out excellence in theory and practice to help inform, inspire and support professionals in transforming the lives of our primary pupils.
Sarah De Zoysa
Schools Manager
I am responsible for developing and managing the National Literacy Trust’s Network for school and literacy professionals. With the team, I research outstanding and innovative literacy practice and support network members to discover and try these new approaches in the classroom, library and across the whole school. I also project manage Transforming Writing, an action research project which is trialling how to effectively embed formative assessment into the teaching of writing.
020 7820 6267
sarah.dezoysa@literacytrust.org.uk
Susie Musgrove
Networks Officer
I work with Schools Manager Sarah De Zoysa to run the National Literacy Trust Network, a professional network for primary and secondary schools and those who work with them. My role is to support network members to make sure they get the most out of their membership, so I’m the first point of contact for any queries about network benefits.
I also run our national literacy competitions and challenges such as the Big Diamond Jubilee Read, which aim to inspire children and young people to get involved in activities to improve their literacy.
020 7820 6276
susie.musgrove@literacytrust.org.uk
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
Cathy Hamer
Manager, Policy and Communities
Cathy has worked with the Talk To Your Baby campaign since 2007, developing strategic guidance, leading the Face to Face research project and coordinating a network across the Midlands. As Manager she promotes early communication and language, underpinning literacy across the Foundation Years. Cathy is an early years teacher, registered health and educational psychologist who has worked across Sure Start local programmes and Children’s Centres for a range of organisations.
Words for Life
Clare Bolton
Campaign Manager
I manage Words for Life, a campaign that gets parents involved with their children’s communication and literacy development through PR, marketing, social media and brand partnerships: www.wordsforlife.org.uk
020 7820 6262
clare.bolton@literacytrust.org.uk
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
