The Kids Network is passionate about connection and driven by fun, commitment and diversity. Meet the team that makes the magic happen.
Ops & Fundraising Team
To learn about how you can connect with TKN to donate to the work we do, you can reach out to the below team members
Catrin Thomas – Fundraising Director
Adam Jack – Development Officer
Natalie Worms – Managing Director
Lyza Koshy – Operations Officer
Programmes Team
If you are a school or interested in becoming a volunteer mentor, please connect to one of the below team members for your borough in London
Delivery
Ruth Simmonds– Head of Delivery
Flick Tennant – Programme Manager for Lambeth
Nikki Dolby – Programme Manager for Camden
Priya Nagda-Swainson – Programme Manager for Islington
Joni Warner – Programme Manager for Southwark
Dilara Gurpinar – Programme Manager for Hammersmith and Fulham
Hend Abushowayb– Programme Manager for Hackney
Hawri Ahmed – Programme Manager for Brent
Volunteering
Maria McEvoy – Head of Volunteering
Tanya Chinowaita – Programme Officer for Camden & Southwark
Development
Tigan Palmer – Head of Programme Development
TRUSTEES & FOUNDER
Sarah Woodcock
FOUNDER
Sarah has significant experience in the strategy and delivery of a number of programmes at a national level. Prior to founding The Kids Network, Sarah has developed capacity building projects for UK Youth and Save the Children. Sarah also currently sits on the board of trustees for the Coop Foundation and is the Equalities Link Governor at Carlton Primary School in Kentish Town. She has been a mentor for the last four years and describes it as the best use of her time.
Luke Hollander
Luke is a charity accountant who currently works for the City of London Corporation. He provides due diligence, training, and technical guidance relating to the Corporation’s significant grant-making portfolio, including the City Bridge Trust. He previously built experience working with charities and government departments as an auditor at the National Audit Office.
Simon Lucey
INTERIM CHAIR
Simon is the founder of Hype Collective, a student marketing agency that creates opportunities for young people. Over the last 3 years Hype Collective have directly employed over 600 students and funded 100+ grass roots groups. Hype Collective’s clients include Co-op, Adobe and Warner Brothers.
Naa Acquah
Naa got involved with The Kids Network as a mentor in 2018. She works in the education charity sector managing programmes for the Transformation Trust. She was elected as the first Black Woman General Secretary of the University of Manchester Students’ Union (UMSU). She was a director of both the University of Manchester Students’ Union and the University; chairing the Board of Trustees. Naa loves spending time with her mentee every Saturday and seeing London through a child’s eyes.
Kary Van Der Horst
Kary first became involved with The Kids Network as a mentor in 2020. She currently heads People and Culture departments in the financial sector with previous experience in Corporate Affairs, both in UK and abroad. She served as Executive Vice President of the national exporters association, where she implemented initiatives for economic growth in small and medium businesses in the Dominican Republic, and is a former member of the Global Shapers Community, a World Economic Forum initiative. departments as an auditor at the National Audit Office.
Sam Stamp
Sam was part of the Kids Network’s very first cohort of pilot mentors and has been a supporter of the charity ever since. He has held a range of senior positions across a number of organisations, from creative agencies to city law firms. The common thread is an interest in people, technology and purpose. Beyond work, Sam loves playing board games and watching any sport that’s on.
Charlie Foster
DEPUTY CHAIR
Charlie works in finance and currently leads a team of 12 at RBS focussed on providing funding solutions for large companies operating in the Real Estate sector in the UK. Banking has been an ideal setting in which to hone her skills in managing a breadth of stakeholders and in bringing together teams of individual subject matter experts, and effective people management is of particular interest to her.
Lucy Halton
Lucy is a former TKN mentor, and international child rights advocate. She has worked for organisations in Geneva and London advocating for the rights of children in the most vulnerable situations, all the way from local council level up to the UN. Lucy is currently Advocacy & Campaigns Manager at Lumos Foundation, where she advocates for all children to live in safe and loving families. Lucy is passionate about The Kids Network after mentoring in Hackney in 2020-2021, and cares especially about the child-led approach. In her spare time, Lucy loves spending time with her dog, Nessa, and reading.
