Growing with The Kids Network: Naa's Story

This month, we’re celebrating someone incredibly special — Naa, who after eight amazing years is finishing her term as a trustee for The Kids Network.
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Naa first joined us as a mentor back in 2017, when we were just getting started. At the time, she was already working in the charity sector, supporting secondary school students through employability programmes. But something kept tugging at her: “I kept thinking, I wish we could have reached these kids earlier.”
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That’s when she came across a Facebook post from our founder, Sarah. It was a call-out for volunteers to join the very first cohort of mentors at The Kids Network. “It felt like perfect timing,”.
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What started as a well-timed opportunity soon became a defining part of Naa’s personal and professional life.
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“I was nervous — what if they didn’t like me? But after the first few sessions, we hit our rhythm. One of my favourite memories is sitting in a café making slime together when it was too cold to go to the park. We must’ve looked a bit strange, but we were laughing for hours. That’s when we really connected.”
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Over the years, Naa mentored twice — once in person, and once during the pandemic when phone calls and posted art packs replaced park visits and café crafts.
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But Naa’s TKN story didn’t stop at mentoring. She went on to become our first mentor-turned-trustee, bringing the lived experience of mentoring directly into our decision-making. It was a pivotal shift.
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“I could bring what it actually felt like to mentor into those strategic conversations. It changed how we thought about recruitment, support, and how to prioritise the mentor experience.”
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In 2022, during a period of significant change Naa stepped up as Interim Chair of the Board. She led with thoughtfulness, stability, and a deep understanding of who we are as an organisation.
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And she always kept our values front and centre.
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“What I’ll carry with me is how being values-led can be transformational. That’s always been at the heart of The Kids Network, and I know it always will be.”
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From mentoring during our early days to shaping our strategy and guiding us through growth, Naa’s impact runs deep. She’s been there through big decisions, group mentoring sessions, and even fundraising auctions where she once MC’d and sold off a Christmas tree to raise money!
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“I’ll really miss it,” she says. “This has been a huge part of my life. But I’m proud of what we’ve built — and excited to see what comes next.”

We’re proud too — and beyond grateful.

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Thank you, Naa — for your time, your heart, and everything you’ve given to The Kids Network. You’ve helped shape who we are, and we’ll carry your impact forward, always.