Adoption UK announces appointment of Hugh Thornbery as CEO
31 Jul 2012
National charity Adoption UK is today pleased to announce the appointment of Hugh Thornbery as Chief Executive Officer, who will succeed Jonathan Pearce. Adoption UK supports adoptive families before, during and after adoption.
National charity Adoption UK is today pleased to announce the appointment of Hugh Thornbery as Chief Executive Officer, who will succeed Jonathan Pearce. Adoption UK supports adoptive families before, during and after adoption.
Hugh will start his role at the charity in October. He brings with him more than 30 years’ experience of working in children’s services in the statutory and voluntary sector. His most recent role has been as Director of Business Development at Action for Children, where he has worked in various roles since 1997.
Until earlier this year, he was accountable for Action for Children’s adoption agency. Hugh has spoken widely on adoption in the media and on conference platforms. He also has experience working with challenging young people, and he had a leading role in the large‐scale development of Sure Start services for babies and pre‐schoolers.
Mr Thornbery said: “I am thrilled to be joining a charity, as unique and important as Adoption UK, which as a membership organisation has such a wealth of knowledge and expertise, It is at the heart of the adoption arena.
“I am driven by the way adoption can transform a child’s life as no other solution can and I maintain a child-centred approach in everything that I do.
“My focus will be continuing Adoption UK’s vital work in supporting and training adoptive families and practitioners. I am fully committed to leading the charity forward so as an organisation we continue to make life better, not just for adoptive parents but also for the thousands of children in care for whom adoption offers a stable and secure solution.”
Hugh’s appointment comes at a time when Adoption UK, as a member of the Government’s working group, has been heavily involved in influencing Government reforms of the adoption system.
Mr Thornbery added: “Adoption support is crucial in increasing the chances of adoptive placements working and succeeding. As Adoption UK CEO, I will be continuing to progress the links Adoption UK has with the Government and will be working to ensure that it does more to support adoptive families.”
Peter Seymour, Adoption UK’s Chair of Trustees, said: “Hugh’s appointment comes at a significant time in Adoption UK’s growth. He brings with him extensive experience that will support the organisation’s long-term vision and objectives. I look forward to seeing Hugh lead Adoption UK to further success in the future.”
ends
For further information:
Erika Pennington, Acting Press, PR and Public Affairs Manager, erika@adoptionuk.org.uk or 01295 752960
A full interview with Hugh Thornbery will also soon be available to view on the Adoption UK website.
Notes for Editors:
Adoption UK
- Adoption UK is a registered charity (number 326654) and adoption support agency, established in 1971.
- Adoption UK is the only national charity run by and for adoptive parents. The charity's aim is to provide and support a self-help network for adoptive parents to explore the unique social, emotional and developmental needs of adopted children and young people and their families. Through this network, Adoption UK also promotes effective learning practice, based on over 35 year's experience of adoptive parenting, which is integrated with current theories of trauma, attachment and development.
- Adoption UK supports parents before, during and after the adoption process.
- Members have experience of adopting in UK and abroad, from babies and toddlers to
teenagers, with a wide range of medical, emotional, physical and learning difficulties. - Membership represents multicultural Britain.
- The Online Community launched in November 2003 and won Charity Website of the Year 2004. Key features include message boards, letters, library of resources, database of real life experiences, special features and daily news. Over 80% of visitors are UK-based however the site has been embraced by people touched by adoption around the world.
- Adoption UK offers a range of other services to adoptive families, including: a national telephone helpline; access to local support groups throughout the UK; contact networks; Adoption Today and Children Who Wait magazines, information leaflets and publications; training programmes and courses; and a lending library.
- Adoption UK also lobbies and campaigns on behalf of the concerns of adoptive families.
Tel: 01295 752240. Helpline: 0844 848 7900.
National Offices:
Scotland
172 Leith Walk, Edinburgh, EH6 5EA
Tel: 0131 555 5350
Northern Ireland
545 Antrim Road, Belfast, BT15 3BU
Tel: 028 9077 5211
Wales
Penhevad Studios, Penhevad Street, Grangetown, Cardiff CF11 7LU
Tel: 029 2023 2221