A wonderful rollercoaster of a year

It has been such a privilege to represent my peers and the wider sector and I have tried to take on that responsibility whilst staying true to my values and ensure that impact and outcomes for children and young people have been central to everything we’ve done. I’ve met some amazing people and had the opportunity to champion key themes; the scourge of child poverty, importance of inclusion, and the need to focus on inequality and disproportionality.

I believe ADCS is a thriving association which has enabled me to build on the work of my predecessors and take advantage of the doors they have opened so that the voice of ADCS is recognised in shaping and influencing national policy. At the heart of the Association is our fantastic staff team led by Esther as chief officer. The team provide the continuity and foundations for success as Presidents come and go (as I’m now finding out!). I’ve been so lucky to benefit from their support over the course of a year and I thank them for the invaluable role that they play in the success of ADCS. I’d also like to say a big thank you to everyone who has enabled me to take on the role over the past year; the political and corporate leaders in Durham and my excellent senior team, although they may have mixed views about seeing more of me!