New Trustees strengthen our support for families in need

New Trustees strengthen our support for families in need

We are delighted to announce that we have appointed Clare Phillips, Rachel Polnay and Lily Shaw as new Trustees following a competitive recruitment process. Together they bring outstanding expertise in marketing, fundraising and investment and will support us as we focus on growing our income and engagement.

Their appointments mark an exciting chapter for Little Village and it is hoped they will help to supercharge our delivery of our ‘It Takes a Village’ organisational strategy that was launched last year. With exceptional expertise spanning ITV, Channel 4, the British Red Cross, and public and private investments, Clare, Rachel, and Lily bring transformative leadership and will help us drive our mission to expand our ‘village of support’ and provide more families with the essentials they need to thrive.

Olivia Gillan-Bower, Chair of Trustees, welcomed our new arrivals, saying: “We are so delighted to welcome Clare, Rachel, and Lily to the Little Village Board of Trustees. Their appointments follow a fantastic response from some outstanding candidates which reflected the incredible interest in our work.

“At a time when the scale of demand from families with babies and young children is the highest we’ve ever seen, the expertise, passion and commitment of our new trustees will be invaluable. We are confident that their contributions will help us expand our reach and deepen our impact, ensuring that more families across London receive the support they urgently need.”

Clare said: “I’m incredibly proud to join Little Village, an organisation that truly understands the challenges faced by families in poverty. Their work goes beyond simply providing essential items; they create a supportive community and advocate for lasting change. It’s inspiring to be part of a team that’s making such a tangible difference in the lives of young children and their families across London.”

Lily added: “I’m thrilled to share that I’ve joined an incredible charity dedicated to supporting families in need by providing essential items for babies and young children. Little Village is more than a baby bank network – it’s a community. They work tirelessly to tackle child poverty by ensuring that every child gets the best possible start in life. I am deeply inspired by the passion and commitment of the team and volunteers who make this mission a reality every day. Child poverty is a crisis that affects us all, and I’m looking forward to helping Little Village extend its reach and impact.”

Rachel said: “I feel very proud to become a trustee of Little Village – a charity I have donated items to, and admired for a long time. I love the clarity of its purpose, its impressive growth and impact, and the values of love, solidarity, thriving and sustainability that shine though the people and communications. I am looking forward to getting to know the people and services at the charity and contributing to Little Village’s mission.”

Meet our Trustees.