News & Insight

23rd June 2016

Caroline Underwood appointed Trustee of Unicef UK

Members of Unicef UK appointed Caroline Underwood as a Trustee at their AGM held on Monday at Unicef UK’s offices in Farringdon.

Unicef UK has achieved significant growth in recent years and has recently exceeded income of £100m to help children both in the UK and internationally.

Appointing Caroline on Monday Ilse Howling, Unicef UK Chair of Trustees said ‘We are delighted that Caroline Underwood, CEO of Philanthropy Company, has joined the Unicef UK board of trustees. Her experience of working on behalf of the world’s poorest children will be of great value to shaping our future strategy and we will benefit greatly from her outstanding specialist fundraising expertise as we achieve our future aspirations for children.’

Attending the AGM as Trustee elect Caroline said: ‘I am thrilled to be able to make a contribution to the growth and achievements of Unicef UK. Every day the news shows stories of the sheer horrors facing children across the world through famine, war, abuse and displacement. I hope that my experience in building financial support for a range of charities and organisations will be of value to the Trustees in coming years.’

Unicef UK also announced today the appointment of their new President, broadcaster Kirsty Young, who will help represent Unicef UK alongside its celebrity ambassadors including Andy Murray, Cat Deeley, Eddie Izzard, Ewan McGregor and many more.

These appointments have been made as new Executive Director Mike Penrose nears the end of his first month with the charity.

Caroline has a wealth of knowledge and experience, having worked with a wide range of chiefs of industry, celebrities and government officials. She was previously a board level Executive Director as Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships at Save the Children, and since 2003, she has led the Philanthropy Company, advising donors on their giving strategies and organisations on philanthropic programmes, and working as a strategist, adviser, counsellor and mentor.  Caroline also has a great deal of Board experience, having previously sat as a member of the Board of Trustees at Modern Art Oxford, and Performing Arts Lab.

Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything it does. Together with their partners, they work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children. As a registered charity they raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and they lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK.