Our staff and trustees

Our leadership team

Our leadership team is responsible for setting our strategic direction and the day to day running of Gingerbread. They make sure we do the best work possible to support single parent families. 

Annabel Arkless, Interim Head of Income Generation

Annabel joined Gingerbread at the start of 2025, as our Interim Head of Income Generation.

Annabel has worked in fundraising for 30 years. During this time, she has worked for national, regional and local charities, giving her a broad range of experience of raising funds for some wonderful causes. Starting in events and community fundraising, Annabel then crossed over to securing transformative gifts from trusts, philanthropic donors and corporate leaders along with working in individual giving.

As well as being a member of the leadership team for four different charities, Annabel has board level experience, as a trustee for several different charities and was a governor of her local primary school for six years.

Having led a fundraising and marketing team that was dominated by single parents, Annabel is well aware of the additional pressures and challenges that working single parents face and the difference that the right information and support can make to their lives.

Theresa Dokpesi, Interim Head of Finances and Resources

Theresa joined Gingerbread in November 2024.

Jo Hardy, Head of Services

Jo is responsible for Gingerbread’s advice services, including the helpline and peer support activities, covering our network of single parent friendship groups across England and Wales. She is also the charity’s safeguarding lead.

Jo has spent almost three decades working in the charity sector, in organisations providing a range of information, advice and family support services, including Contact, Mencap and YoungMinds. She also spent five years on the London region grant-making committee at BBC Children in Need.

As a single parent with two grown-up sons, and having been raised in a single parent household, Jo is passionate about supporting single parent families, in particular challenging disadvantage, empowering parents and carers to thrive and getting the best outcomes for children, and innovation in the charity sector.

Vaila McClure, Head of Communications and Engagement

Vaila joined Gingerbread in April 2021 as the Comms and Digital Manager and led on the succesful delivery of a refreshed and rebranded website. As Head of Comms and Engagement, she leads on Gingerbread’s digital, marketing and brand communications.

Vaila has over 13 years’ experience in the charity sector, having previously worked in the schools team and then digital team at ActionAid UK. Before that, she worked as a secondary school science teacher.

Vaila’s experience of being a bereaved single parent means she knows first-hand the challenges of parenting alone and the importance of single parents being able to get the support and advice they need, when they need it.

Sarah Lambert, Head of Policy and Campaigns

Sarah has over 15 years of working in policy and campaigns in the charity sector – mostly working on disability issues, but more recently as a freelancer working for a range of charities to support them to secure transformative policy and legislative changes for the people they represent. Key successes include playing a lead role in the passing of the Autism Act 2009 and changing the criteria for Blue Badge parking to better reflect the needs of autistic people while at the National Autistic Society, and leading the team to secure priority supermarket home delivery slots for blind and partially sighted people during the pandemic while at RNIB.

Sarah spent a significant proportion of her childhood in a single parent household and is passionate about ensuring that the voices of single parents and their families are at the heart of everything we do to campaign for change.

Our trustees

Our board of trustees is responsible for making sure that we fulfil our charitable purposes and legal requirements, as well as shaping our long-term strategy. They bring a range of skills and experience from different fields and give their time freely to support single parent families. Many of our current trustees have experience of being a single parent or growing up in a single parent family. 

Prof Phil Deans, Vice-Chair

My motivation for joining Gingerbread’s board derives from my personal experience of single parenting, both as a child raised by a single parent, and as a single parent myself. I was raised by a single working mum in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Her resilience, hard work and sense of humour were key to shaping the person I am today. It is only as parent (and then single parent) that I came to recognise just how resilient, hard-working (and funny) she was, and how hard she had to battle to help her boys.

I loved education and never left. I was the first in my family to go to university and I stayed, doing and BA and a PhD. I then had the chance to study and then work in China and Japan for several years. I’ve worked in universities for most of my career, initially in teaching and research roles, and more recently in senior leadership. I’m a Senior Independent Director of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, and Vice Chair of Independent Higher Education, the UK representative body for independent providers of higher education, professional training and pathways.

I believe there’s no one defining challenge of being a single parent. Every one of us has a unique situation and unique skills. I became a single parent to three children (aged 2, 5 and 8) in 2011, whom I have had the privilege of raising single-handedly for over a decade. They are ‘big’ now, but there is no ‘completion date’ for being a single parent.

As a family we have always enjoyed talking – debating, discussing arguing about everything from politics to football to fashion. I like spending my free time with my feet up in front of the TV or with a book, and I’m a season ticket holder at Fulham FC.

Harriette Douglas, Trustee

Diane Gault, Trustee

I’ve got a lot of admiration for single parents and I believe that single parent families should be better supported. Both my mum and my sister were single parents, so I know what a struggle it can be. Gingerbread has an impressive track record of supporting single parents, committed and passionate staff and volunteers, and the knowledge and expertise to make a real difference to the life’s of single parent families.

A lot of single parents struggle financially due to barriers around accessing work and child care, and trying to work whilst parenting alone, which is sometimes simply not possible. When it is possible, it’s demanding and exhausting. When it’s not possible to work due to caring responsibilities, or lack of work that fits in with parenting alone, single parents are often in poverty. Whatever the individual situation, it’s an uphill battle.

I hold a Joint Honours degree from Goldsmiths College, University of London and I’ve worked in the charity sector for over 20 years. I’m a fundraiser by background, and over the last 17 years I have held Director level roles working across fundraising, membership, digital, external communications, marketing and campaigns. I’m a full member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

I’m mother to Allegra, who is eight going on 30, and I also have two dogs and five cats, so I’m pretty busy. Allegra is a budding athlete and has been invited to join an athletics academy, so we do that, and we run together as well as doing karate and lots of dog-walking. We read together too, although now she’s old enough she mostly likes reading to me, which is a nice change! When I get time outside of that, I try to keep up with karate and yoga, both of which I’ve been doing for nearly 20 years.

Henry Gregg, Trustee

As someone who grew up in a single parent family, I am aware of the day-to-day challenges they face, for example financial stability or finding safe, secure housing, and I really want to help Gingerbread get support for the people who need it the most – especially post-pandemic when the pressures on single parent families have become immense.

There is still stigma around single parent families but hopefully, the highlighting of inequalities during the pandemic has increased understanding of these challenges and the public desire for action to address and help to solve these issues.

I went to comprehensive school and Oxford University before a career working in politics and housing. I work for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham as Director of Strategy and Culture, supporting and empowering residents through the recovery from the pandemic.

I have a long standing tradition of inventing stories for my children, aged five and seven, before they go to bed which has forced me to be very creative and imaginative as I have to come up with a new one every night – but is reflective of the fact that I really liked being read to as a child and I’m looking forward to reading them some great books in the future!

Mariam Kemple Hardy, Trustee

I’ve joined Gingerbread as a trustee to support the organisation in its mission to support single parents and their families to thrive because, as a feminist and a parent, I know this critical to achieving a more equal society. Furthermore, there has never been a more important time to support single parents after the impact of Covid-19 laid bare the stark inequalities suffered by those households, particularly the financial instability experienced by so many single parents.

I have almost 15 years’ experience working as a charity campaigner and since 2016 I have been Head of Campaigns at Refugee Action. I studied English Literature at Cambridge University followed by Human Rights Law at the School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). I’ve previously been a Trustee for the Woman’s Trust.

I have two boys who keep me very busy. We enjoy splashing in muddy puddles, warming up by baking brownies and then eating them while watching Disney as part of our “Family Film Club”. If I do find any time outside of that, you’ll find me in a yoga position, at a climate protest or chatting with friends.

Tom Madders, Trustee

Single parent families face enormous pressures but are consistently overlooked as a group that needs additional support. I joined Gingerbread because I want to be part of changing that by giving single parents a stronger voice in shaping the policies and practices that impact them.

I’ve spent 17 years in the charity sector, mainly at disability charities. I’ve worked in a variety of roles, but the constant thread has been about giving power to the people we represent to create change and running campaigns with real impact.

I’m a new father so my son, Vito, has my attention during most of my free time. You’ll also find me sitting at a piano or on a tennis court when Vito lets me! My son is really little still, but he mainly enjoys putting random objects into his mouth and making increasingly ridiculous noises. Hopefully his interests will develop over time.

Naz Nowroozi, Trustee

I became a single mother shortly after my beautiful daughter turned a mere year old. What should have been the happiest moments of my life as a first time mum on maternity leave instead became one of the darkest and most traumatic times for both her and me. I struggled at first, but then I realised that human beings are built with an incredible reserve of strength and determination. As a trustee, I’d like to see all parents and wider members of any community know about Gingerbread and for all single parents to be proud to mention us.

I obtained my BA Hons in Film and Broadcasting, and after a couple of roles on a Children’s TV and a leading Formula 1 Magazine, I accidentally found my passion for finance. I became a qualified accountant in 2011. After senior leadership finance roles at a leading UK Housing Association and girls’ empowerment charity, I needed to make some changes to find my feet to take care of myself and my daughter. I am currently a finance manager for a local authority, and I love what I do. I hold FCCA status and am studying towards my APM – Association of Project Management.

As a child, I loved reading, roller-blading, going to the cinema, baking and just doing lovely activities at home with my family—something I model for my little one as she grows. Our family might just be the 2 of us, but I ensure small loving rituals are in place, so she also grows with warm, fond memories of her childhood. We go for nature walks and do lots of arts and crafts and imaginary play. Our best times are when I just sit with her in her room for hours on end and let her lead with her heart content with play and games. I do aspire to find some time to do yoga, meditation and to get through a pile of books I have on child development and psychology – I am passionate about children’s mental health and love the Montessori principles that help a child flourish and grow.

The biggest challenges for single parents are childcare costs and finding time for everything. Childcare costs prevent (mainly) mothers from finding space and sanity, from getting back to work and doing what they enjoy.

Every single parent and their child should be free from suffering and access a life that makes them smile- I will do all I can to contribute to the materialisation of this dream.

Ed Tait, Trustee

I have always been interested in people, places and politics. I graduated with a Geography BA in 1998 before working in fundraising and marketing across a range of charities for 25 years.

I started out at Tommy’s, the pregnancy and baby charity, before moving to The Children’s Society, Crisis and ActionAid UK. I’m currently at The MS Society. I have also been a trustee for the youth homelessness charity, DePaul UK.

As a child, I loved long family meals, holidays, playing and watching football, and now that my children are teenagers, I have a little more free time to spend cooking, swimming, walking, watching TV and listening to podcasts (politics & history mostly). I’m also a perennially disappointed Spurs fan.

Single parents come from all walks of life so their challenges will be varied and personal. Financial insecurity, isolation, and lack of support will impact many in different ways but stigma, society’s expectations, and having to fit into a world that is built and designed for couples is a near universal experience.

Sarah Pinch, Chair

My father left my mum when I was a baby. As a single parent my mum benefitted from the support and guidance of Gingerbread, where she met my lovely dad. The charity has always had a very special place in my heart. The chance to bring my professional knowledge and experience of governance and boards to a charity I love so much is just such a privilege.

I think stigma is the biggest challenge faced by single parents. Even in 2024 it is still very real and upsetting. On top of this, single parents face significant financial challenges, which have been exacerbated by COVID.

My first job was with the BBC, and I have worked in corporate communications ever since, including two charities, a PLC and the NHS, all at Director level. I went to university in my 30s and gained a post-graduate qualification in management. I am also a chartered practitioner of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

I am an experienced chair and Non-Executive Director. I was recently Chair of the Taylor Bennett Foundation, and have served on the boards of the largest primary school in Bristol, chaired the remuneration committee for the Senedd, been a trustee of Send a Cow, a NED for the HSE and I am currently Vice Chair of Manx Care.

I am a single mum to my 10-year-old daughter. We love cooking and have recently perfected our Sunday roast. We are Strictly Come Dancing mega fans and she is inheriting my love of the theatre; we have become real fans of The Globe Theatre in London.

Our President

JK Rowling, author

JK Rowling has supported Gingerbread since 2000, when she became our first ambassador. She has challenged assumptions about one parent families, offering millions of people new ideas about who single parents are, and how they came to be parenting alone. She has also generated a sense of pride among single parents. This has helped us bring about a real change in public attitudes.

Read JK Rowling’s story of being a single parent.