Welcome

Welcome from the Chair

Thank you for your interest in joining Child Action Northwest (CANW) as our next Chief Executive Officer. This is a really special organisation with deep roots in the North West — we began life as the Blackburn Orphanage back in 1886, and while much has changed since then, our purpose hasn’t: we’re here to make sure children, young people, families and communities get the support they need, when they need it, to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

CANW today is a busy, ambitious charity with services that stretch from fostering and family support to emotional wellbeing, restorative justice, and young carers. We reach more than 10,000 people every year and work closely with local authorities and partners across the region. What makes us stand out is our wraparound approach — we don’t just provide one service, we work with the whole person and their family to make change that lasts. We’re in a strong place right now. Our fostering service was rated Good by Ofsted last year; we have a loyal and skilled team of over 100 staff; and we’re financially stable, with healthy reserves and exciting plans for growth. We’re also exploring new ways to reach more children and families, while staying true to our “care, not profit” ethos.

We’re looking for someone who can build on this strong foundation — someone who shares our values, understands the children’s care and support landscape, and can work with our talented team and dedicated trustees to take CANW into its next chapter. You’ll need to be both strategic and hands-on, comfortable working with commissioners and regulators, and ready to lead with warmth, resilience and optimism.

If you’re inspired by the idea of leading an organisation with real impact and local heart, this could be the right move for you. I hope this information gives you a good sense of who we are and what we’re about, but please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our recruitment partners at Tile Hill if you’d like an informal chat before applying.

I’m really looking forward to meeting the person who will help us write the next part of CANW’s story.

Steve Peddie
Chair of Trustees
Child Action Northwest (CANW)