Julie Bentley
Julie Bentley | |
---|---|
Occupation | Chief Executive |
Employer | Action for Children |
Awards | Third Sector's Most Admired CEO of 2014 |
Julie Bentley is a British voluntary sector leader and has been the Chief Executive of Action for Children since August 2018.[1] She had served in similar roles at Girlguiding, 2012-2018[2] the Family Planning Association and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.[1]
While Chief Executive of Girlguiding she oversaw a complete governance review,[3] developed the organisation's first five year strategy,[4] and changed their Promise so that members commit to ‘develop my beliefs’ rather than ‘love my God’.[5] The organisation also launched a series of badges to support girls in the modern world including one promoting body confidence[6] and another teaching girls about mental wellbeing.[7] The charity also launched the Girls Matter campaign in order to get people in power to listen to girls’ views.[8]
"Everything we do helps make girls and young women more aware, more confident and gives them a voice" she said of the charity, in an interview with the Financial Times. [9]
During her term, the charity has enjoyed a revival with increased public understanding of their work to support girls and young women into adulthood.[9]
Background
Bentley is a former chief executive of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and the Family Planning Association.[1] She was also Director of Corporate Services for ARP (Alcohol Recovery Project) and Assistant Director of Charterhouse – in Southwark. Her early jobs included being a postwoman and a youth worker in South London.[10]
Julie was previously a Trustee and Vice Chair of the housing and homelessness charity Shelter[1] and was formerly a trustee of young people’s helpline Get Connected (now The Mix).[11] During her tenure at FPA she was part of the government independent advisory groups for teenage pregnancy and sexual health.[12]
In 2009 Julie and her partner cycled from Lands’ End to John O Groats to raise funds for the Family Planning Association and Seham Village Appeal a charity Julie is patron of.[10]
In an interview with Empowering Women, Bentley explained, “I have deliberately committed my career to the charity sector as it’s where I believe real change can happen. It’s also a fantastic environment for developing potential.” [13]
In 2014 she was named Third Sector’s Most Admired Chief Executive at the Third Sector Awards[1][14] and was included in the top ten of the Britain's most influential women in the BBC Woman's Hour Power List.[15]
Also in 2014 Julie was a castaway on Desert Island Discs.[10]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Ricketts, Andy (17 April 2018). "Julie Bentley named next chief executive of Action for Children". Third Sector. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
- ↑ "Meet Julie Bentley Girl Guides never seemed so cool". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ guiding magazine Winter 2013, pg 42-43
- ↑ "Girlguiding Being our best - five year strategy".
- ↑ "God vow dropped from Girlguiding UK promise". BBC. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ "Girl Guides must spot airbrushed photos to win new 'body confidence' badge". The Telegraph. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ "Mental health badge launched for Girl Guides". BBC. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ "Girls Matter".
- 1 2 "Julie Bentley: A guiding light determined to make a lasting difference". The Financial Times. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Julie Bentley: Desert Island Discs". BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ "BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Power List 2014 Game Changers - Top Ten". BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ "The Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group". The National Archives. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ "Leadership 101 with Julie Bentley". BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ "Britain's Most Admired Charities 2014: Most Admired Chief Executive - Winner: Julie Bentley". Third Sector.
- ↑ "Woman's Hour Power List 2014 – Game Changers". BBC Radio 4.