Wealth of experience

Our charity partner, Action for Children, has recently appointed Julie Bentley as their new chief executive.

Bentley has held a number of roles throughout her career including as one of our very own postwomen. Her most recent role however, was as CEO at Girlguiding - the largest charity for girls and young women in the UK, working with 400,000 girls and young women aged 5-25 - a role she held for six years. She brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and skill with her to Action for Children.

Before joining Girlguiding, Bentley was chief executive of the sexual health charity, the Family Planning Association (FPA) and had previously spent almost five years in the same position at the personal safety charity, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

Bentley, who was named ‘Most Admired Chief Executive’ at the Third Sector Awards in 2014, is a trustee of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and was vice-chair of the housing and homelessness charity Shelter for five years, until 2016.

‘Having been a postwoman myself for five years when I first left school, I am thrilled to be working in partnership with Royal Mail,’ she said.

‘Action for Children works with some of the most disadvantaged children and young people in society. Our work is crucial and it is an honour to join the trustees, staff and volunteers to take the charity forward.’

Royal Mail is funding Action for Children's Blues Programme, a school-based preventative mental health programme, working with young people aged 13-19 years old who are suffering from, or at risk of developing, a mental health disorder.

To find out more, contact Action for Children by email on royalmail@actionforchildren.org.uk or by calling 020 3124 0657.