New Chair of Bradford Children and Families Trust announced 

Bradford Council and Bradford Children and Families Trust have announced that Debbie Barnes, OBE, has been appointed as the new BCFT Chair. Debbie will take up the role at the end of April. Stuart Proud will be the Acting Chair for one month until Debbie takes up her post since the previous Chair, Eileen Milner, came to the end of her term on 31 March 2026.

Debbie arrives from Lincolnshire County Council where she worked for almost twenty years. She was made Director of Children’s Services in 2012 and was promoted to Chief Executive in 2018. Throughout her career she has been recognised for her collaborative leadership, transforming Children’s Services, and for contributions to Local Government in Lincolnshire. She was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2018 for services to Children’s Services.

The Bradford Children and Families Trust was established as an independent company in 2023 to deliver improved performance and high-quality, innovative Social Care Services for Children, Young People, and their Families within the Bradford District. Bradford Council continues to have statutory responsibility for the strategy and effectiveness of Children’s Services but has contracted the Trust to provide those services on the Council’s behalf, with those responsibilities managed by an independent board.

Debbie Barnes said:

“I am more than thrilled to be appointed as chair of the Bradford Children and Families Trust Board. Over the last few years, the Trust has made great progress thanks to the commitment of its leaders, staff and partners. I’m very excited to be part of the next step of Bradford’s improvement journey. I am passionate about supporting families and am looking forward to working together with everyone at the Trust, the Council, and its partners to improve the lives of children and families in Bradford.”

Lorraine O’Donnell, Chief Executive of Bradford Council, said:

“I’m delighted to welcome Debbie Barnes as the new Chair of the Bradford Children and Families Trust Board. Debbie will bring a wealth of experience gained in delivering and improving Social Services for Children. We look forward to working together with her to further build on the improvements that the Trust has already made.

“I also want to take this opportunity to thank Eileen Milner for the tremendous work she has done as Chair of the Trust Board. She has been a champion for children in our district, overseeing the Trust’s improvement journey to deliver better outcomes for vulnerable families and young people.”

Charlotte Ramsden Chief Executive Officer of Bradford Children and Families Trust said:

“We welcome Debbie’s appointment as our new Chair and look forward to working with her to continue our progress and bring the best possible services to the children and families of Bradford that make a real difference in their lives. Thanks to Eileen’s strength and support, in our first three years and before that in getting the Trust established, she will be picking up well functioning arrangements from which to build with us for the future.”

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