CLIC Sargent appoints Rachel Kirby-Rider as new CEO

Rachel Kirby-Rider has been appointed as CEO at CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading charity for young cancer patients and their families.

Rachel has led CLIC Sargent’s Income and Engagement teams for the last five years, with roles including Director of Fundraising, and more recently, Director of Income and Engagement. In 2016 Rachel spearheaded the charity’s new income generation strategy ‘One Team One Target’, focused on building long-term relationships.

Prior to joining CLIC Sargent, Rachel was Executive Director of Fundraising and Communications at Samaritans and Head of Corporate & Community Fundraising at Diabetes UK.

Rachel was appointed as CLIC Sargent’s interim CEO in early March 2020 following Kate Lee’s move to Alzheimer’s Society, and last week was appointed to the permanent position. Rachel takes up the role at a time where charities are calling on the Government for urgent financial help so that they can continue to provide services to those who desperately need them amid the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak. She has joined NVCO and ACEVO’s calls for more financial support for charities at a time where income is going down but demand for services is increasing.

On being appointed, Rachel said:

“I feel privileged to have this opportunity to lead CLIC Sargent through these extremely challenging times. The impact of Coronavirus is being felt by each and every one of us, none more so than the young cancer patients and families we support here at CLIC Sargent. Families need our support more than ever as they deal with the huge anxiety that Coronavirus brings. Our social workers are supporting parents who feel as frightened now as they did when they were first told their child had cancer.

“The need for our support is growing, yet we are faced with a huge fall in donations which we depend on to keep our vital services running. Parents desperately need our continued support so they aren’t left alone to cope with the fear around their child’s brutal treatment or how they’ll make ends meet because of the added financial costs of cancer which have pushed them to breaking point. CLIC Sargent will continue to call on the Government for more support for charities, so that no young cancer patient or their families have to face this alone.”

Sir David Haslam, Chair of the Board of Trustees at CLIC Sargent, said:

“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Rachel as CLIC Sargent’s new CEO. Rachel’s calm leadership as interim CEO through one of the most serious crises in modern history has been hugely impressive and she takes on this new position at a time where young cancer patients and their families need CLIC Sargent’s support more than ever. I am confident that Rachel is the right person to lead the charity through these difficult times and am very much looking forward to working with her.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

For more information, an interview or images, please email Rebecca.Bourley@younglivesvscancer.org.uk or call her on 020 8752 2812.

About cancer in children and young people

Today, 12 more children and young people in the UK will hear the devastating news that they have cancer. Treatment normally starts immediately, is often given many miles from home and can last for up to three years. Although survival rates are over 80%, cancer remains the single largest cause of death from disease in children and young people in the UK.

About CLIC Sargent

When cancer strikes young lives CLIC Sargent helps families limit the damage cancer causes beyond their health. CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading charity for young cancer patients and their families. We provide specialist support, to help and guide each young cancer patient and their family. We will fight tirelessly for them, individually, locally and nationally. For more information, visit www.clicsargent.org.uk

Note to sub editors

Please note that the name ‘CLIC Sargent’ should not be abbreviated to CLIC, and that the word ‘CLIC’ should always appear in capitals, as above.