Former Chief Inspector of Prisons appointed Chair of Trustees | Nacro

Former Chief Inspector of Prisons appointed Chair of Trustees

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Nacro are pleased to announce the appointment of two new trustees, who will aid in the governance and strategy of the charity.

Nick Hardwick, Chair of the Board of Trustees

Professor Nick Hardwick CBE is taking on the role of Chair of the Board of Trustees with us. Professor Hardwick has led charities working with homeless people and refugees and is a former Chief Inspector of Prisons, Chair of the Parole Board and Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. He is now Professor of Criminal Justice at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Professor Hardwick will lead us as we continue to give people the help they need through housing, education and criminal justice services as well as campaigning alongside them to ensure everyone has the chance to succeed.

Professor Hardwick, says: โ€œI started my working life at Nacro in the 1980s working with young people involved in the justice system. This gave me a lifelong belief in the importance of second chances and using practical experience to influence policy and reduce crime. I am delighted to return to where I started and bring my experience of working with prisons, policing, and running homeless charity Centrepoint. Nacro supports some of the most vulnerable people in society, people who are homeless, who have dropped out of mainstream education or who are caught up in the criminal justice system. These are the people who have been hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and now will be at the coalface of the upcoming cost of living crisis. Nacroโ€™s practical and emotional support and advocacy is needed now more than ever. Itโ€™s an important time for Nacro and the people it helps, and Iโ€™m glad that I will be taking on such a vital role for the organisation.โ€

Amanda Dickens

Professor Hardwick joins new trustee, Amanda Dickens. Ms Dickens comes from the technology sector where she has led, built and scaled startups and led digital transformation at established organisations such as PwC UK.

Ms Dickens, said: โ€œI passionately believe in the power of second chances and the importance of education for peopleโ€™s futures, both beliefs that are at the heart of what Nacro does. Iโ€™m excited to take up this role and bring my digital expertise to enhance work on issues such as closing the digital divide for disadvantaged young people.โ€

Ms Dickens will start her new role immediately and Professor Hardwick will start in August 2022.

Nacro comment

Campbell Robb, Nacro Chief Executive said: โ€œWe are delighted to welcome Nick and Amanda to the team. They both have high level and diverse experience in industries that are important to Nacro, and will bring with them a wealth of knowledge related to the work we do. Nick will start in August, picking up where our outgoing chair, Nigel Chapman has left off. Nigel has been a fantastic chair for the past seven years, guiding Nacro to be the organisation it is today.โ€

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