Sam Smethers
Sam Smethers, Chief Executive, is the former Director of Public Affairs of the Equal Opportunities Commission. She has worked as a communications consultant and also has eight years experience of working in parliament. Sam is a trustee of the Fawcett Society and of Gingerbread. She has three children and was brought up by her grandparents.
sam.smethers@grandparentsplus.org.uk

Alison Blaxland
Alison Blaxland is the Policy and Communications Co-ordinator for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Network. Alison has worked in the voluntary sector for almost 20 years in media and communications roles. She previously worked for the children's charity Barnardo's as an Editor/ Jounalist. She has one son who is looked after by his nan while Alison is at work.
alison.blaxland@grandparentsplus.org.uk

Sacha Shabbir
Sacha Shabbir is our Information Systems and Office Manager and has previously worked in Hackney Children's Services and has several years experience in both the voluntary and private sectors. She is also a member of the Ormiston's London Links Advisory Panel, and volunteers at her son's school and local community centre.
sacha.shabbir@grandparentsplus.org.uk

Oonagh Murphy-Jack
Oonagh is our Project Manager. She has previously worked for the Big Issue as a journalist and also as a researcher on the Times newspaper focussing on issues such as foster care and substance misuse.  She is currently writing a book about kinship care.
oonagh.murphy-jack@grandparentsplus.org.uk

Sarah Wellard

Sarah Wellard is our Policy and Research Manager.  She has seven years experience in the voluntary sector working for a national disability charity and as Parliamentary Officer for Barnardos. She has also worked as a freelance journalist and consultant, an advisor within the civil service and has an MSc in social policy from the LSE. She has three children and is a school governor.

sarah.wellard@grandparentsplus.org.uk