Charlotte Farrington is one of Yorkshire's most influential and outspoken voices on child poverty, inequality and the life chances of children growing up in disadvantage.
As Founder and Chief Executive of Yorkshire Children's Charity (YCC), Charlotte has built one of the region's fastest-growing charities from the ground up, creating a movement that is changing the lives of tens of thousands of children across Yorkshire. Under her leadership, the charity has raised more than £10.8 million and delivered practical, life-changing support to more than 73,500 children affected by poverty, illness and disability.
A passionate, straight-talking advocate, Charlotte combines the strategic leadership of a successful CEO with first-hand knowledge of the realities facing families across Yorkshire. She is known for challenging misconceptions around poverty, calling for long-term solutions rather than sticking-plaster responses, and ensuring children's voices remain at the centre of public debate.
Yorkshire Children's Charity was founded on a simple principle: listen first, act second. Rather than operating to predetermined programmes, the charity responds directly to what schools, families and communities need most. Whether that's providing warm coats and shoes, specialist disability equipment, emergency family grants, sensory spaces, school transformation projects or experiences that children would otherwise never have, Charlotte has built an organisation that prides itself on removing barriers quickly and without bureaucracy.
Under her leadership, the charity has become known for delivering both immediate crisis support and ambitious long-term interventions. Major initiatives include the Warm, Dry and Ready to Learn campaign, supporting thousands of children with essential winter items, alongside the Great Yorkshire Build, which is transforming educational facilities for children with complex special educational needs, including a multi-million-pound redevelopment of Hilltop School in Rotherham.
Charlotte is an experienced media commentator who regularly appears across television, radio, podcasts and print, speaking with authority on child poverty, the cost-of-living crisis, social mobility, disability, education, charitable giving and regional inequality. She is an engaging, confident and highly experienced interviewee, equally comfortable handling breaking news, feature interviews, live broadcast discussions and panel debates.
Known for her warmth, authenticity and plain-speaking style, Charlotte doesn't shy away from difficult conversations. She believes no child should be defined by where they are born or the income of their parents and is determined to ensure Yorkshire becomes a region where every child can thrive.
