PRESS RELEASE Kent-based Charity Head is Appointed to Lead National Children’s Charity and Develop Deeper Community Partnerships
Spurgeons Children’s Charity has appointed Eastbourne local Ian Soars, previously CEO of Kent-based children’s charity Fegans, as the new chief executive. Fegans, a charity dedicated to transforming children’s mental health, became part of Spurgeons in July 2021 to increase therapeutic support to children and parents nationally. Soars primary objective will be to drive forward the mission of Spurgeons – to provide the increasing number of vulnerable children in the UK with support that will equip them to thrive in their homes, communities and schools.
There are 2.9 million1 children in England living in families with substantial complex needs and over half of these children have no established, recognised form of additional support. Part of the government’s strategy to more effectively support these children and parents is through community family hubs — such as the children and family centres run by organisations like Spurgeons.
But it also means galvanising communities to offer support services for local people. Spurgeons already run numerous family hubs in Kent/Sussex and the aim is to launch many more hubs in communities that need support, whether that’s in prisons, churches, children’s centres or schools. The charity’s new strategy, which Soars will be spearheading, is to work alongside and equip community and church partners to grow in both confidence and ability to play a central role in these family hubs.
Soars says, “The reality we’re facing as a nation is that too many children are still falling through the gaping holes that exist in the system. There just aren’t enough charities or properly resourced statutory services in the country to meet their increasing needs. Spurgeons is ready to come alongside and practically support community and church partners, including those in Kent/Sussex, in the good work they have already started. I am looking forward to working in my new role, alongside a talented and committed team and with new community partners, in taking the next steps to raise the level and expectation of the support vulnerable children require and receive.”.
Soars joined the Spurgeons executive team mid-2021, heading up special projects, including the parent and school counselling services offered by Fegans. He takes over from deputy chief executive Paul Ringer who stepped in as Interim CEO after the previous CEO, Ross Hendry, took up a new position at CARE in October 2021. Soars also brings 18-years’ experience at recruitment experts Hays, driving large contract design and delivery.
Andrew Caplen, the Spurgeons Chair of Board of Trustees, says, “Ian combines a wealth of experience in both the business and charity sector, with a real passion for equipping and leading his team to best serve children and families who are struggling. We recognise the team at Spurgeons and Fegans have experienced a lot of change in the last six months and honour their dedication to serving the children and families we work with. We are excited to have someone at the helm who will be able to continue to unite and inspire our teams in our shared mission. Ian is also a strong believer in the need to work more with church and community partners to see the necessary, sustainable changes that will give more children a hope and a future.”
To learn more, or to partner with Spurgeons Children’s Charity, to help give the growing number of vulnerable children and young people a home life that is loving, peaceful and safe, go to www. spurgeons.org and visit @SpurgeonsUK on social media.
ENDS.
For images, case studies, interviews and further information please contact:
Sarann Buckby: Jersey Road PR
sarann@jerseyroadpr.com or 07593 438739
Notes to editors:
Ian Soars Biography
Ian Soars is the newly appointed CEO of Spurgeons Children’s Charity after serving as CEO of Fegans Children’s Charity for seven years. He played an instrumental role in the transfer of Fegans into Spurgeons to become one charity in July 2021, with a vision to join forces to make a greater impact together on the increasing needs of vulnerable children and families in the UK. Ian acted as MD for Fegans Services and Special Projects at Spurgeons before being appointed in his new role as CEO in January 2022. He brings 18-years’ experience at Hays, driving large contract design and delivery when he joined Fegans as Chief Executive.
Ian is a trained parent support worker and focuses on how we can raise our children to be resilient and with good mental health. He runs workshops with recently separated parents as part of divorce recovery programmes and works with families in their homes to help support parents to be the best they can be. The charity’s parent support, intervention and training programme provides families in need with skills to help them become self-sufficient and break generational cycles of behaviour.
Outside of the world of parent support, Ian spends time with his wife and three teenage daughters, is learning to box and attends Kings Church in Eastbourne where he lives.
References
1 Children’s Commissioner:
- Childhood Vulnerability in 2019 report shows there are over 2 million children in England living in families with substantial complex needs, and that of these 1.6 million children have no established, recognised form of additional support. In addition, there are multiple other forms of vulnerability, risk and need.
- The following report from the Children’s Commissioner also highlights that 1 in 6 children now have a probable mental health condition: The state of children’s mental health services 2019/20 | Children’s Commissioner for England (childrenscommissioner.gov.uk)
About Spurgeons Children’s Charity
Spurgeons is a Christian children’s charity founded in 1867 and runs 50 services/projects in 22 Local Authority areas across England (Midlands, East, West, South and London). With more than 400 staff, 150 volunteers and thousands of supporters, Spurgeons deliver a range of support services, including:
- Health and wellbeing for Early Years
- Children’s centres
- Domestic violence/abuse
- Young carers
- Prisoner family services
- School counselling and support (through Fegans services)
- Parenting courses and support (including online provision)