Warden to lead board of local mental health charity

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Professor Frances Corner OBE, Warden of Goldsmiths, is the new Chair of Trustees at Maudsley Charity.

Maudsley Charity is a mental health charity based in south-east London. The Charity supports, connects and champions projects, services and those working in mental health that give those who are most affected by mental ill-health the best chance to recover and fulfil their potential.

Maudsley Charity works with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. Together they drive direct improvements in prevention, clinical care and treatment around mental illness.

Professor Corner has been appointed as Chair of Trustees, a role she takes over from David Barclay, who joined Maudsley Charity in 2018. She will formally take up the post in January 2023.

The Warden previously served as a Trustee on the board of youth homelessness charity Centrepoint, a role she moved on from this summer to take on a new challenge in the sector.

Professor Corner said: “It's an honour to be appointed the new Chair of Maudsley Charity. Their vital work to support better mental health is a cause close to my heart, and I have watched the difference they make in south London for many years.

“I will lead the Maudsley Board alongside my work as Warden of Goldsmiths, a community engaged with supporting the most vulnerable in our society. I hope there will be opportunities for our two organisations to work with and learn from each other in the coming years.

“I am looking forward to working with the inspirational Maudsley Trustees, staff team and partners – together I hope we can achieve even more for people in need of support.”

Rebecca Gray, Chief Executive of Maudsley Charity, said: “We are delighted that Frances will be joining us as chair, taking over from David Barclay, who over the last 5 years has enabled the Charity to grow and flourish. Frances’ understanding of the growing challenge of mental illness particularly for younger people, her values and experience as a leader stood out in our recruitment process.

"More than 1 in 4 adults and more than 1 in 8 children experience mental illness in the UK and in Southeast London those numbers are even higher. Health inequalities have a huge impact on how likely people are to become ill, their access to care and potential for recovery. It’s imperative that we continue to fund the people and the projects that will make the biggest difference to those most affected by mental ill health. We very much welcome Frances to the team.”