Kelly Railton  

What do you do in your role as trustee at Become?

I am part of a team of trustees and our role is to provide oversight of the charity, ensuring that everything it does meets its aims to support children and young people in care.

Can you say a bit about your relevant experience and qualifications?

I bring professional and personal experience. I have worked in income generation for not-for-profits for over 25 years, spanning all fundraising and commercial development activities, and holding senior roles across a range of small, medium and large charities for more than 12 years. I’m currently working in income generation consultancy and in interim senior income generation roles.

My personal experience comes from living with a family member in kinship care for much of my childhood, and spending a short period of time in residential care. For the last three years I have loved being a volunteer independent visitor to a young person in care, spending time with them every 4-6 weeks, doing things they enjoy.

What do you like about being a trustee at Become?

There is such a great sense of being part of a team across all of Become; everyone working together and bringing their own professional and lived experience together, to make for much-needed change.  The performance,  commitment and professionalism of the employed team means that trustees are also able to do the role they need to do, and don’t need in any way to be involved in the operational day to day working of the charity.

I love how authentically care-experience is put at the heart of the organisation, so that change is driven in the right way. I’ve been involved for less than a couple of months and have already met lots of care experienced young people who are working with Become to drive this change. I’ve seen first-hand the impact they are making to the direction of the charity.

What drives you?

I know that children and young people in care have the same attributes and potential as anyone else. The odds have historically been, and currently still are, unfairly stacked against them, with many facing the kind of barriers that most people can’t imagine. With the right support they can, and do, achieve their potential. And when they do that, it is great for them, but it is also better for society.  It is this desire for a fairer society that drove me into a career in the charity sector, and to my trustee role at Become.

At Become I’m also motivated by what the charity is achieving. For the first time in my lifetime I am hearing from care-leavers on the news, seeing care leavers talking to politicians, witnessing movements in policy and more. I know there is a long way to go but I am so proud to be part of the wide movement pushing for that change.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I love to read and write fiction, and have had some short stories published. I also usually love to spend time travelling overseas, and going to festivals and gigs with my husband and friends. However, of late, our household and spare time is dictated by the whims of a very elderly rescue cocker spaniel who doesn’t like us going far at all. Which leaves more time for the reading and writing instead!