Team and Trustees
Andy Hugh
Andy has always been interested in how we express ourselves and find our voice and started her career with 3 year classical theatre training. This led Andy to qualifying as a drama-therapist from the Central School of Speech and Drama.
Andy has spent her career working therapeutically with children and teenagers in groups, enabling them to build their confidence, self-esteem and resilience. She also holds an MA in social care and emotional wellbeing from the Tavi.
Andy has a passion for making therapeutic and group work techniques accessible to children and teachers. Andy has two teenagers, enjoys her garden and pretends she’s an interior designer!
Claire Godley
Claire began working with children as a teenager in her local youth club. She was inspired by the unique way in which children can learn and develop through being part of groups and experiences outside of formal education.
Claire has spent the last 20 years working with a huge variety of groups including children affected by domestic abuse, young offenders, youth councils, young leaders and interfaith education. For the last decade Claire has managed a programme bringing healthy relationships education into schools alongside developing her interest in children’s social and emotional wellbeing by completing a diploma in ‘Using the Arts in Therapy and Education’ and a certificate in Child Counselling.
Claire has three young children and enjoys decorating birthday cakes and pairing odd socks!
Our Charity Trustees
We registered as a Charity in November 2023 with our founding Trustees. In May 2025, we were pleased to recruit 3 further trustees to the board and we look forward to introducing them to you soon.
The Charity Trustees are responsible for the Charity, its assets and its activities.
Laura Gleen – Chair
Laura’s path to becoming a trustee at Heads Up Kids was unconventional. For 15 years, she worked as a US litigator, living in New York, Washington, D.C., and Texas. However, having grown up in the UK, she decided a few years ago it was time to return home. Now back in London, she continues her work with her Houston-based law firm, but centres her out-of-work life around her community here.
Laura has always strongly believed in the importance of fostering wellbeing and good mental health from an early age. Since its beginning in 2014, she has been a dedicated supporter of Heads Up Kids and the fantastic work it does. So, she was honoured to be invited to serve as Heads Up Kids Chair on the Board of Trustees as it transitioned from a project under to a charity.
In her role as Chair, Laura uses the analytical, writing, and lateral thinking skills she has developed as a lawyer to help ensure that compliance and good governance support the Charity’s crucial and continuously expanding work.
As Heads Up Kids continues to grow, Laura is excited to welcome more trustees and supporters who can contribute their experience, skills and most importantly, their passion to help the charity in its mission.
Justin Kett
Justin is a high school Jewish Studies teacher with a deep passion for education, personal development and student wellbeing. With years of experience in the classroom, Justin understands the importance of fostering emotional intelligence, resilience and confidence in young people—values that align closely with the mission of Heads Up Kids.
Becoming a Trustee was a natural step for Justin, as he strongly believes in the power of equipping children with the tools they need to express themselves, navigate challenges and develop strong interpersonal skills. He is particularly inspired by Heads Up Kids’ unique approach to integrating emotional literacy into school settings, creating safe spaces where students can learn, grow, and thrive.
Justin brings a wealth of experience to the board from his career path in education, leadership and youth engagement. His insights into the challenges faced by students and educators help shape the charity’s strategy and impact. He is committed to ensuring that Heads Up Kids continues to reach more children and schools, providing vital support that makes a real difference in their lives.
Looking to the future, Justin hopes to see Heads Up Kids expand its reach, empowering even more young people with the confidence and emotional resilience they need to succeed.
Emma Forman
Emma joined the board in June 2025 having spent over a decade working in the charity sector, leading fundraising and engagement across a range of causes. She is currently Head of Fundraising and Engagement at Shaare Zedek UK, where she focuses on major donor relationships, events, and community engagement. She brings her knowledge of fundraising strategy, stakeholder engagement, and charity operations to support the growth and sustainability of the organisation.
Having spent so many years on the professional side of charity, Emma was keen to take on a trustee role where she could offer her expertise and give back in a different way. She was drawn to Heads Up Kids not only for its values and impact, but also because, as a parent, she understands how vital emotional literacy is to a child’s development and future wellbeing.
She is excited to help guide Heads Up Kids into its next phase and to champion its work in schools and communities across the UK.
Laura Shephard
Laura joined the board in June 2025. She currently works as the Principal Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Bedfordshire where she oversees all of the university’s pre- and post-qualifying social work courses. She has a PgCert in Teaching in Higher Education and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Authority. Her teaching has a particular focus on social policy, sociology and social work law. Laura has published on the topics of developmental trauma, children’s participation in social work interventions, and the knowledge and skills required for child protection social work.
Laura has been a registered social worker since 2013 and has extensive practice experience in NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Hertfordshire as a Senior Clinical Social Worker. She has worked in both community and inpatient CAMHS settings and has practised with children with moderate to severe mental health difficulties, including those detained under the Mental Health Act. She has trained in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, and her specialism was working with adolescents with developmental trauma at the highest risk of self harm and suicide.
Laura lives in Hertfordshire and has primary school aged children. She is passionate about children’s mental health and wellbeing and believes in a whole-classroom approach to emotional literacy and resilience. Laura is excited to use her clinical expertise to support Heads Up Kids in its next phase of growth and development.
Abby Coften
Abby joined the Trustee Board in June 2025. She brings with her expertise in marketing, fundraising and business development within the not-for-profit sector which will be a huge asset to the board in shaping our work for the future.
Mark Laikin
Mark has enjoyed a 40 year career as a finance leader for some well known global organisations. Along side this he has raised 3 extraordinary children and been actively engaged in charitable and volunteer work.
Mark has seen firsthand the importance of mental health support and the significant benefits such assistance can offer to young people. He is delighted to have the opportunity to support Heads Up Kids, a charity devoted to providing impactful programmes that positively influence children during critical stages of their development.
As financial trustee, Mark aims to draw upon his professional expertise to support the charity’s financial activities. Beyond finance, he is committed to contributing by helping to ensure the long-term development, sustainability and reach of Heads Up Kids programmes.
Interested in joining our Trustee Board?
We are always keen to hear from passionate professionals who might be able to contribute great skills and knowledge to our board. If you are interested in what you could gain and what you could offer to support us, please contact us for an informal discussion.
Funders and Partners
As a small charity, we rely on grants and generous contributions of Charitable Trusts and Donors. If you are interested in supporting our work as an Individual or a Funder, please do get in touch - we would love to hear from you.