Leading family support charity, Home-Start UK, has appointed its first co-CEOs in the organisation’s 50 year history, as they have announced that Natalie Acton and Jodie Reed will take up the role of Co-CEOs in September 2025.

Natalie and Jodie will provide vision and dynamic leadership to Home-Start UK and the network of 175 local, independent Home-Start charities across the UK.

Natalie Acton has worked in both central and local government, with roles in the No.10 Policy Unit and the Department for Education, before co-founding the charity ‘Think Ahead’. She is leaving the role of Head of Student Support at Cambridge University.

Jodie Reed is currently a Partner and Director at Isos Partnership where she specialises in early childhood and prevention. Previously she led the public services team at the Institute for Public Policy Research before spending a decade in central government on early years and schools’ strategy and service reform.

Natalie and Jodie will now grow Home-Start’s vision, values and mission, building on Home-Start’s strong track record in delivering high-quality, impactful support for families and leading both the strategy implementation and operational delivery of Home-Start UK.

Home-Start UK chair of trustees, Lin Hinnigan said:

“I am delighted that we have been able to appoint two outstanding candidates to lead Home-Start into the next phase of its history. This isn’t just a job - it’s a chance to be part of something truly special. This is an opportunity to lead a national movement of passionate people committed to changing the lives of children and families and shaping the future for generations to come. Natalie and Jodie bring great experience, and I believe they will help us ensure that all children get the best start in life.”

Home-Start UK is committed to equality, inclusion and creating better lives for all families. As an organisation calling for more supportive employment policies for parents, Home-Start UK has a series of flexible working policies, and has now appointed a joint-CEO for the first time.

Lin Hinnigan added:

“I am really pleased that we have been able to appoint a joint-CEO to this role, as I think it shows our commitment to being an inclusive employer. We welcome opportunities to bring a diverse range of people and experiences to our mission and are committed to increasing the diversity of our leadership. This is why we were open to exploring new models of leadership structure to achieve this aim, including co-leadership.”

Natalie and Jodie both have young children, and Natalie has job-shared successfully twice before – once as CEO of a similar-sized charity to Home-Start UK, and currently as a senior leader in student mental health service delivery. Jodie is also well practiced in co-leadership in her current role as a Partner in a consultancy supporting services for children and families.

Jodie said:

 “Home-Start was founded over half a century ago – yet if charged with inventing a solution to the exceptional challenges facing today’s families, I can’t help but feel this would be it.  The job of parenting young children has become more isolating. The listening ear and support provided by thousands of Home-Start volunteers daily across the country is a vital lifeline for growing numbers of parents and carers, transforming children’s futures. I am thrilled and honoured to have the opportunity to lead Home Start UK alongside my Co-CEO Natalie, and cannot wait to get to know the heroic staff and volunteers who power this incredible network.”

Natalie said:

“At a time when day to day life is a struggle for too many families, Home-Start’s enduring offer of kindness, compassion and practical help can make all the difference. I can’t wait to support our dedicated staff and wonderful volunteers to make the biggest impact possible for children and parents across the country. And to make sure the voices and interests of families are central to our national conversation and heard loud and clear by Government.”

Both Natalie and Jodie have experience volunteering, both to deliver services and as trustees for a range of organisations. Natalie is also currently a home visiting volunteer with her local Home-Start.

For over 50 years, Home-Start has provided vital practical and emotional support for families in communities across the UK, through one-to-one support in families’ homes and a range of community services. This support is highly valued by parents with babies and young children, and has been shown to increase their capacity to deal with challenges and to build strong, nurturing relationships with their child. This support during the critical early years helps build the foundations for children’s future learning, health and wellbeing, and is life-changing for thousands of families.

Natalie and Jodie will be the sixth permanent CEO of Home-Start UK, with the first Home-Start set up in Leicester in 1973 by Margaret Harrison CBE.