Carers Trust has named its next chief executive as Kirsty McHugh, who is chief executive of the Mayor’s Fund for London.

Prior to joining Mayor’s Fund, which supports disadvantaged young people, she led the Employment Related Services Association, a membership body for the employment support sector.

She takes up her new role at the Carers Trust in February 2022.

Her other roles have included Business in the Community director, non executive director of Gateway Housing Association and a panel member of the National Lottery’s Building Better Opportunities Fund.

Carers Trust says that “just as important as her professional experience” is her own experience as a carer, for two of her family members.

“I am only too aware from my own personal experience just how undervalued unpaid carers are, and how difficult life is for them as a result,” said McHugh.

“So, I am thrilled to have been entrusted with the opportunity to work with the team at Carers Trust, its network of local partners and unpaid carers themselves to change that.

“I am particularly excited by the prospect of working to keep Carers Trust at the forefront of securing change for the UK’s unpaid carers, whether through achieving policy change at the national level, helping to improve service delivery more locally or by working with employers and schools to increase understanding of unpaid carers and their caring responsibilities away from the workplace and classroom.”

Carers Trust chair John McLean added: “Throughout the recruitment process, Kirsty’s deep commitment to securing positive change for the disadvantaged shone through, as did her extensive experience of actually delivering change.”

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