Tarn Bright, co-CEO of Safe Families and Home for Good explains how they went from a decade working into the corporate sector to becoming CEO of a charity.

How did you land your current role, and what was your career path leading up to it?

I spent the first decade of my life in the corporate sector, then into the charity sector after realising that I'd lost motivation for creating shareholder value, instead I wanted to create value for children and families in communities across the UK, bringing transformation and restoration, even just by playing a small part. I ran schools in deprived communities, supported refugees through community sponsorship, devised social action strategies for cities, and much more. The I was asked to apply for the CEO role in 2020, applied and the rest they say is history.

What is the most interesting part of your job?

Now working in a Co-CEO relationship, Kat and I get to play to our strengths. SO most of my job is interesting to me! In particularly is the national strategising on reform in the children's and families sector. I also am very stimulated by the political advocacy work we do, meeting with MP's and Parliamentarians where I seek at all times to amplify the voice of those we serve.

What would be your alternative career?

This for me is Plan A and I live it out at home as well as the office, i.e. I have two adopted children and a young person living with us via Supported Lodgings. If I wasn't working professionally in the sector I would revert to caring for more children via fostering and supported lodgings. I do however really enjoy leadership development so I may well develop a consulting arm alongside fostering!

What inspired you to work in the charity sector?

As shared above, I needed a role where I could contribute to societal transformation vs making profit for a international conglomerate. Values play such a crucial role in whether we are fulfilled or not, and the values I am able to now live out through my role align with what makes me tick. Such as justice, empowerment of others, compassion and collaboration.

What challenges do you face in your day-to-day work?

The greatest challenge is seeing the numbers of children enter the care system growing year on year. I have to navigate what's in my control and what isn't and ensure I'm expending energy on what I can make positive change within.

What would make the biggest positive difference to the sector right now?

Recruitment of thousands upon thousands of new foster carers! The system needs a circuit breaker to begin to improve the outcomes for children who spend time in the care system, a first step to this would be to have more foster carers across the country, so there's better matching available and less use on residential children's homes. Safe Families and Home for Good believe this is possible and we have an ambitious goal for the church to the biggest provider of foster carers in the country within the decade.

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