Helen Dent

Biographical Information
"Helen Dent is the Chief Executive of Family Action, which provides home and project based support for families with complex needs, community based services for people with enduring mental health problems, and financial help for individuals and families who have fallen through the safety net of the welfare state. These services are provided across England. Family Action also has an active campaigning programme and gives particular priority to child poverty. In the past 10 years, Family Action has taken over the services of Newpin, Family Service Units and several one-off services.

"Helen Dent has spent much of her career focussed on looking after and promoting the best interests of children and families. Helen started her career as a social worker and then moved into policy and strategy as an Assistant Director in Cambridge County Council. She entered the voluntary sector as Director of Policy and External Affairs at NCH (now Action for Children) in 1990 and joined Family Action as Chief Executive in 1996.

"Helen is a Trustee of Child Poverty Action Group, Children England and End Child Poverty. She was formerly a trustee of Great Ormond Street Hospital and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, and a council member of the Economic and Social Research Council."