Sarah Jacoby
CEO & Co-Founder
As Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Comfort Cases UK, Sarah leads the charity’s vision, strategy and growth, building partnerships that enable more children and young people entering, moving within and leaving care to receive dignity, comfort and hope. Since the charity’s inception in 2021, she has led its development from a small start-up to a national organisation supporting frontline professionals across England and Wales.
Sarah is responsible for strategic leadership, fundraising, governance, advocacy and external partnerships, working with businesses, trusts, local authorities and sector leaders to grow the charity’s impact. She is passionate about creating the conditions where people feel seen, challenged, inspired and confident enough to turn ideas into action, because lasting change is built together, not alone.
Away from work, Sarah enjoys spending time with family and friends, long walks with her dog, running, reading and a British TV drama.
Sammi Myers
Head of Operations & Co-Founder
As Co-Founder and Head of Operations, Sammi leads the day-to-day running of Comfort Cases UK, overseeing operations, logistics, finance and volunteer engagement. Working alongside the CEO, she has helped build the systems, processes and partnerships that enable the charity to support thousands of children and young people across England and Wales.
With a background in operations and account management, Sammi combines organisation, creativity and compassion to ensure every Comfort Case is packed with care & attention to detail, and every supporter has a meaningful experience. She is passionate about finding better ways of working so the charity can reach even more children.
Away from work, Sammi enjoys walking her two dogs, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Skye
Chief Happiness Officer
Our Chief Happiness Officer has never met a stranger. Whether you’re a first-time volunteer, a corporate team member or simply popping in to say hello, Skye’s priority is making sure everyone feels welcome.
When she’s not greeting visitors, Skye enjoys keeping a watchful eye on office snacks, making sure nobody accidentally drops anything edible on the floor (a responsibility she takes very seriously).
We’re not entirely sure whether Skye knows she’s a dog. But we’re very glad she’s part of the Comfort Cases UK family.
Riley
Head of Security
Our resident Head of Security takes his role extremely seriously. Whether it’s the postman, a courier, a passing squirrel or a suspicious leaf blowing across the car park, Riley is always first on the scene to sound the alarm. While his bark is impressively loud, we can confirm his bite extends only to the occasional dog biscuit.
Despite his dramatic security announcements, Riley has a heart of gold. He knows exactly when someone needs a cuddle and never misses an opportunity to brighten a volunteer’s day with a wagging tail and a gentle nudge.
Pepsi
Wellbeing Lead
Our Wellbeing Lead is responsible for employee and volunteer wellbeing, morale.
Her core duties include supervising from beneath Sarah’s desk, greeting visitors (when she feels like it), occasional snacks (subject to her approval) and ensuring her mum is never out of sight.
Outside work she enjoys long walks and ambitious attempts to catch squirrels and aeroplanes. Whilst maintaining exceptionally high princess standards, Pepsi is kind and loing. She firmly believes every productive day should include a lengthy nap.
Mandy Sharp
Trustee
PR & Marketing
“Sometimes, in life, it’s the simple things that can make the most difference and Comfort Cases does just that. This special charity captured my heart when I met the passionate and caring team behind the organisation.”
Paul Fox
Head of Trustees
“CCUK is a niche charity which has an impact on children’s lives beyond which many of us can comprehend.”
Adam Davison
Secretary
Communications
“Too often, our children are left forgotten and forlorn through the breakdown of homes and families across the UK. It is a great honour to be able to support Comfort Cases UK, to bring respect and dignity, in some small way, to our children in order to try to protect their futures.”
Gurvir Henderson
Deputy Chair
Strategy
I am an innovator and strategist with a passion for making change happen. As a trustee with Comfort Cases UK, I want to be able to focus in on a deep-seated passion; thinking about how we look after and safeguard our future generations.
Richard Benson
Treasurer
DSL Board Champion
“I try to be a clear-thinking, problem solver who has a background in law, real estate and business and bring those experiences and skills to the trustee team and help cut through complexity to find simple solutions to the challenges we face.”
Giouliana Kadra-Scalzo
PhD, CPsychol – Trustee
Academic Research
The evidence is clear that early childhood experiences have a significant impact on child development. Comfort cases UK is not just about providing material aid in time of need (which is very important) but is also about showing care, consideration and support for children as well as for those who care about the child’s journey. As a chartered psychologist and an academic I hope to bring in an evidence-base lens through which we can translate the impact that CCUK is having on children’s lives and those who care for them.
Rachel Malik
Lived Experience Trustee
Shadow Board
As a care experienced individual, I know first hand how important the work of Comfort Cases is in making children feel like they and their things are valued.
I am honoured to have been asked to be a Trustee for this amazing charity and look forward to contributing to their amazing work and their driving efforts forward so we can reach even more children and young people growing up in care.
Chris is the best-selling Author of Damaged and the State of It, Keynote Speaker, National Campaigner and Advocate for Children in Care and Care Leavers, Care Home Consultant, Expert by Experience Board Member for the Independent Care Review and Charity Patro.
He is a passionate advocate and campaigner whose first book DAMAGED, tells the story of his life and those other young people in care he met along the way. His second book THE STATE OF IT, is a rallying call for change as he expose the continuing failure of young people in care. He is currently writing his third book which sets out his hopes for the future.
Driven by his commitment to supporting young people, Mike’s work as a music/film teacher and foster carer sets him apart. He actively engages with schools, sharing his expertise and inspiring the next generation of creatives. His advocacy for fostering has led him to be recognized by reputable organisations like the BBC, No. 10 Downing Street , Fostering Network, NAFP and of course Comfort Cases UK etc where he has been invited to share his experiences.
Hi I’m Rachel. I am the director and founder of Living Legacy Learning. I have 30 years experience looking after children in care and within education – including being a foster carer.
I take my personal experiences of child sexual exploitation, neglect, abuse and being care experienced with my professional expertise, to train staff in and outside of the care sector in all areas regarding care experience and safeguarding.
When I went into care aged 14, I had nothing other than the clothes I stood up in. I moved from foster homes to children’s homes with my belongings in bin bags. The only three treasures I owned were two photos and a keyring. These treasures were sadly seen as rubbish. I will never get my only physical memory of my mum back. When you have nothing, everything is important!
To have had a Comfort Case would have made an incredible difference, giving me the dignity and respect I never had as a child but desperately deserved. I wholeheartedly support Comfort Cases UK as it directly improves the lives of children in care who have suffered greatly.
Steven has a mixture of professional and personal experience in social care from having a social worker and PA until 25 years of age. Currently a team manager for a children in care team and vice chair of a fostering panel. Also actively involved in research groups and practice improvement organisations to aid with shaping a better service for looked after children. Steven recalls himself having received his belongings in black bin bags in 2002 and is still shocked to hear that this goes on. Comfort cases is a game changer and lifeline to children within the care system.
I am a registered manager of a therapeutic residential young people’s home and I have approx. 8/9 years of working in residential childcare and 5 years of working as a youth support worker before this. I strongly believe in what Comfort Cases has to offer as I have seen children being moved with bin bags and carrier bags which is unfair.
I am very passionate about the young people that we work with and getting them the best level of care and support that is available.
I have personally experienced homelessness from a very young age with little support other than friends families occasionally able to help me and the support I was able to receive from youth workers that were incredible. This has driven my passion to helping children and young people in all aspects of their life and Comfort Cases UK helps to support this.
I am an established professional fundraiser with a demonstrated working history in the charity sector. Being care-experienced, I have a personal understanding of being in care. The comfort of a Comfort Case in such a chaotic time is much needed. I am looking forward to supporting this heartfelt service showing we care for those who are in care.
I’m a lived experience consultant, facilitator and youth worker with a passion to transform the lives of care experienced young people through collaboration. Bringing a unique blend of personal care experience and professional expertise, I am dedicated to campaigning for meaningful system change and advocating for the voices of care experienced young people.
I’ve had various roles working with local authorities to support quality assurance for children’s residential placements, delivering training programmes to PAs and social workers and recruiting new foster carers. Outside of this, I work in the charity and youth sector to meaningfully collaborate and enhance the support and opportunities that the non-profit sector can provide to disadvantaged groups of young people. Part of this involves working with organisations to provide mentoring programmes for care leavers and influencing policy work to better support young people in care.
My lived experience and connection to this cause adds to my desire to join Comfort Cases UK as an ambassador. I understand firsthand how important it is for children in the care system to have something they can call their own and to have their belongings truly respected. The thoughtful creation of comfort cases offers not only practical support but also emotional comfort when it is most needed.
Chris Wild
Chris is the best-selling Author of Damaged and the State of It, Keynote Speaker, National Campaigner and Advocate for Children in Care and Care Leavers, Care Home Consultant, Expert by Experience Board Member for the Independent Care Review and Charity Patro.
He is a passionate advocate and campaigner whose first book DAMAGED, tells the story of his life and those other young people in care he met along the way. His second book THE STATE OF IT, is a rallying call for change as he expose the continuing failure of young people in care. He is currently writing his third book which sets out his hopes for the future.
Mike McKenzie
Driven by his commitment to supporting young people, Mike’s work as a music/film teacher and foster carer sets him apart. He actively engages with schools, sharing his expertise and inspiring the next generation of creatives. His advocacy for fostering has led him to be recognized by reputable organisations like the BBC, No. 10 Downing Street , Fostering Network, NAFP and of course Comfort Cases UK etc where he has been invited to share his experiences.
Rachel W
Hi I’m Rachel. I am the director and founder of Living Legacy Learning. I have 30 years experience looking after children in care and within education – including being a foster carer.
I take my personal experiences of child sexual exploitation, neglect, abuse and being care experienced with my professional expertise, to train staff in and outside of the care sector in all areas regarding care experience and safeguarding.
When I went into care aged 14, I had nothing other than the clothes I stood up in. I moved from foster homes to children’s homes with my belongings in bin bags. The only three treasures I owned were two photos and a keyring. These treasures were sadly seen as rubbish. I will never get my only physical memory of my mum back. When you have nothing, everything is important!
To have had a Comfort Case would have made an incredible difference, giving me the dignity and respect I never had as a child but desperately deserved. I wholeheartedly support Comfort Cases UK as it directly improves the lives of children in care who have suffered greatly.
Steve Hawksworth
Steven has a mixture of professional and personal experience in social care from having a social worker and PA until 25 years of age. Currently a team manager for a children in care team and vice chair of a fostering panel. Also actively involved in research groups and practice improvement organisations to aid with shaping a better service for looked after children. Steven recalls himself having received his belongings in black bin bags in 2002 and is still shocked to hear that this goes on. Comfort cases is a game changer and lifeline to children within the care system.
Luke Miles
I am a registered manager of a therapeutic residential young people’s home and I have approx. 8/9 years of working in residential childcare and 5 years of working as a youth support worker before this. I strongly believe in what Comfort Cases has to offer as I have seen children being moved with bin bags and carrier bags which is unfair.
I am very passionate about the young people that we work with and getting them the best level of care and support that is available.
I have personally experienced homelessness from a very young age with little support other than friends families occasionally able to help me and the support I was able to receive from youth workers that were incredible. This has driven my passion to helping children and young people in all aspects of their life and Comfort Cases UK helps to support this.
Alexandra Rudman
I am an established professional fundraiser with a demonstrated working history in the charity sector. Being care-experienced, I have a personal understanding of being in care. The comfort of a Comfort Case in such a chaotic time is much needed. I am looking forward to supporting this heartfelt service showing we care for those who are in care.
#NOMOREBINBAGS | #TREASURESNOTTRASH | #DIGNITYHOPELOVE
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