Trustees – H U K

Our Charity Trustees

We registered as a Charity in November 2023 with our founding Trustees. In May 2025, we were pleased to recruit 3 further trustees to the board and we look forward to introducing them to you soon.

The Charity Trustees are responsible for the Charity, its assets and its activities.

Here are our Trustee Board!

Laura Gleen – Chair

Laura’s path to becoming a trustee at Heads Up Kids was unconventional. For 15 years, she worked as a US litigator, living in New York, Washington, D.C., and Texas. However, having grown up in the UK, she decided a few years ago it was time to return home. Now back in London, she continues her work with her Houston-based law firm, but centres her out-of-work life around her community here.

Laura has always strongly believed in the importance of fostering wellbeing and good mental health from an early age. Since its beginning in 2014, she has been a dedicated supporter of Heads Up Kids and the fantastic work it does. So, she was honoured to be invited to serve as HUK’s Chair of the Board of Trustees as it transitioned from a project under other organizations to a fully licensed charity.

In her role as Chair, Laura uses the analytical, writing, and lateral thinking skills she has developed as a lawyer to help ensure that compliance and good governance support the Charity’s crucial and continuously expanding work.

As Heads Up Kids continues to grow, Laura is excited to welcome more trustees and supporters who can contribute their experience, skills and most importantly, their passion to help the charity in its mission.

Justin Kett

Justin is a high school Jewish Studies teacher with a deep passion for education, personal development and student wellbeing. With years of experience in the classroom, Justin understands the importance of fostering emotional intelligence, resilience and confidence in young people—values that align closely with the mission of Heads Up Kids.

Becoming a Trustee was a natural step for Justin, as he strongly believes in the power of equipping children with the tools they need to express themselves, navigate challenges and develop strong interpersonal skills. He is particularly inspired by Heads Up Kids’ unique approach to integrating emotional literacy into school settings, creating safe spaces where students can learn, grow, and thrive.

Justin brings a wealth of experience to the board from his career path in education, leadership and youth engagement. His insights into the challenges faced by students and educators help shape the charity’s strategy and impact. He is committed to ensuring that Heads Up Kids continues to reach more children and schools, providing vital support that makes a real difference in their lives.

Looking to the future, Justin hopes to see Heads Up Kids expand its reach, empowering even more young people with the confidence and emotional resilience they need to succeed.

Emma Forman

Emma joined the board in June 2025 having spent over a decade working in the charity sector, leading fundraising and engagement across a range of causes. She is currently Head of Fundraising and Engagement at Shaare Zedek UK, where she focuses on major donor relationships, events, and community engagement. She brings her knowledge of fundraising strategy, stakeholder engagement, and charity operations to support the growth and sustainability of the organisation.

Having spent so many years on the professional side of charity, Emma was keen to take on a trustee role where she could offer her expertise and give back in a different way. She was drawn to Heads Up Kids not only for its values and impact, but also because, as a parent, she understands how vital emotional literacy is to a child’s development and future wellbeing.

She is excited to help guide Heads Up Kids into its next phase and to champion its work in schools and communities across the UK.

Laura Shephard

Laura joined the board in June 2025. She currently works as the Principal Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Bedfordshire where she oversees all of the university’s pre- and post-qualifying social work courses. She has a PgCert in Teaching in Higher Education and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Authority. Her teaching has a particular focus on social policy, sociology and social work law. Laura has published on the topics of developmental trauma, children’s participation in social work interventions, and the knowledge and skills required for child protection social work.

Laura has been a registered social worker since 2013 and has extensive practice experience in NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Hertfordshire as a Senior Clinical Social Worker. She has worked in both community and inpatient CAMHS settings and has practised with children with moderate to severe mental health difficulties, including those detained under the Mental Health Act. She has trained in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, and her specialism was working with adolescents with developmental trauma at the highest risk of self harm and suicide.

Laura lives in Hertfordshire and has primary school aged children. She is passionate about children’s mental health and wellbeing and believes in a whole-classroom approach to emotional literacy and resilience. Laura is excited to use her clinical expertise to support Heads Up Kids in its next phase of growth and development.

Abby Coften

New to the Trustee Board in June 2025.

Interested in joining our Trustee Board?

We are always keen to hear from passionate professionals who might be able to contribute great skills and knowledge to our board. We are particularly in need of someone with a financial background at the current time. If you are interested in what you could gain and what you could offer to support us, please email chair@headsupkids.org.uk for an informal discussion.