Claire Coussins

About Claire

Claire Coussins joined Kids in 2022 and is Executive Director of Strategy, Partnerships & Advocacy.

Claire grounds her work in insights drawn from the real, everyday experiences of children and young people with SEND who access Kids’ services, ensuring their lived experience shapes a vision where every child has the opportunity to play, learn, grow and thrive. She leads Kids’ fundraising, relationships and strategic partnerships, securing the support and resources that sustain the organisation and make major strategic initiatives possible. Claire also oversees all external affairs, including communications, public affairs and brand.

She leads Kids’ policy and advocacy agenda, amplifying lived experience to drive systemic change and improve outcomes for disabled children and young people. Claire oversees Youth Voice initiatives and represents Kids within key cross‑sector coalitions, including the Digital Services Consortium – addressing the digital exclusion of disabled and seriously ill children – and the Disabled Children’s Partnership, a major campaigning alliance.

Since 2005, Claire has held a range of roles across the charity sector in marketing, fundraising and engagement, consistently growing support and deepening engagement across diverse audiences. Prior to joining Kids, she led marketing, communications and several fundraising streams at Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity. Earlier in her career, Claire held senior roles at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where she grew membership and philanthropic support for Kew Foundation, and at NCVO in a variety of marketing and engagement positions.