Katie Ghose will leave her role as Chief Executive of Kids in Autumn 2026

Kids, the national charity for disabled children and young people, and their families, today announced that Katie Ghose will leave her role as Chief Executive in the autumn. After more than six years leading the organisation, Katie will be moving on to become the Chief Executive of the Refugee Council.

Under Katie’s tenure, Kids has tripled the number of disabled children and young people, and families it positively impacts, developed a vibrant national profile and become financially sustainable. Katie has built strong partnerships, secured Kids’ place at the policy table, and consistently amplified the voices and experiences of disabled children and young people, and their families.

Katie Ghose said:

“I joined Kids because I passionately believed in the charity’s vision of a society where disabled children and their families enjoy equal rights and opportunities. I am incredibly proud of the team’s achievements. Every day I have seen the fun, joy and practical support the charity provides to all kinds of kids with all kinds of disabilities.

It has been a privilege to work alongside colleagues whose passion, expertise and can-do attitude shine through – making a real difference to families’ lives, and helping to drive wider systemic change.

As Kids completes its current strategy this year and looks ahead to its exciting next phase, this feels like a natural point of transition. The organisation is in excellent shape, with ambitious plans ahead, and as the Government’s proposed SEND reform progresses, we will continue to amplify the voices and experiences of disabled children and young people.

Kids will always be close to my heart and I cannot wait to see what the team achieve next. For now, I remain focused on working with the Board and all our colleagues as we look to the charity’s next chapter.”

Mark Devlin, Chair of the Kids’ Board of Trustees, said:

“I would like to thank Katie for her unwavering commitment to Kids, for steering the charity through the Covid pandemic, delivering an ambitious strategy and successful brand refresh. 

Her fantastic leadership has established Kids as a charity sector thought leader, convener and commentator – at the heart of strategic alliances and bringing the real-world experiences of young people, parents and practitioners into the policy world to give system changes a better chance of changing lives. 

Kids’ strength is also rooted in the dedication of our wonderful supporters, partners and wider networks, whose commitment makes this important work possible. Together, we are more than an organisation – we are part of a wider movement for change, grounded in the voices and experiences of disabled children and young people, and their families. These foundations give us immense confidence in Kids’ future, and in its ability to deepen its impact and continue driving meaningful change.

The Board looks forward to appointing a new Chief Executive to build on this legacy – working alongside Kids’ leaders to take forward what has been achieved and guide the organisation into its next phase with clarity, ambition and purpose.”

The Board has appointed agency Cadence Partners to support with the recruitment of the next Chief Executive.