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Child Action Northwest trustee profile: Lewis Alexander Baxter
Name: Lewis Alexander Baxter
Role: Vice Chair, Trustee
Please provide a little bit of background information about yourself
I grew up in Blackburn and the Ribble Valley and went to the local grammar school. I had a rural upbringing before heading to Durham in 2018 to study law. However, as so often happens, I have ended up running and marketing and communications agency in London! I actually received counselling from CANW in 2016, when I was 17. This came at a very difficult time in my life and the 8-10 funded sessions with the Counsellor, Caroline, helped me turn a corner. I will be forever thankful for CANW’s intervention at that point.
How long have you been a trustee of CANW?
I became a trustee in 2023 and stepped up to the Vice Chair role at last year’s AGM in November.
What inspired you to get involved with CANW?
In 2018, CANW’s fundraising manager at the time invited me to become an ambassador and visit local schools across Blackburn and Lancashire to tell my story. Then, after Covid, I attended the Shine a Light Ball in 2023 and the CEO at the time invited me to become a Board Member.
What skills do you think you bring to this role?
With my day job, I bring social media, digital and communications skills to the role. However, I have also done a lot with children’s mental health charities and children and young people’s charities, and I have been a charity Non-Executive Director since I was 18.
How do you think CANW makes a difference?
CANW provides a real hub in the North West for a number of services. CANW provides a wraparound service, supporting children and young people at different stages of their journeys.
Its other differentiator is that it actively engages with young people in the design of its services. Children and young people are involved and help co-create, which helps ensure what CANW offers provides a better fit for purpose. CANW also has a Young People’s committee.
What do you enjoy about your role?
One of the things that I enjoy most about my role as a trustee is being surrounded by staff and trustees who care so deeply about children and young people – in fact its their entire career. I also find it so inspiring that it is all about the young people.
What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a CANW Trustee?
If you are interested in becoming a Trustee, I would encourage you to do it. Regardless of your skillset, voice or experience, you will bring something of immense value to the Board. Everyone has something to offer and the more diverse the voices that we hear, the better we will be. Imposter Syndrome is real, but you will find the CANW Board an inclusive and welcoming place.
How would you sum CANW up in three words?
Caring, inclusive and forward-thinking. Actually, I would also add in pioneering – we are always looking at new services to meet the gaps in provision.