Age UK chief takes charge of charity connecting generations

Cares Family, which promotes intergenerational link ups among communities, has hired the chief executive of a local Age UK charity to take its top role.

Nicola Upton is joining Cares Family in August as CEO after spending six years in the same role at Age UK Sutton.

Across her two-decade career in the charity sector she has also been deputy director for families at the National Deaf Children’s Society and director of major partnerships at Stonewall.

At the Cares Family she replaces its founder Alex Smith, who is leaving after 12 years.



Priorities will be leading Cares Families work to tackle loneliness among people of all ages.

“At a time when social connection is harder to find for people of all ages, and broader pressures affect us all, our message and model of building resilient communities is more relevant than ever,” said Upton.

“I’m looking forward to taking The Cares Family on to do more, connect more people, and enable others around the country to do the same in their communities.”

Cares Family chair Iana Vidal added: “The board are delighted to welcome Nicola to The Cares Family. In a strong field of candidates, Nicola was the unanimous choice. Throughout the recruitment process she showed that speaks our language, understands the issues and the unique moment that The Cares Family is at."

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