Stephanie Maurel is stepping down from her role as chair of trustees at the National Childbirth Trust to become a Church of England priest.

Her decision to leave the charity comes as she nears the end of her three-year Church of England ministerial training and ahead of summer next year when she is set to be ordained as a priest.

She joined the board in 2017 and has been its chair for the last three years.

“It has been my pleasure and privilege to be part of NCT’s Board for the last seven years, and to have had the opportunity to Chair our incredible charity for the latter part of that has been my absolute honour,” said Maurel, who is chief executive of the Corporation of Church House.

“My decision to step down as chair has not been an easy one to make, but the time is right for me to hand the baton over to someone new.

“I’ve witnessed first-hand the enormous difference NCT makes to so many new parents and families across the UK in those vital early stages of parenting, and I take great pride in knowing that we played a part in that.”

NCT chief executive Angela McConville said that Maurel “has been instrumental in helping shape” the charity’s five-year strategy For Every Parent, which launched last year.

She added; “The impact of her work will be long-lasting beyond her time with NCT, she leaves a proud legacy.

“We are now at the beginning of an exciting journey to find a new chair who is dedicated, strategic and motivated by NCT’s mission to support more people as they become parents.

“The new chair will be critical to the stewardship of our ambitious strategy to reach more parents with trusted and relevant information, support and services, while calling for systemic change that delivers equitable maternity experiences in pregnancy, birth and postnatally for all parents at this critical, life-changing stage of their lives.

“I would encourage anyone interested in learning more about the role and the impact of our incredible charity to get in touch.”

Maurel will remain in post until her successor is appointed. A formal handover is expected to take place at the charity’s AGM later this year.

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