Julie Bentley
AwardsThird Sector's 'Most Admired CEO' of 2014 Charity Times 'Individual Achievement Award' 2019

Julie Bentley is a British voluntary sector leader and Chief Executive of Samaritans. Julie was Chief Executive of Action for Children from August 2018 to February 2020.[1][2] She had served in similar roles at Girlguiding, 2012–2018[3] the Family Planning Association and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.[1]

In February 2020 Bentley resigned as Chief Executive of Action for Children for personal reasons.[2] She joined Samaritans as the charity's new CEO in November 2020, telling The Guardian newspaper that she sees the charity's mission to listen without judgement as "an extraordinarily powerful thing".[4]

While Chief Executive of Girlguiding she oversaw a complete governance review,[5] developed the organisation's first five year strategy,[6] and changed their Promise so that members commit to ‘develop my beliefs’ rather than ‘love my God’.[7] The organisation also launched a series of badges to support girls in the modern world including one promoting body confidence[8] and another teaching girls about mental wellbeing.[9] The charity also launched the Girls Matter campaign in order to get people in power to listen to girls’ views.[10]

"Everything we do helps make girls and young women more aware, more confident and gives them a voice" she said of the charity, in an interview with the Financial Times.[11]

During her term, the charity has enjoyed a revival with increased public understanding of their work to support girls and young women into adulthood.[11]

Background

Bentley is a former chief executive of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and the Family Planning Association.[1] She was also Director of Corporate Services for ARP (Alcohol Recovery Project) and Assistant Director of Charterhouse – in Southwark. Her early jobs included being a postwoman and a youth worker in South London.[12]

Julie was previously a Trustee and Vice Chair of the housing and homelessness charity Shelter[1] and was formerly a trustee of young people’s helpline Get Connected (now The Mix).[13] During her tenure at FPA she was part of the government independent advisory groups for teenage pregnancy and sexual health.[14]

In 2009 Julie and her partner cycled from Land's End to John o' Groats to raise funds for the Family Planning Association and Seham Village Appeal a charity Julie is patron of.[12]

In an interview with Empowering Women, Bentley explained, “I have deliberately committed my career to the charity sector as it’s where I believe real change can happen. It’s also a fantastic environment for developing potential.” [15]

In 2014 she was named Third Sector's Most Admired Chief Executive at the Third Sector Awards[1][16] and was included in the top ten of the Britain's most influential women in the BBC Woman's Hour Power List.[17]

Also in 2014 Julie was a castaway on Desert Island Discs.[12]

in 2019 she was named one of the most influential CEOs in the charity sector and in the same year was awarded 'Outstanding Individual Achievement' by Charity Times.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ricketts, Andy (17 April 2018). "Julie Bentley named next chief executive of Action for Children". Third Sector. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  2. 1 2 Weakley, Kirsty (14 February 2020). "Julie Bentley has resigned as chief executive of Action for Children". Civil Society. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  3. ↑ "Meet Julie Bentley Girl Guides never seemed so cool". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "Julie Bentley: 'Samaritans' services have been crucial during the pandemic'". Guardian. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  5. ↑ guiding magazine Winter 2013, pg 42-43
  6. ↑ "Girlguiding Being our best - five year strategy".
  7. ↑ "God vow dropped from Girlguiding UK promise". BBC. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "Girl Guides must spot airbrushed photos to win new 'body confidence' badge". The Telegraph. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Mental health badge launched for Girl Guides". BBC. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  10. ↑ "Girls Matter".
  11. 1 2 "Julie Bentley: A guiding light determined to make a lasting difference". The Financial Times. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 "Julie Bentley: Desert Island Discs". BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  13. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Power List 2014 Game Changers - Top Ten". BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  14. ↑ "The Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group". The National Archives. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ↑ "Leadership 101 with Julie Bentley". BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "Britain's Most Admired Charities 2014: Most Admired Chief Executive - Winner: Julie Bentley". Third Sector.
  17. ↑ "Woman's Hour Power List 2014 – Game Changers". BBC Radio 4.
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