Spokespeople

Carers Trust has a range of expert spokespeople available for comment or interview.

Please contact the Press Team at press@carers.org or call 07824 595786 to request an interview.

Joe Levenson, Executive Director of Policy and External Affairs

As a member of our Executive Team, Joe leads our UK policy and external affairs work. Joe joined us in June 2021 and has a strong track record of leading work that has changed policy, practice and public attitudes, including as a former member of the Senior Management teams at both Young Women’s Trust and the National Council for Palliative Care/Dying Matters Coalition. He has also worked for the Greater London Authority and as an adviser to the UK Parliament.

Joe is an experienced spokesperson and can speak on all aspects of our work and the challenges unpaid carers face.

Laura Bennett, Acting Head of Policy and lead on Young and Young Adult Carers

Laura joined us in January 2015, and leads our Time to be Heard work – ensuring young adult carers' voices are heard by decision-makers, and campaigning to make sure this happens.

Laura can speak about young carers' and young adult carers' legal rights to social care, their mental health, and what young adult carers need to succeed in education, training and employment.

Laura has always worked in the voluntary sector, most recently for the National Council for Palliative Care and Sense (where she led on their work for the Campaign to End Loneliness), as well as a variety of national, regional and local charities, including a local Mind.

Follow Laura on Twitter @LauraBWork.                         

Scotland

Louise Morgan, Director of Carers Trust Scotland and Northern Ireland 

Louise worked for Carers Trust and previously Princess Royal Trust for Carers for almost 14 years.  During that time as Young Carers Development Manager, Louise’s role has included working with all of the young carers services in Scotland to develop and roll out various national initiatives, including the annual Festival.  The job also included working in a strategic role alongside the other national carers organisations in Scotland and with relevant departments in Scottish Government.

Louise is delighted to be taking up the Director post for Scotland and Northern Ireland and is looking forward to the new challenges this role will bring.

Louise lives in Ayrshire and cares for her mother who has advanced COPD. She has three grown up sons and an undying passion for horse riding.

Paul Traynor, Head of External Affairs (Scotland)

Since joining Carers Trust Scotland in 2014, then as Policy and Campaigns Officer (Young Carers and Young Adult Carers), Paul has overseen the organisation’s young carer, young adult carer and student carer policy and development work. In late 2017, Paul commenced a secondment opportunity at Scottish Government in the Carer Benefits Policy Team working on the development of devolved carer benefits in Scotland.

In January 2019, Paul returned to Carers Trust Scotland and now oversees the organisation’s policy and external affairs work in Scotland.

Paul can speak on issues affecting unpaid carers in Scotland, including young and young adult carers, social security, education, and health and social care.

Wales

Simon Hatch, Director for Wales

Simon became Director of Wales in July 2013 having spent four years as Director at Samaritans in Wales and eight years as Director at Parkinson's UK Cymru.

Simon works across the Third Sector in Wales and links with Welsh Government, Local Health Boards and our local Network Partners and is able to discuss all issues relating to services for unpaid carers, home care and the work of Carers Trust in Wales. (Welsh speaker available on request).

Dr Catrin Mair Edwards, Head of External Affairs (Wales)

Catrin is a fluent Welsh speaker and lives and works in Cardiff. She joined Carers Trust in Autumn 2021, bringing experience and insight from advocating for people who need health and social care with third sector organisations in Wales and across the UK.  

Catrin can speak on issues affecting unpaid carers in Wales, including young carers, health, social care and education.

@catrinmedwards