My story
Hi there, I’m Clare. I have seventeen years’ experience in policy, campaigning and communications in the charity sector and I love what I do.
Originally from Yorkshire (it’s only Yorkshire Tea for me) I have a First Class degree in Politics and Parliamentary Studies and interned in Canadian Parliament in Ottawa for six months. I quickly moved into a career in the charity sector and haven’t looked back since. My passion is working in women’s rights and with young people and have led campaigns at Women’s Aid and most recently been Director of Communications and Influencing at Pause, a charity which works with women who have had children removed from their care. I have led and created national campaigns – for example I was part of the campaign which made coercive control a criminal office in 2015 – and have appeared in the national press and in front of Parliamentary Committees talking about key issues.
So far I in my freelance life I have worked with clients including Victim Support, Alzheimer’s Society, Plan UK and Women’s Aid.
I now live in a Nottinghamshire village with my husband Paul and fox red Labrador Alan – you can follow his antics (Alan’s) on all my social media @ladylaxton.
I am a self-confessed governance geek and am passionate about good governance of charities – I have over a decade of experience as a charity trustee – most recently of the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) and I am currently a Trustee of Working Chance (an amazing charity supporting women with criminal convictions into employment – check them out www.workingchance.org)
I am also a huge fan of true crime and am creating my own true crime podcast - Killer in the Family - which explores men who kill their families. It launched in September and you can find a link to it on my website.
My Approach
Straightforward and simple
Successful campaigns and communications live in a complicated external world sometimes, but I like to keep things straightforward and simple – from a clear ask and focus, to straightforward activities and outcomes – I have delivered many campaigns that have achieved complex goals, with simple plans.
Amplifying voices
I also have over a decade of experience working with people who are supported by charities (some might call them ‘beneficiaries) and not only involving them in campaigning and communications work but also co-creating campaigns alongside them.
Kate, charity sector policy professional
“Having Clare as my mentor was a huge boost for me at a challenging time in my career. I knew I wanted to work with someone who not only deeply understood the advocacy and influencing sector but was also able to bring real life into our work together. Clare expertly balanced her authenticity and her expertise and working with her helped me to recognise and appreciate all the different skills and experiences I brought to my career. Clare is someone whose opinion I always value and trust and I’m very pleased to call her a friend after our work together.”
Nele, charity policy and public affairs professional
“Clare delivered a fantastic workshop on the basics of public affairs and General Election influencing for us. The workshop was engaging, well-tailored to the needs of all attendees, and accessible, with content being linked back to real campaigns and Clare’s extensive experience. It was an enriching day and I know everyone walked away from it more confident and knowledgeable.”