Claire Riley, an Executive Director at One of the North East’s Leading NHS Trusts, Has Taken On the Role at the Newcastle-Based Charity

Seven Stories – the National Centre for Children’s Books has appointed a new chair to help lead its development into the future.

Claire Riley, an executive director at one of the North East’s leading NHS trusts, has taken on the role at the Newcastle-based charity, which is the only place in Britain dedicated to celebrating, sharing and protecting our rich literary heritage for children.

Currently working in the healthcare sector, she is the executive director of communications and corporate affairs for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and also communications lead for the North East’s ICS/ICP (integrated care system/partnership) and Northumberland and North Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Groups.

A qualified marketer with a postgraduate diploma in marketing and a BA (Hons) in business management and organisations, Claire has extensive experience in business, marketing and communications across the public and private sectors, and is a qualified and experienced lecturer.

Reflecting on her new role, Claire said: “I am immensely proud to have been appointed as chair of Seven Stories, which is such a fantastic asset right here in the North East.

The organisation has gone through a number of changes in recent years, so I am fully committed to ensuring that Seven Stories fulfils its potential locally, regionally and nationally. Literature and story-telling are so important to children and we are in a privileged position to be able to be play such a key role in this aspect of their lives.”

Claire added: “We have a responsibility to engage with young people to pass on a love for reading, particularly in our local communities, and so we must recognise the inequalities that exist and strive to ensure our support is available to everyone who needs it, providing opportunities for all.”

Seven Stories, based in a beautiful listed building over seven storeys in Ouseburn, has an extensive collection of work by more than 250 authors and illustrators including Enid Blyton, Philip Pullman, Robert Westall and Judith Kerr.

Open to the public, school visits and corporate hire, it also hosts events and workshops for children, with facilities including a specialist children's bookshop and two cafés. The team also provides extensive online, schools and community programming.

Wendy Elliott, Interim Chief Executive at Seven Stories said: “I am delighted that Claire has agreed to join the Seven Stories team as chair of our board, as she brings with her a wealth of experience as well as a drive to help lead the organisation into a bright future.”