Since joining Coram in 2007, Renuka has consistently championed the cause of vulnerable children and been a key member of the leadership team which has overseen a substantial period of growth for Coram. She has also led the evolution of Coram-i, the charity’s consultancy service that works with local authorities to develop innovative solutions to improve services for children, and led both Coram’s Impact and Evaluation, family support and therapy teams – the latter offering support to schools, children in care and also adopted children across London and Kent.
Renuka spent her childhood in several schools abroad as the daughter of expatriate parents and studied at Bradford, Leeds and Glasgow Universities to qualify as an educational psychologist, practicing in inner London before joining the voluntary sector. Renuka’s career has always involved advocacy and has encompassed teaching and direct work with children, young people and adults requiring additional support. As Executive Director of the Bridge Childcare Development Service she completed several high-profile Serious Case Reviews and provided consultancy internationally. Renuka has also chaired several panels including the adoption and permanence panel for the London Borough of Hounslow and those pertaining to European research. Renuka currently serves on the Camden Children’s Trust Partnership Board and as a NExT Non-Executive Director on the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Board.
Renuka said: “It is a great privilege to be awarded this honour. I work with people across statutory, voluntary and private sectors who share a dedication and passion to improve the lives of children. Coram will continue to champion children and their families well into the future and to have had the opportunity to contribute to that mission is indeed a privilege and one that I am grateful for.”
Dr Carol Homden CBE, Coram CEO, said: “Renuka is a passionate and creative leader with a particular ability to bring together people and organisations from different sectors and disciplines to catalyse change at local and national level. All at Coram are delighted that Renuka has been recognised for the difference she makes for children by pioneering practice improvement, integrated adoption support and, most recently, data visualisation to enable effective decision making in children’s social care.”