Tributes have been paid to the first chief executive of pioneering children’s charity Childline, Baroness Valerie Howarth, who passed away on 23 March at the age of 84.
Howarth began her career as a social worker, eventually becoming director of Brent social services, a role she occupied until 1986.
She went on to become chief executive of child abuse telephone helpline and former charity Childline shortly after it was founded by TV presenter Esther Rantzen in 1986.
Childline grew under Howarth’s leadership from a small, London-based service to a well-known national charity, which inspired similar helplines for children around the world.
After retiring in 2001, Howarth was nominated for a life peerage by then-prime minister Tony Blair and sat as a crossbencher on several all-party parliamentary groups for children and older people.
‘Legacy will be felt for years to come’
Shaun Friel, director of Childline, which became part of NSPCC in 2006, said in a statement that Howarth had “made a real difference in the lives of so many children and young people”.
“Her time as chief executive has laid the solid foundations that allow us to continue to be there for children and young people, her legacy will be felt for years to come.
“The NSPCC and Childline send our love to Valerie's family at this difficult time; they are very much in our thoughts.”
‘Her death leaves an enormous void’
Tributes also came from child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, named after a fellow social worker and campaigner and with which Howarth was involved from its foundation in 1992.
“She will be remembered for her sound judgement, intelligence, warmth, compassion and calmness, and perhaps mostly for her resolute determination and tireless striving to make the world a better place for children and young people,” it said on social media.
In a blog post also paying tribute to her, the charity’s CEO Deborah Denis described Howarth as “much loved, admired and respected by so many” and that her death “leaves an enormous void”.
“With her tenacity for the well-being of children, we feel privileged to have had Valerie involved in and supporting our work so passionately, so actively, and for so long,” she said.
“Through her own direct effort, as well as through her support for organisations like ours, Valerie has improved the lives of so many – both adults and children.
“We will ensure we maintain our efforts and build on the legacy of Baronesses Faithfull and Howarth – of Lucy and Valerie.”
‘Inspired by her wisdom and heart’
Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, said on social media that “it was a pleasure” to know and work with Howarth, describing her as “a thoroughly good woman who made a real difference to children in our country”.
Mark Russell, CEO of the Children’s Society, described Howarth as “a passionate advocate for reforms to protect children from abuse”.
Russell added: “I met her on a number of occasions and always was inspired by her wisdom and heart.”
