Baroness Valerie Georgina Howarth of Breckland, OBE, a tireless advocate for children's welfare and Patron of Child Helpline International, passed away on 23 March 2025 at the age of 84. Her unwavering dedication to safeguarding vulnerable children leaves an indelible mark on the field of child protection.
Born on 5 September 1940, Valerie Howarth attended Abbeydale Girls’ Grammar School before pursuing higher education at the University of Leicester. Her career in social work began at the Family Welfare Association, followed by significant roles within the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Brent, where she served as Director of Social Services. In these capacities, she championed numerous initiatives aimed at improving child welfare services.
In 1987, Baroness Howarth became the Chief Executive of Childline, the UK’s free national helpline for children in distress, and one of the founding members of Child Helpline International. Under her leadership, Childline expanded its reach, counselling over a million children and evolving from a London-based project into a nationwide service. Her tenure at Childline was marked by a steadfast commitment to providing support and protection to children facing abuse and neglect.
Beyond her work with Childline, Baroness Howarth held numerous influential positions. She was the first UK representative of the European Forum for Child Welfare, and was a founding member and first Chair of the Telephone Helplines Association. She established the King’s Cross Homelessness Project, and played a pivotal role in the London Homelessness Forum. Her efforts extended to consumer protection and standard-setting, serving on the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Telephone Information Systems (ICSTIS) and the Board of the Food Standards Agency.
In recognition of her services to child welfare, she was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1999 Birthday Honours. Subsequently, on 25 June 2001, she was created a life peer as Baroness Howarth of Breckland, of Parson Cross in the County of South Yorkshire. In the House of Lords, she served as a crossbench member, contributing her expertise to various committees, including the European Union Committee and the Adoption Legislation Committee.
As Patron of Child Helpline International – which she was instrumental in helping to start up over 20 years ago – Baroness Howarth provided invaluable guidance and support, helping to shape our mission and outreach.
Baroness Valerie Howarth’s legacy is one of compassion, dedication and unwavering commitment to the protection and empowerment of children. Her contributions have left an enduring impact on child welfare policies and practices, ensuring that the voices of vulnerable children continue to be heard and heeded.