About Us
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Guided by our members and led by people with lived experience, Long Covid Kids is a respected charity creating change for children and young people with Long Covid and related conditions.
This page introduces who we are, what drives our mission, and the people and partners helping us make a difference.
How It All Started
Long Covid Kids began as a grassroots advocacy group in 2020, founded by Sammie McFarland and a small team of dedicated volunteers with lived experience. After her daughter became unwell, Sammie connected with six other families facing similar challenges. What began as a group of seven quickly grew, with hundreds reaching out for support. In response to this growing need, the organisation became a registered charity in January 2021. Since then, we’ve grown into a respected global community, representing over 11,000 families by mid-2024. Together — with families, young people, and professionals — we continue to learn, raise awareness, push for better care, and build a community where no one faces Long Covid or a related condition alone.
Sammie McFarland
CEO & Founder
Colin Pidgeon
Representative for Northern Ireland
Jana Touati
Support Team
Jennifer Acton
Head of Operations and Marketing
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Merel van der Knoop
Choir Leader
Helen Goss
Director of Long Covid Kids Scotland and Founding Member
Kate Davies
Representative for Wales
Kirsty Stanley
Health Team Lead, Safe Guarding Lead
Sharon Humphries
Support Team
Our Team
Long Covid Kids and Friends is powered by a passionate team of staff and volunteers who bring together professional expertise and lived experience. Many of us are parents, carers, or young people directly affected by Long Covid, and all of us are committed to improving the lives of children, young people, and families living with this condition.
Together, we combine knowledge, creativity, and compassion to advocate for change, provide support, and ensure children’s voices are heard.
Cherie Whitby
Chair of the Trustees
Sarah Craner
Finance Trustee
Professor Mark Faghy
Trustee
Our Trustees
Our Board of Trustees brings together a wealth of professional knowledge and lived experience to guide and strengthen Long Covid Kids and Friends. As guardians of our mission, they ensure the charity remains transparent, accountable, and focused on improving outcomes for children, young people, and families living with Long Covid.
Each trustee contributes unique skills and perspectives, helping us to grow sustainably while keeping the voices of children and families at the heart of every decision.
Our Youth Team
Young people are at the heart of our work. Our Youth Team includes members of our Youth Advisory Panel, LCK Ambassadors, and creative contributors who bring their experiences and ideas to everything we do.From shaping campaigns and sharing their stories to guiding our resources and research — their voices matter. With their insight, we’re creating change that reflects real lives. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release.
Our Partners
Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We are proud to work alongside other charities, academic institutions, health professionals, and education experts to raise awareness, build resources, and push for better care.