Contact and spokespeople

SOS Children provides up-to-date news to the world’s media.

We can source features, interviews, pictures and footage on a wide range of topics, and can also provide statements on more general development topics.

Our strength is that unlike many other international charities, we are based in-situ, permanently. We predominantly employ local people and automatically receive regular news-updates from our colleagues on the ground.

If you would like to talk to someone from our press office, please email press@soschildren.org, or call 01223 365 589.

Spokespeople

SOS Children has a wealth of experts and spokepeople in every area of its work – both in the UK and across the world. If you are researching issues affecting orphaned or abandoned children, we could help you with stories, case studies, interviews from the field and much more. We can arrange visits to our Children’s Villages and projects and secure interviews with our local staff.

If you're looking for comment or analysis on an emergency, contact the Press Team, who will put you in touch with a spokesperson on the ground.

The following people are available for interview in the UK or as they travel. An ISDN link is available. For more information or to organise an interview, contact us. 

Andrew Cates, Chief Executive

Andrew Cates joined SOS Children as Chief Executive in 2004. Prior to working for the charity, he has been the CEO of a series of different commercial energy companies including in West Africa, the Netherlands and the UK.

His specialist subject areas include West and Southern Africa, especially Cote d'Ivoire, education, and the impact of HIV/AIDS on child-headed families. He has vast experience of speaking to the media about the charity's work, and often writes editorials on current development topics.

Here, Andrew talks about the vital difference child sponsorship makes:

Meryl Davies, Director of Fundraising

Meryl Davies is UK Director of Fundraising at SOS Children, with more than ten years' experience in fundraising and communications. She also works as a Global Partnership Manager for the International SOS Children's Villages federation and is a Director of the Hong Kong Friends of SOS Children. 

Meryl has spoken about the work of the charity in the media and at numerous conferences and events.

Dame Mary Richardson, President

Having retired from HSBC in April 2008, Mary is currently president of SOS Children's Villages;  DCSF Ambassador for the  Boarding Pathfinder for Vulnerable Children (2009); deputy chairman of the English Speaking Union; and a governor of the National College of School Leadership. She serves on several  boards and trusts, including the Marine Society and Sea Cadets, the Dulverton Trust, Vitol Foundation and the Oxford Literary Festival.

Mary holds several honorary degrees and fellowships, and was awarded a DBE in 1999 for services to education.

To find out more

To find out more, get in contact by emailing press@soschildren.org or calling 01223 365 589.