Adopt a Grandparent has appointed Niharika Noakes as chief strategy and transformation officer, tasked with driving the charity’s growth and impact and taking its subscription app into care homes and specialist services across the UK.

Adopt a Grandparent pairs almost 100,000 volunteers with the elderly to reduce loneliness.  

Noakes has more than 15 years’ experience of strategic communications and digital media, active citizenship projects, advocacy, and community development. She was previously director of Championing Social Care at the CareTech Charitable Foundation leading communications, fundraising, programme management, strategy and governance for the initiative.

Noakes also founded two social impact initiatives, having founded Changing Perceptions, a social enterprise that championed active citizenship and community development. She co-founded and led the city-wide 16 Days of Action campaign in Edinburgh, a worldwide organisation strategy that calls for the prevention and eradication of violence against women and girls (VAWG). Collaborating with 150 local and national organisations, such as the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Trans Alliance, SACRO, and Edinburgh Police, it raised awareness against gender-based violence.

She sat on the the boards of groups like the Edinburgh Interfaith Association and UTSAAH, an organisation aiming to sustain and assist Himalayan communities, helping women in a rehab camp in Kashmir to establish sustainable initiatives.

As a VAWG advocate, Noakes orchestrated multiple projects targeting human trafficking and violence against women in partnership with the government of Karnataka in the South of India. She worked with human rights organisations, law enforcement agencies, and the Ministries of Home Affairs and Women and Childcare. As an integral part of the Gender Training Institute at the Centre for Social Research in India, Noakes managed four rape crisis intervention centres for several years.

Noakes said: “The organisation’s commitment to fostering intergenerational connections and improving the lives of the elderly population resonates deeply with me. My vision for Adopt a Grandparent is to reiterate our sense of purpose – find the best avenues and opportunities to purposefully bring together different generations, document the journey, and work towards improving the mental health of society.

“I hope to bring with me the wealth of experience, connections and learnings I have assimilated over the last 10 years of working on over 100 community-building charitable initiatives, and utilise them for better establishing our mission of abolishing loneliness and building stronger communities.”

Noakes added that she intends to create a compelling evidence trail, showcasing the lasting impact of the organisation’s work. She plans to formulate events and initiatives that inspire society to invest in the wellbeing of elderly people across care services worldwide.

Founder of Adopt a Grandparent, Shaleeza Hasham, said: “[Noakes’] remarkable background is a perfect match for our mission. Niharika’s commitment to driving positive change and fostering community empowerment is truly inspiring and we can’t wait to witness the meaningful impact she’ll make within our organisation and in the lives of the people we serve. Her expertise and dedication are a truly valuable addition to our team.”