Ex-minister becomes children's charity's first chief executive

Former Conservative children’s minister Will Quince has been appointed chief executive of the 1001 Critical Days Foundation – the charity created by Tory grandee Dame Andrea Leadsom.

Will Quince served as children's minister in the Boris Johnson government

Quince, the former MP for Colchester who served as parliamentary under-secretary of state for children and families from September 2021 to July 2022 under Boris Johnson’s government, said in a post on LinkedIn that he’d be taking up the role in the new year.

He takes over leading the charity from Leadsom, the former under-secretary of state for public health and start for life, who founded it last year with the aim of improving support for babies and families in the earliest years of life.

• Funding: 1001 Critical Days Foundation grants

• Practice: How baby observation tool supports interactions

Quince brings experience across both family policy and health, having served in ministerial roles in the Department for Education, Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Work and Pensions over nine years in parliament. 

While in government, he played a leading role in developing the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, which reshaped how councils support parents and babies across England.

As children’s minister, Quince warned of a “baby blind-spot” in debates about screen time –  an area he says has long been overshadowed by concern over teenagers’ social media and smartphone use.

Upon stepping down as children’s minister during a wider government reshuffle, Quince warned that the early years sector lacked a clear long-term strategy.

His appointment marks his first return to children’s policy since leaving government.

Leadsom, executive chair of the 1001 Critical Days Foundation, said the appointment marked “an incredibly exciting milestone” for the organisation.

“Will brings the leadership, compassion and drive to help us deliver our mission: that every baby should experience the best start in life, both here in the UK and globally," she said. "Together we will champion the first 1001 days of life as a critical foundation for lifelong health and happiness, supporting babies and families in the UK and around the world."