National Star appoints new Executive Director Sarah Broadhurst

Gloucestershire-based disability charity National Star has appointed a new executive director to enable it to expand its services. 

Dr Sarah Broadhurst has joined the charity, which works with young adults with complex needs and learning difficulties, as Executive Director for Service Growth. 

National Star runs education, therapy and care programmes at four campuses: Cheltenham, Wales, Hereford and Worcester as well as provides long-term accommodation in Malvern, Hereford, Cheltenham and Gloucester. It has an annual turnover of £50m and employs 1400 people.  

Chief Executive Officer Lynette Barrett says the need for the charity’s expertise has never been higher. 

“National Star celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2027 and the charity has thrived because it has been willing to diversify and to embrace change,” says Lynette. 

“In the past decade we have opened new campuses, launched long-term care and introduced other services to meet the needs of the young people with disabilities in their home areas. 

“Sarah will enable us to look at the next decade and help us ensure National Star is providing excellent quality care and support to enable young people to achieve their aspirations.” 

Sarah has extensive experience leading organisations to deliver social impact, including CEO of The Autism Education Trust and principal consultant for learning disability, autism and family carers for the Institute of Public Care at Oxford Brookes University. 

“I passionately believe that an organisation can only deliver real impact if it listens to people with lived experience and act to embed inclusive practices,” says Sarah. “I strongly believe that everyone, given the right support and opportunity, can contribute to their community.” 

As a member of the executive team, Sarah will support the growth of the charity’s services and the roll-out of the organisational strategy at a national level. 

“With the SEND White Paper and the challenges in social care, we are in a period of change when it will be more important than ever to work in partnership to maximise impact. Sarah will help us ensure that National Star is well placed for those challenges and ready to embrace change to grow and strengthen our collaborative working,” says Lynette.