Community
Dame Julia is passionate and knowledgable about building cross-sector partnerships in the most deprived communities.
As Special Adviser to the then Prince's Charities from 2008 to 2014, she led place-based partnerships in five communities across the UK, majoring on Burnley and Burslem and convening private, public, and community sectors to tackle key economic and social issues.
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Since 2015, she has supported the development of the Blackpool Pride of Place Board, working with Business in the Community. Her tenure as Chair of the National Literacy Trust from 2014 to 2022 saw the development of 14 Literacy Hubs in communities where literacy is lowest.
She previously chaired Place Matters, an innovative partnership with five civil society organisations learning together on how best to support communities, and now serves as its Patron. She is also Patron of Right to Succeed, an organisation that works collaboratively with communities, schools, and local stakeholders to improve educational outcomes and life chances for children and young people in areas of high deprivation.
Julia sits on the new commission set up by the RSA - the East Midlands Combined County Authority Inclusive Growth Commission, contributing to regional strategies focused on sustainable growth and inclusion.