Coram PACEY, the UK’s leading organisation for childminders and home-based childcare professionals, has announced the appointment of Ka Lai Brightley-Hodges as its new Head, effective 1st October 2025. Brightley-Hodges succeeds Helen Donohoe, who is stepping down after six transformative years with the organisation.
Helen Donohoe, widely respected for her policy work and advocacy, played a pivotal role in raising the profile of childminders and ensuring their voices were heard at the highest levels of government. Most notably, she led the transition of PACEY into the Coram Group, now Coram PACEY, helping to secure a long-term future for the organisation and its 14,000 members.
Reflecting on her time at Coram PACEY, Donohoe said:
“It’s been a huge pleasure working with the Coram PACEY team over the last six years, as well as all the dedicated colleagues I’ve met and worked with across the early education and childcare sector. Whilst it is time for me to take on a new challenge in my own career, I’ve no doubt that Coram PACEY is going to go from strength to strength and reach new heights in getting childminders the respect and recognition they deserve.”
Ka Lai Brightley-Hodges, currently Head of Membership and Marketing at Coram PACEY, brings deep institutional knowledge and strategic vision to her new leadership role. She has led key campaigns such as Coram PACEY’s annual Childminding Week, worked closely with the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofsted, and has been at the forefront of policy and advocacy efforts.
Brightley-Hodges outlined her priorities:
“I am extremely honoured and excited to be taking on a new role to lead Coram PACEY at such an important time for our organisation and for childminders. I firmly believe that the next year will bring positive changes for our members and all childminders and I am committed to working closely with DfE to ensure this."
I thank Helen for her amazing leadership over the past 3 years which has allowed Coram PACEY to operate as it does today as part of the Coram group and I thank the whole team for their hard work and dedication to our cause. I know that with the support as always of our members, Carol and the other organisations in the Coram group, we will move closer to our goal to reverse the decline of registered childminders and all home-based childcare professionals.”
Her appointment marks a new phase in Coram PACEY’s mission to strengthen the home-based childcare sector and champion the essential role it plays in the early years landscape.
Carol Homden, Chief Executive of the Coram Group, expressed her confidence in the transition:
“Childminding is the bedrock of home-based care for many children and families who need it. Under the leadership of Ka Lai Brightley-Hodges and building on the outstanding work done by Helen Donohoe, Coram PACEY will continue to support members in their own development and champion their role in securing the best start for all our children.”