Alison McCarthy has a background in child and social care. She’s a qualified nurse and Health visitor with an Honours degree in Health and Social Science. She worked for 20 years, until her retirement, with families with children under 5 years of age caring for their health and social wellbeing.  She cofounded Begin Life Safely in 2014 following a charitable aid visit to Kenya and have worked with the local community to improve maternal and infant health and influence health care within the community.  As a co-founder and having worked in the National Health Service (NHS), her experience, especially in maternal and child health have been valuable to Begin Life Safely program design and support. Although retired, alison has built a network of friends in the UK, through whom they organize small charity events to provide critical support to BLS. Her efforts have ensured regular project supplies, including the shipping of much-needed clothes for babies and pregnant women to support birth preparations.