Helen Baroness Newlove is currently the Deputy Speaker in the House of Lords who rose to prominence in 2007 after her husband was tragically murdered. Since, she has become a reform campaigner, leadership and motivational coach, and a public speaker is dedicated to tackling the UK binge drinking culture and providing support to young people. When hired as a speaker, Helen is able to cover topics such as people management, resilience, self-development, hardship and motivational coaching.
Having met her husband, Garry, when she was 20 years old, they would later marry and have three children. They were a normal family until his life was sadly taken by three youths in a brutal attack. Despite her heartbreak, Helen would then set up several foundations which aimed to tackle the UK underage and binge drinking issues, and wanted to provide support for young people. She would then set up Newlove Warrington, a charity which aims to make towns safer for those living there. It aims to improve facilities and opportunities for young people growing up though education and life skills. It was also Helen’s aim to raise awareness of the lack of support she, and other families, received – this campaign was so powerful it went national with the help of local media. Noting Helen’s dedication to her campaign, she was given a peerage in Dissolution Honours list, 2010, and was appointed as the Victims Commissioner by the UK government in 2012 before stepping down in 2019 after serving the maximum period permitted.
As a Deputy Speaker, Helen has spoken in the House of Lords many times, including on topics such as: Counterterrorism, Schools Bill, Stalking Protection Orders, Domestic Abuse Bill and the Solihull Murders. In 2014 she produced a major report setting out the priorities to help people make a difference in their neighbourhood and was Champion for Active Safer Communities. There are very few people who have shown resilience like Helen, and in recognition of all she has done for communities and her dedication to campaigning after the death of her husband, she received two honorary degrees. In 2017 she was made an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Bolton and in 2022 she received an honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law from Northumbria University, Newcastle.
Now known as the Right Honourable Baroness Newlove of Warrington, Helen became part of Northumbria University’s prestigious Eldon Lecturers, giving her the opportunity to educate others on such topics she is passionate about. Dedicating her life to campaigning for tougher sentences for those charged with serious offences, Helen’s story of grit and determination will inspire all. As well as her role as a reformer and politician, Helen also released her first book ‘It Could Happen to You: The Inspirational Story of the Crime Victim Who Became the People’s Crusader’. If you are looking for a speaker who is able to share her first-hand knowledge on hardship, resilience, self-development, coaching and people management skills look no further than Helen Newlove.
In September 2023 we sat down with Baroness Helen Newlove and discussed what audiences can learn from her about mental resilience. Watch our Exclusive Interview with Baroness Helen Newlove.
