We are very sad to have lost Laura McFarlane who meant so much to so many people, not just in her personal networks, but also her professional career whose dedication, energy and leadership shaped a legacy of inspiration and innovation. Working for most of life in Lambeth, she progressed from the Council to lead the Lambeth Early Action Partnership (LEAP) for the entire length of its ten-year contract until its planned closure in March this year. Her vision, compassion and commitment to building better childhoods fuelled and guided LEAP to improve early childhood development, address health inequalities and support families with empathy and excellence. Laura’s ability to unite teams, build trust, and champion early intervention made LEAP a model not just for Lambeth, but for communities across the country.
But Laura’s legacy is not only in the programmes she built or the policies she helped to shape—it lives on in the children who now have brighter futures, in the families who found support when they needed it most, and in the colleagues who were inspired by her strength, warmth, and unwavering belief in the power of community.
Laura McFarlane
