Our patrons

The Rt Hon the Lord Knight of Weymouth became patron of ASDAN in January 2015.

Lord Knight is Chief Education and External Officer at TES. He is a member of the House of Lords and a visiting professor at the London Knowledge Lab of the Institute of Education.

As a minister, his portfolios included rural affairs, schools, digital and employment. He attended weekly Cabinet from 2009-2010, before joining the Lords after the 2010 General Election. He is also involved in developing solar-powered digital projectors for wireless use with iPads in schools in Africa and Asia, and on malaria diagnosis using smartphones.

The Rt Hon the Baroness Corston became a patron of ASDAN in May 2016 having first become involved with the charity almost 20 years ago.

A former ASDAN trustee from 1997 to 2008, Baroness Jean Corston served as MP for Bristol East from 1992 to 2005 before becoming a member of the House of Lords. Baroness Corston officially opened ASDAN’s central office, Wainbrook House, Bristol East, in July 2001.

Since her elevation to the Lords, she has written a seminal report – A review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system – known as the Corston Report. In 2015, she chaired the House of Lords Select Committee on Social Mobility enquiry into the transition of young people from school to work.