CPAG's patron and ambassadors
About our patron, Armando Iannucci, and our ambassadors, Jassa Ahluwalia and Paul Tennant, OBE.
Our patron
Armando Iannucci
"Now more than ever the issue of poverty in Britain is forefront in everyone’s minds. I’m keen to do as much as I can to highlight what positive efforts can be done to address and hopefully alleviate childhood poverty and the stigma attached to it, so that everyone can grow up with the same opportunities to flourish in the UK."
Armando Iannucci, award-winning writer and broadcaster, is CPAG’s first Patron. Armando presented our BBC Radio 4 Appeal, raising over £35,000 towards our work making sure poverty isn’t a barrier to any child’s education. We are extremely grateful to him for all his support in raising awareness and funds for our work.
Our ambassadors
Our ambassadors were chosen as a result of their commitment to our work. All share our concerns about child poverty in this country and are willing to use their connections and creativity to help to raise awareness of the issues that children growing up in poverty face. We are extremely grateful for their support.
Jassa Ahluwalia
"CPAG's work not only helps those enduring hardship, they create lasting change. Fuelled by their vision of a poverty free society, they work towards ensuring every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential. That's why I am so proud to be an ambassador."
Jassa Ahluwalia is a British actor, writer and director. Owing to his mixed British-Indian heritage Jassa is a fluent Punjabi speaker and continued his passion for languages at University College London, studying Russian and Spanish. In 2019, he was elected to the Equity Minority Ethnic Members committee.
He has starred in various critically acclaimed projects, including Peaky Blinders, Ripper Street and Unforgotten. As a filmmaker, Jassa produced a segment of the world record breaking feature film 50 Kisses and award-winning short film Modern Man. His directorial debut Heart's Ease was completed in early 2018 and has screened at film festivals worldwide, including San Diego International Film Festival and London Short Film Festival. It also picked up two Best Film awards.
Jassa became an ambassador for Child Poverty Action Group in 2013 after attending an event at the House of Lords. The evening, hosted by fellow ambassador Simon Callow, explored the parallels that exist between the life and works of Charles Dickens and the activities of CPAG. In August 2018, Jassa completed a solo trek of the 96 mile West Highland Way in support of CPAG, raising over £2600.
Paul Tennant
“From my experience in housing, I am acutely aware of the effect of poverty on children’s physical health, emotional wellbeing and educational attainment."
Paul has worked in the social housing sector, as CEO in both regional and national housing associations responsible for building homes and providing care and support to a wide range of residents, client groups and communities. In 2017 he became CEO of the Law Society for England and Wales, first as an Interim and then appointed permanently to oversee a transformation programme. He is now the CEO of a national housing, care and support charity for older people. In 2013/14 he was the President of the Chartered Institute of Housing and was awarded an OBE in 2016 for services to housing.