Jayne has worked in the charity sector for more than 25 years, ranging from emergency fundraising for a dementia charity during the pandemic, to running national training and professional development for an early years’ charity, and working for 8 years as Director of an education charity supporting children from low-income families with literacy and numeracy.

She has taught extensively, helping a wide age range from primary school-aged pupils up to pensioners. Previously, she was a newspaper and magazine journalist and sub-editor, working for both local and national press.

A firm believer in professional development, Jayne has completed an MA in Philanthropic Studies with the University of Kent. Her dissertation, which was supervised by Professor Beth Breeze, focused on the fundraising methods of and relationships between a group of Victorian women philanthropists helping the Army and the Navy in the mid-nineteenth century. Jayne also has an MA in Education and a Certificate in Management, both from The Open University.

She is a member of the Voluntary Action History Society (VAHS) and the Social History Network.

Lacny, J. (2023) Female philanthropic voluntary action: the battle for the hearts, minds and souls of Victorian sailors, soldiers and their families, Women’s History Review: Taylor & Francis, Volume 32, Issue 1, pp. 101– 25. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09612025.2022.2108631

Body, A. and Lacny, J. (2022) ‘Philanthropic tales: A critical analysis of how philanthropic citizenship is represented in children’s picture-books – problems and possibilities’, Education, Citizenship and Social Justice. SAGE Publications, Volume 18, Issue 2, pp. 182-196. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17461979211061798

"NHS Charities Together worked with Jayne on a research project to inform our plans for the 75th anniversary of the NHS. This required complex research and careful stakeholder engagement dealing with multiple NHS charities. Her skill, dedication and diligence were invaluable. Thanks to Jayne and her passion for philanthropy and storytelling, we have been able to bring to life the history of our sector at a crucial time for our charity."

Rosie Baker, Head of Marketing and Brand / Lizzie Worth, Head of External Affairs, NHS Charities Together

“I know Jayne to be a dedicated and meticulous researcher, and can fully recommend her services. Her attention to detail and determination to deliver what is promised are both second to none. She has a knack for turning up unexpected and useful findings and is a skilled writer."

Professor Beth Breeze, OBE, Director of the Centre for Philanthropy, University of Kent

"Jayne supported us as we began to consider how we could archive the files of the Foundation and document its history. She was an invaluable support in introducing us to the right questions to ask – and who to ask them of. She supported trustees in their decision making and enabled me, as Director, to be confident in the plans we developed. As a result, the whole project moved much faster than it would have without Jayne, we are confident in the quality of the project and we have had fun along the way. It has been a steep learning curve for us all but we have been expertly accompanied and encouraged by Jayne. Huge thanks to you, Jayne."

Felicity Mallam, Director, Wates Family Charities 

"It is my absolute pleasure to recommend Jayne to anyone looking for help and support in the world of charities and philanthropy. Her thoughtful and critically considered approach to any project is only matched by her tenacity to dig into the details and get the job done. She has met every project with great enthusiasm, support and rigour, along with a wonderful sense of humour and kindness. She is an excellent researcher, writer and general human being! For me, co-researching and co-authoring our recent journal article was a joy and the background research she has completed for my forthcoming book on children's philanthropy was far beyond my expectations and has elevated the content significantly."

Dr Alison Body, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Philanthropy, University of Kent

“Jayne’s knowledge of the charity sector, combined with her values, work ethic and resilience, made her a fantastic charity director. She is a force of nature in delivering results and overcoming challenges.”

Chris Burton, former Chair of Trustees, Quest for Learning