Kay has spent most of her working life in the social care, training and employment fields. During the 1990s, Kay worked for the Devon County Council local authority as a community education project worker and later a residential family centre manager, before spending two years running her own tearoom business. 

In 2002, Kay left full time employment after the birth of her daughter, who has Cerebral Palsy. Given the complex medical needs of her daughter, Kay soon became familiar first-hand with the disjointed nature of services in the area and the lack of support for parents of disabled children. It was at this time that she started Friends & Families in an effort to resolve the issue. The organisation gained charitable status in 2005, three years after its foundation.

Today, the non-profit provides support sessions for parents and carers, integrated family activities, activities for young carers, social, leisure and training sessions for adult carers, as well as ‘Face 2 Face’, which is a parent-to-parent befriending and support service. 

In her position as the charity chair, Kay sits on several multi-disciplinary working groups and committees within and around the city of Plymouth and has been involved in campaigning at national level to help shape policy, strategy and provision for families with disabled children.