‘The problems are too urgent to delay. They must be tackled now’

So says Julia Unwin, speaking publicly for the first time since she took over as director of the world-famous organisation, which is based in York.

She said the foundation would play a leading role in helping to tackle the growing problems posed by an ageing population, which were highlighted by The Press only last week.

The paper revealed that a "ticking timebomb" is facing York, with the city expected to see an explosion in the number of pensioners needing care.

A City of York Council report warned that by 2020, nearly 10,000 extra elderly people would be costing the authority more than £7 million.

It revealed York would have 9,540 more over-65s than at present and a further 700 dementia sufferers.

Julia said the foundation would play a role in the debate over how care for the elderly should be funded, looking for example at how some of the equity in people's property could be released more flexibly.

"The JRF will try to come up with practical solutions," she said. "The problems are too urgent to delay. They must be tackled now."

Julia, who has taken over as director from Lord Best, following his retirement after 18 years at the helm, said its research results were taken into account by the Government and by individual ministers in formulating policies.

She said another problem which had been researched by the foundation was contemporary slavery.

She revealed that it was due to publish a report next month, to coincide with a memorial service at York Minster to William Wilberforce, whose campaign for slavery's abolition succeeded in 1807.

She said the report was set to establish the disturbing extent of slavery in Britain, involving the trafficking and smuggling of people into the country. The foundation, which was launched by Rowntree to carry out research into the causes of poverty, was going to carry out further such research and also into social exclusion, and how such problems could be defined and tackled in Britain in the 21st century.

She said while the foundation's board of trustees made the decisions on which research projects were funded, her role as director was to make recommendations to the board, and ensure that research was co-ordinated. She also oversaw the management of its housing and care operations.

* Before taking on the role of JRF Director, Julia Unwin, who has been awarded a CBE, ran her own freelance consultancy business providing services within Government, voluntary organisations and the corporate sector. Since 1993, her contracts and positions have included deputy chair of the Food Standards Agency, chair of the King's Fund Inquiry into the operation of care markets and policy adviser to the Baring Foundation.

She has also held board level positions at the Housing Corporation, the National Consumer Council and the Committee of Reference for the Stewardship Funds.

She was also the chair of the committee of reference for the Ethical Funds managed by Friends Provident and was a charity commissioner for England and Wales.

Her previous posts also include director of the Homeless Network.

She has researched and published widely on issues about the voluntary sector, funding and governance.