Avril Holden lives in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, with her husband, Malcolm, and has four children (three girls and a boy) and seven grandchildren. She was educated at Blackburn high school for girls and gained a degree in business studies at UCLAN. Avril spent most of her working life lecturing in further education, ending her career as a key skills consultant. She has also worked with examination boards and was a director of FENTO.