About
Thelma has experience as a dedicated Project Support Officer with a strong background in project management, monitoring, risk assessment, evaluation, and cross-organisational collaboration. With an academic foundation in international relations and social research, she brings skills in needs assessment, continuous improvement, and performance evaluation.
Outside work, Thelma enjoys watching reality TV, reading novels, exploring new recipes and hosting friends for meals and good conversation.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Thelma provides administrative and coordination support to our What Works Programme, ensuring the smooth delivery of projects and initiatives. She also oversees the administration of expert evaluation advisory groups and the evaluation panel to support the Evidence & Evaluation team to commission and run high quality projects.
About
Keith is a driven and empathetic leader with a strong track record in grant-making, strategic development, and cultural change within the charity sector. He’s passionate about ensuring charitable funds deliver maximum value and measurable outcomes for beneficiaries, and brings a thoughtful, empowering leadership style with a rare ability to balance strategic vision and attention to detail.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
As Senior Relationship Manager, Keith leads the delivery, commissioning, and management of funding programmes and key relationships with delivery partners within our What Works Programme. He works closely with colleagues in our Impact & Evidence directorate and independent evaluators to ensure the successful operational delivery of large-scale and complex grant relationships that support our impact evaluations.
About
Esther is an accomplished researcher and educator with a PhD in Education from the University of Cambridge, where she explored how home and school environments shape young people’s career choices and post-secondary transitions. She brings over six years of experience in research leadership, programme evaluation, and policy engagement, with a strong focus on youth employment, education inequality, and wellbeing.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Esther is a Research Manager in our Impact and Evidence Team. She designs, commissions, and manages research projects to build the evidence base on what works to support marginalised young people into good jobs.
About
Matthew has almost 15 years of working in the grant making environment working with people and communities to overcome challenges and realise their aspirations. Prior to joining Youth Futures Foundation he worked as a Grants & Awards Manager at the British Heart Foundation, and the National Lottery Community Fund in a number of roles across the grant lifecycle.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Matthew is a Relationship Manager, working accross grant programmes though with primary focus on the What Works Programme.
About
Emily’s career began in education and learning teams for various arts and heritage organisations, designing and delivering programmes directly to schools and young people. Prior to joining Youth Futures, Emily worked in partnership managment and strategic development for social mobility charities.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Emily is the Evidence into Action Programme Manager, she leads this unique learning and funding programme.
About
Tanya’s background is in Psychology and Economics and has spent her career so far at NatCen, IFF research and Kantar Public (now Verian).
Outside of work, Tanya is interested in anything wellness related ranging from yoga and meditation to watching reality TV. She also enjoys going to drawing classes, travelling and, after living in Paris for a year, learning French.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Tanya is passionate about scoping and running high quality impact evaluations that generate evidence on how to improve EET outcomes for disadvantaged young people and helps to address systemic inequalities.
About
Emma has over 25 years’ experience in the public and non-profit sectors. She is skilled in managing complex evaluations with a strong focus on impact, inclusion, and safeguarding; and she has proven expertise in commissioning and overseeing high-quality research, including randomised controlled trials, and in developing strategies to ensure findings are effectively disseminated and used.
Previous roles include senior research positions at the Audit Commission, Action for Children, and Thames Valley Probation, with a consistent focus on improving services for children, young people, and vulnerable communities through evidence-based practice.
Outside of work Emma enjoys yoga, long walks, cooking, and gardening.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Emma leads the delivery of a portfolio of complex evaluations.
About
Arushi holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and recently completed the Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Before joining Youth Futures, Arushi worked as a Graduate Consultant for the UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office, evaluating the delivery of social services for children in the Western Balkans. Arushi brings experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative policy research at think tanks and universities and is trained in conducting policy evaluations.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
As a Senior Economist, Arushi’s work surrounds producing impactful data and analysis around youth unemployment. Her areas of interests lie in conducting ethical data analysis to inform equitable policy outcomes.
About
Riazil graduated from the Talent 2027 Associate Programme in 2023, which promotes diverse voices in grant-making. He previously worked as a Grants Officer, managing programmes for older and young people, supporting projects tackling loneliness, poverty, and improving reading and writing outcomes.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
As Senior Grants Officer, Riazil supports the delivery of innovative and impactful grant-making.
About
Prior to entering the grants sector via the 2027 Programme Jen spent 20 years in frontline delivery, developing projects to support young people affected by gender based violence, sexual exploitation and navigating the social care and criminal justice system.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Jen works on the Evidence into Action Programme, supporting organisations to become evidence-led in their support with young people.
About
Previously Emily has worked within Higher Education, where she evaluated widening participation schemes, to facilitate underrepresented students in accessing university. She has also worked within the What Works Network, for TASO and PERU, on a number of Randomised Controlled Trials. Emily holds a BA in Sociology and Quantitative Methods, and a MSc in Applied Quantitative Methods.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Emily is interested in using data and research to enable young people to overcome social inequalities.
About
Leanne has a strong background in project management and stakeholder engagement. Prior to joining Youth Futures Foundation, Leanne was a Programme Officer at Frontline, where she managed the delivery of the Pathways leadership development programme for social work leaders. Leanne also has extensive experience in logistics, planning, and team management from their previous roles in the charity and finance sector.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Leanne is the Senior Programme Officer, supporting in the development, mobilisation, and delivery of the Building Futures programme.
About
Before joining YFF, Abigail was a Senior Research Officer at the ONS undertaking labour market analysis that informed government policy relating to economic inactivity. Her work on economic inactivity due to long term sickness received widespread media attention. As well as a BSc in Economics, Abigail has a MSc in Inequalities and Social Science from the LSE.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Abbie is a Principal Economist passionate about producing impactful data and analysis to reduce social and economic inequalities.
About
Joanne’s experience includes a range of management roles across several sectors. Before joining Youth Futures, Joanne established and managed several countywide grant programmes – including emergency funding in response to the pandemic. Joanne is enthusiastic about continuous learning and embraces systems thinking. Joanne is a trustee for a micro, founder-led charity.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Joanne leads the development and improvement of our grants processes and systems.
About
Katie worked in monitoring, evaluation and learning in international development and education for nine years before joining Youth Futures. She lives in the Peak District with her partner and two guinea pigs, and outside of work can usually be found outdoors with her friends (doing anything from trail running to climbing to swimming), gardening, or (very slowly) renovating her house.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Katie designs, commissions, and manages evaluations, to ensure our investments generate robust evidence on what works to help young people into good jobs. She works closely with evaluators, our programme teams, and delivery partners to shape both existing and new programmes that strengthen the evidence base.
About
Chris joined Youth Futures in 2020, after 17 years at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), a research funder with a mission to eradicate UK poverty. Chris served on the Social Security Advisory Committee at the Department for Work and Pensions for 10 years and was a member of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills Policy Expert Group. Before JRF, Chris worked in research at the Home Office, the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, hospitals in Hammersmith and Bradford and for the Transport and Road Research Laboratory.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Chris is Director of Impact and Evidence, leading a team of researchers, evaluators, analysts and economists.
About
Prior to joining Youth Futures Foundation, Sophie worked as a Research Manager for Learning and Work Institute, where she managed a range of research and evaluation projects related to adult learning and skills. In her spare time, she likes to travel and salsa dance.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Sophie is a Research Manager in our Impact and Evidence Team. She manages several of our research projects focused on apprenticeships, employer engagement, and ethnic disparities in employment.
About
Alice began her career working in schools, supporting students with ASC and learning difficulties, before moving into the charity sector in youth-centred organisations. She has held various roles spanning service design and evaluation in different capacities, enjoying the opportunity to help people understand how evaluative tools can help improve support for young people. Outside of work, she enjoys listening to music and is a member of a local choir. Living near the beach, Alice enjoys walking her dog along the seafront, and one day might even be brave enough to sea swim!
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Alice is the lead for evidence generation for our Connected Futures programme. She designs approaches to capture evidence, commissioning partners to deliver creative ways of wrapping evaluation around complex systemic interventions.
About
Prior to joining Youth Futures Foundation in 2021, Amanda held evaluation roles at STEM Learning evaluating the STEM Ambassadors programme, and with Family Fund, a charity that supports families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people. She completed her doctorate in 2015, focused on evaluating the goals and milestones of gender equality in English cathedral choirs. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys walking her labradoodle in the North York Moors, and weekend trips in her campervan.
Amanda is an evaluation researcher with experience in qualitative and mixed-methods research. She leads on a variety of projects at Youth Futures including implementation and process evaluations, feasibility and pilot studies, and impact evaluations.
About
Kate is strategic researcher with seven years’ experience leading mixed-methods evaluations across youth employment, social protection, and inclusive services, Kate is known for turning complex data into actionable insights. She has worked with governments, funders, and NGOs to inform policy and scale impact.
Originally from the U.S., Kate has lived in London for the past four years, following time in New York, Amsterdam, and Washington DC. Outside of work, she enjoys travelling, cooking, spending time with friends and family, and outdoor activities like hiking, biking, running, and snowboarding.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Kate leads the delivery of a portfolio of complex impact evaluations, managing a team of Evaluation Managers and supporting their development. She designs and oversees evidence programmes that help us understand what works to support young people into good work – contributing directly to our strategic goals.
About
Tony has a background in data and systems management in charity and international development contexts.Tony has an interest in collecting punk vinyl and likes to think his record collection is unparelled.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Tony supports the delivery of our Evaluation and Research grants and coordinates the Impact and Evidence Team.
About
Charlotte has 10 years’ experience working with young people and has a passion and commitment to driving forward initiatives that address disadvantage and improve progression pathways. Prior to joining Youth Futures Foundation, Charlotte worked for IntoUniversity where she was responsible for leading and developing a suite of positive impact outreach programmes for students aged 7 – 18.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Charlotte is the Head of Programmes for Building Futures, leading on the development, mobilisation and delivery of the programme.
About
Philip brings strong experience in stakeholder engagement, project management, and communications, having previously successfully led campaigns, events, and research projects from concept to delivery. Outside of work, Philip is passionate about volleyball, football, and all things nerdy, from games to anime. |He also volunteers as a Youth Sports Officer at his local church, helping organise activities and supporting young people through sport.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
As Team Coordinator, Philip provides vital administrative and business support, helping us deliver our objectives through seamless coordination and efficient delivery.
About
Chris joined Youth Futures in January 2024 after five years at Foundations where he conducted and commissioned evaluations of interventions designed to improve outcomes for children in the social care system.
Away from work, Chris enjoys playing squash, sauna, the Talking Heads and the films of Paul Thomas Anderson.
What they do at Youth Futures
Chris is responsible for designing and managing complex programmes of evidence generation to understand what works to support young people into good jobs, including our What Works Programme. He also leads on the development of technical standards and guidance for impact evaluations, and the development of our data archive and data linkage strategy.
About
Daniel holds a BA in Economics from Durham University and an MSc in Economics, specialising in public policy evaluation, from the University of Bristol. Before joining the team, Dan was a Research Economist at the Institute for Employment Studies, where he developed experience of a range of evaluation methods across research projects evaluating labour market and education policy. He also led/worked on several projects commissioned by Youth Futures Foundation.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Dan leads on our employer-facing evidence generation programme.
About
Hannah joined Youth Futures Foundation in 2020 after five years at the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion (CESI) and the Learning and Work Institute (L&W). She brings extensive experience in leading research and evaluation projects across labour market, welfare reform, and skills policy, working with national and local government clients.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Hannah leads evidence generation programmes focused on understanding what works to help young people secure good jobs. She oversees a range of mixed-method evaluations, including randomised controlled trials and theory-based impact evaluations.
About
Lekan has experience within a leading social investment fund, grant giving with a focus on young people and capacity building support. In his spare time Lekan has held charity Board positions and is currently involved as a trustee for a local youth charity based in London.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Lekan leads a number of our programme teams: What Works, Evidence into Action, and Building Futures.
About
Jo has over 10 years’ experience in office administration within the charity and arts sectors in Birmingham. Prior to joining Youth Futures Foundation, she was Centre Manager for a charity which supports vulnerable women of all ages preparing to enter the workplace.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Jo is the Grants Operations Officer providing administrative support to ensure the smooth running of our grant-making lifecycle.
About
With an MSc in Health Management and a BA (Hons) in Public Health and Community Studies, Zoecencia has made significant contributions to published research – particularly in systems policy analysis for antimicrobial resistance targeted action, supporting evidence-based public health interventions. Outside of work, Zoecencia is passionate about personal development, reading, and community engagement. She dedicates time each week to mentoring young people and children.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Zoecencia works closely with our Research Managers and other members of our Impact and Evidence team to support the design, delivery and management of commissioned and in-house research projects, striving to understand the complex, systemic issues faced by marginalised young people in their employment journey.
About
Before joining YFF Anna worked at IPPR North, after over a decade as a researcher in higher education and in government.
What they do at Youth Futures
Anna Round is Head of Research and Impact at the Youth Futures Foundation. Her research experience includes extensive work on education and skills, regional labour markets and economies, and young people’s issues.
About
San is a mixed methods researcher with five years of agency-side experience delivering high-quality evaluation projects. She specialises in strategic qualitative and quantitative analysis across economic, health, and regulatory contexts to inform policy development for government departments and the wider public and voluntary sectors.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
At Youth Futures Foundation, San is involved in designing, commissioning, and managing evaluations. She currently supports a portfolio of feasibility and impact evaluations, including Building Futures and evidence generation for the Connected Futures programme.
About
Amy had a strong background in research and evaluation from a background in the Civil Service, where she contributed to multiple policy areas, including gender equality, elections, social housing, an telecoms. She brings extensive expertise in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analytical techniques.
Outside of work, Amy enjoys theatre and live music, and explore London’s vibrant food scene. She also embraces an active lifestyle.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Amy leads on the design, commissioning, and management of evaluations and evidence generation. Working closely with externally-commissioned independent evaluators, delivery partners, and colleagues in our Programmes & Grants, and Policy & Public Affairs teams, Amy leads the design and delivery of large scale and complex impact evaluations, and formative evaluations to develop our pipeline.
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