Our people

About

Felix has worked in a variety of roles in the further education sector. He has been responsible for financial management, planning, audit and the wider corporate services. Felix has been involved in new business start-ups in the education and commercial sectors. He is passionate about lifelong learning.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

He is responsible for financial management, planning, audit and the wider corporate services.

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

Before her current role, Andrea was a Senior Analyst at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. She has finished a PhD in Economics at the University of York.

In July 2020, Andrea gave evidence to the Women and Equalities Committee on the unequal impact of coronavirus on ethnic minorities. Andrea has also appeared on EuroNews, Bloomberg Radio, and in print to discuss issues related to employment and groups.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Andrea is an enthusiastic analyst, interested in improving data infrastructure on underserved communities.

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. She oversees a portfolio of feasibility and impact evaluations including Building Futures, PLIAS and What Works Programmes.

About

In his spare time, Brian enjoys spending time with his two Dalmatians – Dodi and Einstein – along with travelling with his spouse.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

For the last five years, Brian has been working as contracts manager in the university and NHS Trust settings. His experience covers negotiating, drafting and advising on various contracts along with team management, training on various contract topics, and leading on intellectual property.

About

Robyn is an experienced communications professional who drives change and innovation in social-purpose organisations. Before joining Youth Futures, Robyn was Head of Communications & Digital at What Works Wellbeing where she spearheaded the organisational strategy refresh, evolved the organisation’s brand identity, and delivered the Centre’s 10-year Legacy Report. She has previously worked across PR, social media and copywriting in the higher education and performing arts sectors. Outside work, Robyn is a keen foodie, occasional runner, and sings in semi-professional consort group Epiphoni.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

Robyn leads large-scale digital projects and content strategy.

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?

As part of the Programmes and Grants Team, 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 a Senior Analyst interested in using data and research to enable young people to overcome social inequalities.

About

Prior to joining Youth Futures Foundation, he has worked as an education researcher for Cambridge University Press & Assessment, the OECD, and UN evaluation agencies. His experience covers programmes targeting young people’s economic empowerment, civic participation, health education, language education and global competence.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

Jonah is an educational sociologist and quantitative researcher. At Youth Futures Foundation, he supports the PLIAS project targeting youth involved in the criminal justice system, as well as the broader What Works Programme portfolio of impact evaluations. 

Our much-loved colleague, Dr Jane Colechin, Deputy Director of Evidence and Evaluation, passed away at the start of 2025.

Jane was one of the first people to join Youth Futures Foundation and was a tenacious driver of our journey from start-up to What Works Centre, to shaping our strategy to take us through the coming four years. Jane spearheaded our evidence generation efforts, including both the design and delivery of impact evaluations of youth employment interventions and the development of guidance and methods for evaluators.

Read our tribute to Jane.

About

Ellen has multiple years of experience in the education sector, having worked as a mentor in a secondary school, with her most recent role at a university involving experiential learning and engaging students outside of the classroom. In her spare time, Ellen enjoys yoga, films and going for countryside walks.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

As Youth Inclusion Officer at Youth Futures Foundation, Ellen supports our young people’s programmes including the Future Voices Group and Connected Futures Ambassadors, helping to embed youth voice throughout the organisation and ensure that young people are at the heart of what we do.

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 support 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 Senior Economist passionate about producing impactful data and analysis to reduce social and economic inequalities.

About

Prior to Youth Futures, Anna worked as a Policy Adviser in youth policy for central government, as well as in a range of policy, research and frontline roles in the charity and voluntary sector relating to young people and family support. Anna has been involved in youth and community initiatives from a young age, and brings this longstanding experience to her dedication to systemic change. Outside of work Anna is an avid Liverpool fan, a keen cook and spends a lot of time running after her toddler – aka the biggest boss!

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Part of the founding team to help establish the Youth Futures Foundation, Anna plays a key role in shaping the organisation’s direction. She leads strategic relationships with government, sectors involved in the Dormant Assets Scheme, and key partners. Her current role includes overseeing our corporate impact framework and supporting cross-organisational collaboration and success against the organisation’s strategy. In previous roles at Youth Futures as Head of Strategy & Partnerships and Policy and Partnerships Manager, Anna led our approach to involving and capturing the lived experiences and perspectives of both marginalised young people and employers into our work and establishing our Future Voices Group and Employer Advisory Board, and was instrumental in our early policy work and the creation of the Youth Employment Group. 

About

Bal’s professional background includes Employability, ESOL, Management, Training and community engagement in both voluntary & statutory organizations. She has a passion for equality and empowerment and fair access for all.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Bal is a Relationship Manager in the Connected Futures Team. She has lead on the work to expand Connected Futures to young people and communities with Bangladeshi or Pakistani heritage to create sytemic change by tackling discrimination amd barriers to employment.

About

Prior to joining Youth Futures Michael worked for a G15 housing association project managing a plethora of social and economic investment projects aimed at improving the lives of local people in the Hackney and Barnet boroughs of London.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Michael is a Relationship Manager for the Connected Futures Fund supporting the local partnerships Connected Futures are investing in to tackle some of the wider systemic issues young people face within youth employment services.

About

Prior to joining YFF, Talia worked for a youth democratic engagement organisation and completed a Masters in Race, Media and Social Justice

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Talia is part of the Youth Inclusion team that focuses on creating meaningful spaces for young people to share their voices across the organisation and on the issue of youth unemployment. Since joininig in 2022, her work has focused on the Future Voice programme and ensuring that the voices and interests of young people affected by inequality and discrimination in employment were well represented in our research and policy work. .

About

Jayde is a passionate advocate for young people, with over six years of experience working in the charity sector. Her dedication to improving the lives of young people is driven by a deep commitment to mental health and youth employment, two areas she believes are essential to the long-term success and well-being of the next generation.

Her ultimate goal is to inspire businesses to take meaningful action, creating environments for young people that prioritise mental well-being, diversity, and career progression. By doing so, Jayde plays a pivotal role in shaping a youth employment system that provides every young person with the opportunity to succeed and thrive.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

As Project Officer at Youth Futures Foundation, Jayde focuses on building strong partnerships with employers and influencing them to recognise the immense value young people bring to the workforce. She works to ensure that employers understand the unique challenges that young people face.

Max has been passionate about improving outcomes for disadvantaged young people ever since attending a secondary school stuck in Ofsted special measures and seeing his peers have their life chances severely affected. He has worked for charities supporting marignalised young people to make positive transitions his whole career, gaining experience in direct delivery of youth work as well as fundraising. Prior to joining Youth Futures Foundation, Max led on UCAS’s transformation in improving its offer around apprenticeships and vocational pathways. In his spare time Max is a long-suffering Arsenal fan and music enthusiast.

Max is our Policy Manager, working across the range of Youth Futures Foundation’s policy areas to influence government thinking and develop evidence-based policy solutions. 

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

Emily is an experienced non-profit communications professional. She has a masters degree in sociolinguistics from the University of York, and she carries an enduring interest in identity, language, and power into her work at Youth Futures.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

Emily is responsible for strategic thinking on how we can best engage our key audiences: from our internal staff team, to employers who can use our evidence to make meaningful change for young people. Emily also works to develop and deliver high-quality content, amplifying the voices and stories of marginalised young people.

About

Gillian brings a wealth of knowledge and experience having managed UK wide grant programmes throughout her career in the charity sector, working with the Prince’s Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and more recently CITB. Outside of the office, Gillian enjoys learning piano and long walks with her family in the countryside.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Gillian sits within our Finance and Resources team and leads all aspects of our operational delivery including planning, systems and infrastructure and the development and improvement of our processes and systems.

About

Aron first began his career in Accounting and Finance, before moving to grant making with Leeds Community Foundation.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Aron now supports our grant holders with the delivery of their grants, enabling them to deliver high quality, impactful projects. He manages a varied portfolio of grant holders, with a particular focus on the Infrastructure programme.

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

After graduating from the University of Leeds (Politics & Spanish) in 2020, Lewis has amassed a diverse range of experience at marketing and PR agencies, delivering communications campaigns for client across the sustainability, retail and construction sectors. He joined Youth Futures after volunteering at London-based charity Football Beyond Borders.

Outside of work Lewis loves being active, whether that’s playing football, tennis, or running, and travelling. He spent his year abroad studying in Argentina and travelling across South America.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

Lewis works across the public affairs and communication teams, communicating Youth Futures’s work to policymakers and its wider audiences.

About

Before joining Youth Futures, Megan spent over 15 years working in local government, specialising in employment and skills. She managed a range of projects and partnerships in Birmingham, from city-wide initiatives to neighbourhood-level programmes, including delivery of a large-scale European Social Fund/Youth Employment Initiative project across Birmingham and Solihull.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Megan is a Relationship Manager for the Connected Futures Programme, where she works closely with the Blackpool and East Midlands partnerships, fostering a youth-led approach to driving systemic change in youth employment.

About

Eve has a background working in various policy and campaigning roles focused on improving outcomes for young people in the children’s social care and domestic abuse sectors. This includes successfully campaigning for higher foster carer allowances to support children and young people in care. She also has a Masters in Human Rights.
In her spare time Eve likes to swim in the sea as much as she can and make pottery.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Eve manages engagement and influencing activities across government, parliamentary and political stakeholders, as well as being the secretariat for the Youth Employment Group.

About

Charlie is involved in a steering group with partnerships for young London – supporting many aspects of careleavers – including employment.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

Charlie is involved in the operations and every day running of the business to help support with the processing of transactions in the company to ensure that we meet our financial obligations as a charity. He helps support the management of accurate data including the grants sector to ensure that we are in-line with our predictions mentioned in our business plan and are on track with the budgets set out each year.

About

Ryan has held roles as Senior Project Manager, Lincolnshire County Council and as Policy Lead – Skills and Place, National Centre for Universities and Business (London). He holds a wealth of multi-disciplinary professional experience in policy, public affairs and relationship and project management.

What they do with Youth Futures

Ryan sits at the intersection of our policy, government relations and evidence generation work, playing lead role in helping us work with local and national government to set up trials and build our wider work with mayoral combined authorities, including strong focus on the Youth Guarantee trailblazer areas.

About

Justin’s career has spanned the public, private and third sector, with a focus on education and skills. He most recently worked as a consultant with clients in and around the UK public sector on stakeholder engagement and project management, having previously held external affairs and policy roles at The Careers and Enterprise Company.

Outside of work, he likes to travel, keep up with politics and sport, and drag himself out for a run.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

Justin is a specialist in external affairs. He works across policy, public affairs, and communications to support policymakers to make informed decisions.

About

Prior to joining Youth Futures, Nkechi worked in the voluntary and higher education sectors, most recently as the administrator for the professional body for UK higher education internal auditors. Outside of work, she is involved in community empowerment activities through her church and in supporting girls’ education in Eastern Nigeria through the alumni association for her former school.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Nkechi helps ensure robust and effective governance arrangements at Youth Futures Foundation, including developing and implementing processes and procedures that promote and sustain good governance.

About

Vicki started her career as a parliamentary researcher in the House of Commons before moving to The Fostering Network. Vicki’s campaigning work led to the introduction of legislation to extend foster care to young people to the age of 21. She co-chaired the Alliance for children in care and care leavers, working in partnership with 50 organisations to co-ordinate influencing activity as well as regularly representing The Fostering Network in the media. In her spare time, Vicki loves to cycle in the Surrey Hills and plays netball for Kingston Tigers.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Vicki leads our public affairs team.

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

Danielle has a background in business development and finance having spent three years at one of the ‘Big Four’ accounting firms, Ernst & Young (EY). Danielle is extremely passionate about supporting young people to develop key skills and transition into meaningful employment and has worked and/or volunteered with a number of frontline delivery organisations such as: The EY Foundation, The National Citizens Service, Princes Trust, Childreach International, The Chartered Management Institute, The Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise and more.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Danielle is a Relationship Manager here at Youth Futures with responsibility for our Burnley and Hull Connected Futures Partnerships, currently working to create youth led and place-based systemic change.

About

Éilis is a registered social worker, and trained systemic practitioner, with experience in children’s social care, mental health and voluntary settings. She has specialised in supporting care-experienced and neurodivergent young people in therapetuic settings, undertaking practioner-led research in this area. Éilis has also managed grants across the children’s sector.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

Éilis manages youth inclusion and participation activities across programmes and grants – centring the voices, experiences and identities of young people within systems change work. She leads the Connected Futures Ambassadors and the Building Futures Youth Advisory Group, supporting each young person to influence change, whilst also gaining personal development outcomes.

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

Jane joined Youth Futures Foundation in 2022. She has over ten years’ experience working in research and evaluation, and has led research and evaluation projects across the private, government and third sector. Outside of work Jane enjoys running, getting out into nature, and is a keen Olympics enthusiast.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

Jane is responsible for managing a portfolio of impact evaluations. She is also leading the development of technical standards and guidance for evaluators, and is supporting work to develop Youth Futures Foundation’s data archive and data linkage strategy.

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

Prior to joining the Youth Futures Foundation, Annum worked on key initiatives such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps helping to shape and deliver programmes, projects and partnerships. Annum has a passion for breaking down barriers that exist in marginalised young people accessing educational and employment opportunities and outside of work actively volunteers for local charities and community organisations.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Annum is a Partnerships Manager with an interest in stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Annum supports the delivery of our Youth Futures Foundation Strategy with a particular focus on developing relationships with youth employment organisations, public bodies, employers, Government departments and young people.

About

Ellen has previously worked in the education sector, most recently at a university where she organised co- and extra-curricular experiential learning opportunities for students. Prior to that, she served as an academic mentor with the charity Teach First, supporting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds in their learning during the pandemic. She holds a BA in French and Hispanic Studies and enjoys Pilates and trips to the cinema in her free time.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

In their role as Engagement Manager, within our Employer Engagement and Partnerships team, Eleanor works to better our understanding of employer needs and to use our evidence to influence employer practices and behaviours. Eleanor leads on our strategic partnerships on Increasing Level 2 & 3 Apprenticeships Supply and on our Toolkit Unwrapped series, translating our evidence for an employer audience. They are a member of our internal EDI Committee.

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

Nish has over 20 years of experience in the charity sector in several senior roles working with employers to create fairer and more inclusive workplaces having worked at Business in the Community, Macmillan, and Investors in People. Nish is a trustee with Element a social enterprise supporting young people leaving the care system. And in her free time, Nish loves wild swimming, hot Pilates and walking the parklands of North London with her pooch Marley.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Nishi leads on our engagement with employers, employer groups and partners. We work in collaboration to take an evidence based approach to influence employers on what works in recruiting and retaining young people from marginalised groups.

About

Alison holds a BA in Geography and History from the University of Glasgow and MA in Humanitarianism and Conflict Response from the University of Manchester. Having spent 2 years in our Impact and Evidence directorate, Alison has worked on many of our evidence-generation projects and gained experience with various research methods in a range of projects to better understand the youth unemployment challenge.

Before that Alison did her Masters in Humanitarianism and Conflict Response at The University of Manchester. Her dissertation explored the efficacy of cash-based humanitarian interventions targeting young people.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

In her role as Senior Policy Officer, Alison works in the Policy and Public Affairs Team to grow and develop our policy expertise and develop evidence-led solutions based on what works.

About

As a Chartered MCIPD Level 7 HR professional with over 20 years of progressive experience, I have worked in both operational and strategic roles across a range of sectors, with a particular focus on the not-for-profit sector. I have held several senior leadership positions and have successfully run a consultancy business. I joined YFF from a community learning charity in Leeds, dedicated to reducing deprivation and improving wellbeing through learning, skills, and personal development opportunities.
Outside of my professional life, I enjoy Pilates, cooking, and spending quality time with my family.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

Lisa is our Head of People, responsible for shaping and leading the people agenda and culture at Youth Futures Foundation. Her role ensures that systems, processes, people, and business operations are in place to effectively enable the organisation to achieve its strategic goals.

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 is a Principal Economist (Evaluation) and leads on YFF’s 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

Katy has over a decade’s worth of experience of working with employers to achieve social inclusion through good work, most recently as Head of Campaigns for Employment and & Skills at Business in the Community.

Outside of work Katy is Chair of Governors at a local primary school and has a passion for vintage fashion, books and running.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Katy drives our work to influence change in employer behaviour and practice around the recruitment and retention of young people. Building strategic partnerships which enable us to amplify evidence led solutions that deliver behaviour change is a key part of the work Katy delivers.

About

Rosie is a degree qualified Youth & Community Worker who has been in the youth sector on a local, national and international level since 2007. She runs youth clubs across Birmingham and is a trustee for The Door Youth Project.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Rosie coordinates the wider cross-organisational Connected Futures team to ensure the smooth running of the programme.

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 oversees a range of YFF grant programmes including ‘What Works,’ ‘Infrastructure,’ and ‘Evidence into Action’

About

Charlene has worked in the charity and non-profit sector and has experience in office management, executive support and human resources. Outside of work, Charlene practices music and art and volunteers at a local church.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Charlene provides operational support to the whole Youth Futures Foundation Team.

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 the programme and grants team to ensure the smooth running of our grant-making lifecycle.

About

MAtthew’s career has been dedicated to supporting communities and individuals to achieve their potential. Prior to working at Youth Futures, Matthew worked for the National Lottery Community Fund, where we led a number of different programmes and staff teams including Talent Match, Youth Investment Fund and the West Midlands Regional Direcorate. Outside of work, Matthew remains actively involved in youth development, dedicating his time to coaching and supporting young people through local youth work initiatives in the West Midlands.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Matthew is the Director of Programme and Grants., leading grant and programme teams including our What Works Programme, Connected Futures, Building Futures and Evidence into Acction.

About

Laura has worked as the Youth Development Manager and Youth Voice Manager at LEEDS 2023, Year of Culture, where she designed and oversaw the delivery of a large-scale skills and youth voice programme reaching over 200 young people across the West Yorkshire region.

Laura’s interest and specialism lies in working with young people through co-production and youth governance which was first ignited through her work as Lead Producer of an NLHF project that centred young people of colour in co-creating solutions with heritage organisations to address diversity and inclusivity in the sector.”

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

Laura leads our Youth Inclusion team to ensure youth inclusion and voice is embedded across our work.

About

Louise has been working within the not-for-profit sector in Birmingham for almost 10 years, most recently working at a local infrastructure organisation. Her roles included contract and strategic relationship management for various programmes including a £6million Ageing Better programme and a strategic support and development programme for civil society organisations in Birmingham.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Louise supports the development and delivery of Youth Futures Foundation’s grant making programmes.

About

Lauren loves being organised and helpful and has previously worked in admin & secretarial jobs, most recently at a property investment company. In her personal time, she enjoys doing charity work. She has raised £20k by organising various fundraising events, and visited North Africa to carry out charity work at children’s hospitals, schools and women’s refuges. She also enjoys big walks, pilates and spending time with family and friends.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Lauren is a Team Coordinator for the Engagement Team.>

About

With a background in commercial and corporate banking followed by 14 years’ experience of providing and managing grants and loans in the VCSE sector, Andy joins YFF from the Architectural Heritage Fund where he headed up its social investment team for 10 years. Away from work, he enjoys creative writing, reading Russian literature, and waiting for Grimsby Town Football Club to start winning again.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Andy is a Relationships Manager, supporting the delivery of Youth Futures’ Impact and Development grant programme.

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

Ravinder previously worked in the Public/Third Sector, having worked for Charities, Social Landlord(s), and Local Authority. Ravinder has implemented various systems, and processes to enable the delivery of rewarding work undertaken by frontline staff and partners, in the easiest and most efficient way. Ravinder is also a Trustee of a small local Youth & Community centre.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Ravinder is our Finance & IT Manager, with over 20 years’ experience at Senior Manager level in Finance, covering all aspects of Finance functions.

About

Kat’s career has been guided by a desire to maximise social impact and this ambition has led her to roles spanning Parliament, Whitehall and City Hall. She is a former adviser to a shadow cabinet minister and previously served as Deputy Head of Public Affairs for NHS England. During the pandemic, Kat led stakeholder engagement strategy for the Covid Vaccination Programme.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

Kat is an external affairs specialist and works across communications, public affairs and policy. Her areas of focus include the Building Futures programme and mental health.

About

Before joining Youth Futures, Jodie worked at a Birmingham-based PR agency, where she led on both strategy and delivery for clients across industries including retail, arts and culture, hospitality and the third sector.

Jodie enjoys spending her free time walking her Dachshund, Frankie, and mentoring students and graduates at Birmingham City University.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

As the Senior Media and Communications Manager, Jodie is responsible for amplifying the youth employment challenge and increasing Youth Futures’ brand awareness, through strategic communications and media relations.

About

A mixed methods researcher, Peter has over fifteen years of experience in research and policy evaluation in academia and the third sector. His research has explored initiatives focused on crime and youth crime and has given voice to some of the unheard in society, including victim/survivors of domestic violence and homicide and young victims and perpetrators of crime. In 2017 he completed an ESRC funded PhD at the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Leeds, for which he explored why some young people carry knives and how their peers responded to this. Peter is also an experienced editor; for three he was years Managing Editor of the Journal of Probation, and had his own copy-editing business as a student, during which he helped many academics and post-graduate students to improve their writing. In his spare time Peter likes to exercise and visit the cinema.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Peter is a Research Manager in the Research and Impact team and manages a diverse portfolio of work including currently the Youth Employment Toolkit and Policy Journeys mapping project, and has delivered among other projects the Workplace Discrimination Survey and Review of Systems Change.

About

Zach’s focus lies in leveraging economic principles and mathematical analysis to address disparities in employment opportunities for underserved young people.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Zach is an Economist, passionately committed to improving employment prospects for marginalised youth. With a BSc in Mathematics and Statistics and an MA in Economics, he uses his educational background to drive his work at Youth Futures Foundation.
 

About

Sarah is a strategic public affairs and communications professional with experience of driving influencing strategies and reputational positioning. Previous roles include Head of External Affairs at The Careers and Enterprise Company.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures

Sarah leads our Policy and External Affairs directoriate, providing expert counsel to senior executives and policy makers and representing us in the public arena.

About

Natassja spent a formative part of her career at Girlguiding, co-creating campaigns, content and channels with members, which sparked a passion for empowering young people and amplifying youth voice through comms. Natassja is kept busy outside of work by her small, scruffy dog and less small, equally scruffy toddler.

What they are involved with at Youth Futures?

Natassja leads our Marketing and Communications team, bringing over 12 years’ experience of building audience-focused strategies, delivering impactful campaigns and improving communications planning in trade associations and charities including Mayhew and the British Red Cross.