Who We Work With
Our people
We are powered through our people and are committed to fostering a workplace that ensures every employee feels valued, supported and able to contribute effectively to our mission.
Meet our team
Our team
Anna Darnell
Head of Strategy and Partnerships
Our team
Annum Mahmood
Partnerships Manager
Our team
Eleanor Marsea
Engagement Manager
Our team
Nishi Mayor
Director of Employer Engagement & Partnerships
Our team
Katy Neep
Head of Employer Engagement & Partnerships
Our team
Lauren Reeder
Team CoordinatorAbout
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
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
Eleanor 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?
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
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
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
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.>
