Our People

Leigh joined the NYA in 2017, having worked with young people for over twenty years. During that time, he’s been both a detached and open access youth worker, as well as working in schools and community settings. Leigh is a youth sector commissioning specialist and lead the way in developing new models of delivery for youth work in local communities in Surrey. This included exploring social investment models and public sector mutual opportunities.

Leigh is both JNC qualified, holds a PGCE and has nearly finished his Masters in Public Administration. Leigh’s started working with young people when he was 15 and has a huge passion for experiential learning and development of young people – he particularly champions authentic youth voice and participation and quality assurance of youth work practice. Outside of work Leigh enjoys travelling to explore different cultures.

Abbee is the Director of Youth Work for the National Youth Agency (NYA) in England. She is a JNC-qualified youth and community worker and holds a post-graduate diploma in education. Abbee has worked within the field of youth work, training and development for over 20 years.

She is an experienced leader who strives for quality and professionalism in youth work, applying this passion to her role at the NYA, nationally and the international consultancy she provides to the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Abbee has led and developed small charities as a board member, trustee and advisor. Currently, she is supporting the Refugee Youth Service as a youth and policy advisor with a specific focus on workforce wellbeing. She is also developing an educational grant-giving charity for a global marketing agency.

With experience in a range of settings and sectors, from alternative education to social care, Abbee is a passionate believer in the power of informal education to change lives and communities.

Kevin is JNC Qualified and has been a practicing Youth and Community worker for over 25 years. He has been a leader in both the statutory and voluntary sectors, and has a passion for street work and infrastructure projects. He’s based in Manchester.

Esther has worked in the youth work sector for almost 20 years, across a range of settings and contexts. Esther started her career as a part time youth worker at the London Borough of Bexley, gaining her JNC qualification and progressing to Youth Development Officer. Working in the voluntary sector, private sectors and local authority Esther has a wealth of experience in building productive, effective, and positive relationships with colleagues and young people. For over 10 years Esther led a national social enterprise Kinetic Youth Ltd, developing, delivering, and evaluating service delivery against measurable contractual outcomes.

Esther is never too far away from front line delivery, a youth worker at heart, she remains driven by wanting a fairer, more equitable and progressive society for all young people.

Laura is Quality Practice Manager for the NYA

Laura is a JNC Youth and Community qualified practitioner with over 20 years youth work experience and has worked in a variety of settings including centre based, detached and mobile provision, managing and delivering universal services, specialist programmes and targeted work to young people.

Throughout her career she has trained youth workers both formally and informally and is passionate about sharing her experience to develop the skills and knowledge of others.  Her most recent role with young people has been in sexual health focussing on CSE and HSB.

Xyna is NYA’s Safeguarding Hub Manager working towards evolving the hub into an exceptional safeguarding platform for youth workers. She is a qualified and registered Social Worker who has worked across three local authorities in various settings.

Her experience has included engaging with a wide range of activities such as responding to high-risk child protection situations, court work, safeguarding children and young people with additional needs, working with young people in care, etc.

She is also the proud owner of a shoe thieving goldendoodle.

Karen joined the NYA in late 2020 as a Youth Work Specialist. She is a JNC professionally qualified youth and community worker and qualified trainer. Karen has worked in the youth and community field for over 25 years, including managing and leading activity across a range of sectors and environments.

Karen leads on the development of projects, products, and materials for the youth sector workforce. This includes the development of high-quality skills, knowledge, and contemporary learning opportunities for work with young people, both accredited and no accredited in nature, with a focus on the development of digital CPD, distance learning and face to face learning opportunities.

Bex is the Young People’s Opportunity and Development Platform Programme Manager for the National Youth Agency and is working to develop our brand-new platform- amplifi.

Bex is a JNC qualified youth and community worker and holds a Level 6 careers advice and guidance qualification. She is a passionate and experienced Youth Work professional and manager who has worked with young people since she was a young person herself and thrives from supporting and witnessing young people achieve their goals.

Outside of work Bex enjoys spending time with her family, friends and puppy. She also loves music and being creative- bringing this into her work wherever possible.

Georgia is a qualified JNC Youth and Community worker from the North East, currently doing a Masters Degree in Inequality and Society. She has a passion for giving young people opportunities to thrive by building skills, participating in positive activities and promoting equality within society. She previously worked in detached work, social action projects and projects focusing on equality and empowerment, across the north east.

Alia is JNC Qualified with over 25 years of Youth Work experience in the statutory, community, and faith sectors and currently volunteers with her local church and for a girls’ mentoring charity. Alia’s NYA role is the Education and Training Standards Officer with the core focus of supporting Higher Education Institutions to create and deliver youth work degrees.  Alia is passionate about ensuring high quality education and training for youth workers so they can offer the best possible support to young people.

When not working Alia loves to run (in her toe-shoes) and has completed 25 marathons including two 40 mile ultra marathons.

Lasharne is a JNC Qualified Youth and Community Development worker with various experience in both formal and informal education with young people. She has also worked in both local authority and charity organisations helping young people grow holistically and creating personal development sessions for both staff and young people. Lasharne has a passion for promoting Youth voice and supporting organisations to develop their youth participation to produce meaningful outcomes. She is very passionate about cultural competence, diversity and inclusion and wants to break the glass ceiling that has been created for disadvantaged groups within society to ensure they flourish.

Lasharne can be contacted on lasharneb@nya.org.uk

Beth has been working as a youth worker for around 9 years. Having started her youth work journey as a young person. At the age of 16, she started volunteering on other youth projects within a charity in Central London. Until now, Beth has mainly been working in the charity and faith youth work sectors where she completed her BA (Hons) in Theology, Mission and Ministry specialising in youth work at Ridley Hall, Cambridge.

Beth has a passion for being out and about meeting with young people and supporting them to use their voices and be heard, using participation to its full advantages. Beth also has a passion for inclusion and ensuring that every young person has access to programmes, support, and guidance no matter their background or circumstances.

In her spare time, you can find Beth enjoying; Women’s football (Forgive her, she’s an Arsenal fan!), time with her friends and family, playing the drums or doing something music related!

Aaron is a Youth forum Lead, Model & creative. Being new to the Youth sector, he has a desires and goals to reach his full potential in the industry and translate those skills into other ventures in life. Previously working alongside Equal equity he’s taken part in hosting online events, public speaking & moderating.

Coming from a football background, Aaron takes part in regular 5k park runs, gym 5 days times a week and swimming on the weekend. When he’s not being such a busy body, Aaron loves to kick back and watch iconic interviews in his past time, along with capturing pictures of himself, scenery & other interesting things he spots.

Amanda works as the Chief Operations Officer, working to optimise NYA operating capabilities to help us achieve excellence throughout our work. This includes making sure we have the right systems, processes, policies, Governance, finances, talent base and partnerships to enable NYA to deliver great services and support.

When she isn’t knee deep in documents and numbers, Amanda is usually knee deep in mud and grass walking the dog.

Barry works with the operational leadership team to develop and maintain the systems, processes and infrastructure that enable a culture of autonomy and accountability. The role plays to Barry’s natural collaborative style, and he loves nothing more than when he is working alongside colleagues to overcome challenges, particularly when the outcome supports productivity and efficiency.

Barry has worked in young people’s services for over 20 years, and he is driven by the desire to provide the best possible support for those working directly with young people, so they are enabled to provide the best possible outcomes for young people. Outside of work Barry is a football coach with an under-16 football team, with an overwhelming but unrealistic desire to still play.

Priya is the Programmes Operations Manager which involves being the gatekeeper for quality and governance within the NYA Programmes Team, as well as supporting the transition from contract award to programme set up. Priya draws upon her wealth of experience in planning, reporting, quality assurance, risk management and project communications to provide a flexible, pragmatic, efficient and proactive project support service.

Priya enjoys spending her spare time with family and friends and has a big love for elephants.

Priya can be contacted on PriyaP@nya.org.uk

As Executive Assistant, Lisa provides administrative support to Leigh and the wider Senior Leadership Team. When not juggling calendars, Lisa loves nothing more than hiking with her dog, swimming in the sea or taking on a challenge – wing walking was the latest item to be struck off her ‘bucket list’.

Ellie is a JNC Qualified Youth Worker with a BA Youth and Community Studies. Ellie started her youth work journey volunteering in a youth café and has since worked in a variety of settings such as several years within young persons substance misuse service and managing projects for young people whose parents are serving in the military.

Ellie is passionate about young people having the ability to truly participate and that youth workers come from all walks of life. In her spare time she can be found in the outdoors, kayaking and studying for a MPA in Social and Public policy.

Zoe is an experienced HR and employment law professional with a background in supporting organisations to optimise their people strategy and processes.

Zoe has studied law and HR Management and is a member of both the CIPD and the CILEx. She has a passion for building progressive, inclusive and nurturing company cultures by supporting managers to inspire and drive change. Zoe deals with all the NYA’s HR related activities, having spent 10 years working within a youth service in her early career, she is fully committed to NYAs mission to transform the lives of young people.

At home, she spends too much of her time volunteering as a part-time chauffeur for her teenage daughters and she loves to upcycle second-hand clothes and furniture.

Steven is Digital Development Manager at NYA. Formerly he worked as a technical manager in the digital signage industry and before that worked in primary education specialising in working with and supporting children with special educational needs and teaching I.T.

In his free time he enjoys hobbies that involve working with his hands, playing around with computers and reading.

Kimberley (Billie) has been working with the NYA Academy team since she joined in January 2019. She has been an integral part of the Academy’s pilot phase and now works to support the network of Youth Work Specialists at the NYA.

In her free time Billie spends her time rewatching the Disney back catalogue and playing Pokemon.

Misia has worked in education for over 20 years, the last 7 being Principal of a secondary school in one of the most deprived areas of the country. She is driven by a desire to improve outcomes for all our young people and remove social and economic disadvantage. Misia loves working alongside other professionals, helping them to improve their own practice and develop their skills and talents so that they can lead and inspire others.

Outside of work Misia has  a young family which keeps her busy. When she does finally get a minute to herself she is a (very slow) runner and also loves any kind of crime related box set or podcast.

Katie joined the NYA in 2022 as National Programme Manager, leading our national government funded programmes such as the Youth Investment Fund and workforce development projects. She has worked with and for children and young people for over fifteen years, having spent ten years in child protection services and more recently working on youth focused government policy. Katie loves working collaboratively with young people and their communities, NYA colleagues and stakeholders to make the world a safer and fairer place for young people to thrive and achieve their aspirations.

When not at work, Katie loves to travel, enjoys anything involving movement (hiking, cycling, yoga, dancing) and all things sitting still (particularly reading or watching films with a cup of tea). Katie believes that the best thing about life is the people and relationships in it, and so she especially loves if these activities involve other people.

Rob is a JNC qualified Youth and Community Development worker with over 20 years worth of full time experience. He’s volunteered and been employed in both voluntary organisations and local authorities across the North of England, from ground level to more strategic positions but is still very enthusiastic about working ‘face to face’.

He has a particular interest in supporting young people with learning difficulties and those who are out of formal education and the skill and enthusiasm to teach others to do the same. In his spare time he likes playing guitar, fell running and reading and is a full time dad.

With nearly 20 years in the voluntary and local authority sectors, Fran is an experienced youth work practitioner and manager and has developed and delivered youth work in centre-based, detached, mobile and outdoor education settings.    

She is skilled in working with young people affected by multiple complex disadvantage, including homelessness.  She is passionate about ensuring marginalised young people have access to youth services. 

She is committed to promoting youth work in government, trade unions and political parties.

For over 25 years Nicola has been working with young people and communities to create lasting behaviour change.  She is an experienced Youth Work Practitioner, Intergenerational Worker & Community Development Specialist with an interest in discovering the most effective ways for communities to become more caring and compassionate.

Nicola facilitates unique Well Being events using Creativity, Mindfulness, Change Work and Sound Therapy.  She holds a BA (hons) in Arts and Education from Bretton Hall and a Postgraduate Certificate in Youth and Community Work from Brunel University.

Heather is an experienced administrator and joined the NYA in March 2021, she provides administration support to both the Learners and the Assessors in the NYA Academy.

Heather comes from a background of Early Years support for children with special educational needs.

In her space time she loves to craft, with sewing, glass fusion and felting.

Russell is a JNC Qualified Youth Worker with a Graduate Diploma in Youth Work. Russell started his youth work journey as a young person, progressing to a senior member and the rest is history.

Russell has worked in a variety of youth work settings in his 20 year career, and has extensive experience of managing youth work for LGBT young people, both in local authority and voluntary sector organisations. His passion lays with challenging stigma that still faces LGBT young people and ensuring that they voices are heard.

Mark is a JNC qualified Youth Work and Community Development practitioner. He has 20+ years of Youth and Community Work experience within Health-Based Youth Work, working within a special educational setting to create outdoor learning opportunities and more recently as Youth Work and Community Development university lecturer. He also holds a PGCE, is a qualified Forest School Leader and DofE Award Expedition Assessor.

In his spare time, Mark is a fan of The Great Outdoors, camping and bushcraft, supporting his local football team, spending time with the family and looking after his allotment. 

Graham started his professional career as a 3D computer animator, he spent several years working for BBC Training and Development as a animator, website designer and Art director.

Since 2004 he has run his own eLearning business Inside Outside Design, working with such clients as The Environment Agency, DEFRA, and Spec Savers where he was part of the 2017 Gold winners award for Best Team at the Learning Technology awards, He is a skilled Instructional designer, graphic designer, eLearning developer and art director. Graham has built almost the entire catalogue of eLearning courses currently available through the NYA’s online academy.

He also enjoys playing music and has played in several semi-professional bands over the years and also worked as a session musician for Sony.

Adam started his Youth Work journey 15 years ago at a Residential Summer Camp in Ohio. After 6 years of delivering activities including zip lines, dodgeball, horse riding, cookouts and 400+person games of Capture the Flag, he returned to Manchester to Deliver the NCS Programme.

Working from the ground up as a Residential Programme Leader through to Programme Creation, Delivery Programme Management and finally as a Seasonal Staff Training Manager – Adam has a deep passion and understanding for the power of Youth Work, and what young people can achieve when given the opportunity to thrive.

Working as an Operations Lead for a Local Housing Associations Youth Team, Adam is well versed in managing Open Access Youth Provision, Detached Youth Work, Information, Advice and Guidance services and 1:1 mentoring / Casework Programme’s. After supporting and delivering the original pilot schemes for the NatWest Thrive Programme across Manchester, he joins the NYA looking forward to strengthening the Programme as it begins its National Rollout.

When not at work, Adam can be found either behind a desk painting war gaming miniatures for his ever-expanding collection or out and about on his Motorbike enjoying the B roads of the Peak District.

Kirsty is a JNC Qualified Youth and Community worker with over 15 years experience. Kirsty has managed youth teams delivering large scale youth work projects across some of the most deprived areas in Birmingham. Her favourite being social action project for young women. Kirsty has also working within social care managing a youth team supporting children and young people in foster care. Kirsty in now part of the YIF team supporting grantees to ensure their themselves are delivering high quality youth work practice across the country. In her own time Kirsty loves to read, binge watch TV, walk the dog and go on family adventures!

Richard has worked across youth work, education and cognate research settings for over twenty years. Richard is a JNC qualified youth and community worker and also has a PhD. (development and society). In youth work practice, Richard predominantly worked in targeted provision. In a research capacity Richard has worked on research and evaluation projects including for: Department for Education; Welsh Assembly Government; Youth Justice Board. 

Aaron is a JNC qualified Youth worker with over 20+ years of experience within the youth work sector. He started volunteering aged 16. He has since been employed mainly within the voluntary sector as a project manager doing detached youth work and has over 15 years of experience working in church-based youth work as well as being on the senior leadership team of a national youth festival. He has managed teams of full time, part time and big teams of volunteer staff.  

Outside of work he loves spending time with his wife and two daughters. He loves football, NFL, pretending to surf, a good cup of coffee and he once lived in Ibiza.  

Jess has been a Youth and Community worker for around a decade. Jess started her career volunteering on a local Young Carers Programme at the YMCA whilst studying at university. After 3 years of supporting delivery as a youth worker which is included, residential and day trips, detached work, and open access youth provisions; Jess progressed onto being Head of Youth and Play work. Managing various youth and community programmes across Birmingham, with her favourite being Virtually Minded – giving young men a voice about their mental health.

After 8 years, Jess moved across to the YMCA Black Country Group, where she helped to develop and implement a new community programme in Dudley, managing open access Youth provision, volunteering & mentoring, employment advice and aspirational trips and activities. After setting up the Community Project, Jess went on to join a YMCA National Programme, training volunteers to mentor and empower young females.

When not at work, Jess enjoys family days out with her son and husband and is an avid runner who enjoys to wind down with some yoga.

Helen joined the NYA in 2023 as National Programme Manager, leading our National Lottery funded programme. Over the last seven years she has specialised in developing evidence informed, funding programmes centred around the strategic aim of improving outcomes for underrepresented communities. Helen is committed to empowering young people to thrive and volunteers as a mentor for young people as well as acting as a Diversity Role Model.

Outside of work, Helen plays roller derby for the Tiger Bay Brawlers and enjoys long walks with her standard poodle, Tina.

Anne joined the team in July 2023, she provides administrative support to the wider NYA team and NatWest Thrive programme. She comes from an education background and is passionate about inclusion and youth voice. In her free time Anne educates herself on neurodiversity, she is happiest outdoors on our beautiful coastline or getting lost in a forest, going on adventures with her family and walking her dogs.

Harriet has over 15 years’ experience working in policy, communications, campaigning, strategy and partnerships, with a focus on youth, education, skills and employment. She has worked in integrated communications and public affairs in the charity sector for most of her career and is passionate about improving the life chances for disadvantaged young people.

She was previously Interim Director of Engagement at Youth Futures Foundation, and prior to that, worked at the National Literacy Trust as Head of Policy and Local Campaigns. She has also taught in secondary schools in Birmingham.

When she isn’t discussing policy and comms strategies with her team, Harriet is most likely to be found at local parks trying to wear out her two young children!

Kate has over 25 years’ experience working in the charity and public sectors, latterly in senior strategic communications roles.

Kate describes herself as a professional storyteller and is passionate about working with organisations that are committed to addressing inequalities in health, wellbeing and life chances.

Kate has joined the National Youth Agency after seven years as a communications consultant working for the likes of Day One Trauma Support, Spectrum Community Health CIC, Good Things Foundation and YHA (England and Wales). She has also supported a number of smaller charities as an Associate for Lloyds Bank Foundation.

Prior to her freelance career Kate was Head of Communications for Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity for nine years and before that, worked in a variety of press office roles, notably for the then New Opportunities Fund working on major national programmes to promote better health and social inclusion in disadvantaged communities.

In her spare time, Kate can be found walking her Spaniel or playing guitar very badly.

Lydia is Policy & Advocacy Manager

Having worked at NYA for over 5 years, Lydia has a passion for youth environmental programmes and has built up experience across a number of different projects working directly with young people. Using skills from her previous roles at NYA, Lydia hopes to bring young people on the journey with her in creating policy and change on a larger scale for the benefit of young people, youth workers and the youth sector.

In her spare time, Lydia enjoys getting outdoors, exploring local green spaces and those further afield.

Angel is NYA’s Policy and Public Affairs Manager, working towards growing the organisation’s national policy and public affairs influence to lobby for the youth sector, young people and youth workers. Throughout her career to date, Angel has specialised in youth policy – specifically, social mobility, education, skills and employment. She has worked in non-profits for most of her career, in both policy and widening participation programmes, and is a passionate advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion and levelling the playing field for marginalised young people. Angel brings her expertise managing coalitions, organising events, supporting research, facilitating youth participation and building policy partnerships to her role at NYA.

In her free time, Angel enjoys going on walks with her husband, being obsessed with everything and anything related to musicals, exploring new cuisines, singing and visiting family.

Alex maintains NYA’s digital platforms day to day, and coordinates strategic content to populate them, as well as managing and engaging in various social campaigns.

From his academic background in Philosophy, Alex has attained a passion for social justice and works to champion young people wherever possible.

Matt has nearly twenty years’ experience of senior leadership and fundraising roles in the voluntary sector, with extensive experience of sustainability planning, and of securing high value tenders, grant applications, corporate sponsorships, community fundraising, legacy and
voluntary income. Matt has worked with national and local charities and social enterprises delivering across a broad range of sectors and activities.

Matt is committed to the voluntary sector, supporting many organisations as a trustee and volunteer supporter and is passionate about bringing commercial awareness to the sector in order to deliver high quality support services for vulnerable people.

Toby is Business Development Manager at NYA. Previously he worked across the world mainly in football working with clubs such as FC Bayern Munich and Burnley FC until he finally joined the Youth Work Sector. Since then, Toby has worked as a youth worker in a variety of areas including alternative provisions and the NHS until coming to the NYA.

In his spare time Toby enjoys going to the gym, watching as many sports as he can and has a love for travelling.

Steph is a quantitative researcher committed to facilitating social change. Prior to working at the NYA she had a 6 year career as a teacher, followed by 2 years working as a data analyst at Good Things Foundation. Steph specialises in communicating insight through impactful visualisations.

Outside of work Steph enjoys judo, climbing, playing and writing music, and volunteers for a text mental health helpline.

Chris joined the NYA in 2023 as a Research Associate. Before joining us he was working as a social researcher at a not-for-profit research agency, evaluating policy and interventions for government departments and charities. He is a research champion for a local youth mental health charity and has an academic history in the area of wellbeing, pursuing informal therapy research during his Masters.

Through his Masters and six years of research experience, Chris has developed keen skills in both qualitative and quantitative research design and analysis.

Before he became a researcher Chris was a personal trainer and in his spare time he is either climbing, running or cycling.

Rachael joined the NYA in July 2023 with many years’ experience that has been gained within different sectors, such as back office investment banking, sales and business development.

After taking a significant career break to raise her family, Rachael returned to work and has successfully led various operational teams. More recently Rachael has worked within the voluntary sector as a manager in partnership and engagement roles and is keen to advocate for those experiencing social inequality.

Outside of work Rachael has a passion for travel and enjoys eating out and spending time with her family and friends.