BOARD OF TRUSTEES  

Youth Connect South West is an independent non profit charity supporting young people in Bath and North East Somerset and beyond. We provide both universal and individual support for young people.  We offer a range of opportunities including youth work, 1-1 targeted support and careers advice and guidance. As new charity we have a brand new board of trustees too.  They bring with them a wide range of skills and expertise.  Our trustees approve our operational plan, set budgets, provide reports and annual accounts.  Trustees are elected each year at our Annual General meeting.  

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Our trustees ensure the smooth operation of Youth Connect South West by

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• Making sure our work benefits young people living  in Bath and North East somerset

• Act in the charities best interests

• Make informed and balanced decisions about our work

• Meet legal and financial responsibilities

• Being accountable

• Protect all assets and managing risk

CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

Ron Hopkins

I’m a retired business man and engineer with a lifetime of experience in the aircraft and helicopter ground handling.

My expertise expands beyond the purely technical to the day to day executive director management of several well know midlands and South West companies.

In my retired life I became a local councillor and it quickly became apparent that youth services were of gathering importance in order to continue to provide support as the basis of the next generation’s future and that this, like many other services provided by central and local government were under increasing pressure form funding cuts. On that basis I decided to do everything possible to ensure the ongoing success of the ex- B&NES youth services during it spin out period and to utilise my experience to ensure the post spin out future growth and security of the services by means of strategically planned expansion and development of wider areas of penetration for the business.

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Charles Garrish

A retired Bank. Manager and formerly B&NES Councillor focusing in resources. My experience thus enables me to help youth connect SW maintain sound financial controls, so remaining fundamentally secure to maintain and potentially expand services going forward.

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Gill Millar

I have worked in youth and community work in England for almost 4 decades, as a youth worker, community development worker, senior manager and professional trainer. I was pleased to be asked to become a trustee of Youth Connect South West as I have an interest in supporting the development of youth work in the region, and believe that mutual-based organisations have an important role to play in securing youth facilities and services that engage young people as partners and co-producers rather than simply as consumers.

Adam Pitt

Long time community worker and more recently a priest in the Anglican Church I have experience in developing and delivering community projects and managing public spaces. I became a trustee of Youth Connect South West because I think the work of the organisation and the facilities they provide are of great importance to the local community. Their work in guiding and nurturing young people through their transition to adulthood is a vital component in building a future that is hopeful and positive.

Jackie Fielder

For 18 years I have worked closely with the Youth Service and I have always been impressed by the positive impact the service has made on young people's lives. I bring to the role experience of collaborated projects with the voluntary sector, education, health and a range of other local and national partners and  I have experience of human resources, teaching, working with families with vulnerable children and young people with additional needs, commissioning and managing in a local government context. My offer is to support the design of a new effective structure and enable YCSW to make a significant difference to the lives of young people in Bath and North East Somerset

Steff Reynolds

I am the current staff trustee. My back ground is in community work and I have worked for both statutory and voluntary organisations for over 25 years. I am a qualified youth worker and have had the great pleasure of supporting 100's of young people in B&NES over the past 11 years. My job is often a challenge, very rewarding and never boring. I wanted to support the Board as i believe we can provide services that are valued by young people.