Central Services Team

I initially started my journey with YSS as a volunteer back in 2016 on their Appropriate Adult project supporting young people in custody. This was part of a career change for me while I completed a BSc in Psychology and MSc in Forensic Psychology. In 2019, I joined YSS as a member of staff helping to run the Appropriate Adult project and recruit and train volunteers. One of my proudest achievements at YSS is helping to set up and drive forward our pilot project Families First back in November 2020. During this time I worked alongside a team of researchers from the Open University to measure the impact of our support. In April 2023 I was promoted to Operations Manager responsible for Appropriate Adult, Families First, Volunteering, Business Development and Research.

Prior to moving to YSS in 2022 as a Early Help Senior Practitioner I worked for West Mercia Police. I worked in local policing for 12 years and then moved on, to support victims of domestic violence for 3 years.

Since joining YSS I have progressed to the role of Operations Manager, responsible for the provision managing the Criminal Justice services (Remember Veterans, MORSE, Connect, Chrysalis).

I previously worked in education supporting children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties before spending 8 years as a Family Practitioner with a national children’s charity. I joined YSS as a Senior Family Practitioner in 2013 and have since progressed through the organisation. I am now Operations Manager, responsible for the provision of all Children, Young People and Family services.

I relocated to Telford in 2000 after 22 years of accompanying my husband around the world on military duties. Previously, I worked for the Ministry of Defence as an Admin Officer and specialised in Adult Learning. When I returned to the UK, I worked for a private children’s home which specialised in working with young men at risk of, or having, perpetrated sexual offences. In 2003, I joined YSS as a Volunteer Coordinator and ICCP Officer covering Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin. I have enjoyed a wide variety of operational and strategic roles across the organisation but my proudest moment was becoming Managing Director in March 2023.

I joined YSS in June 2022 as Head of Resources, taking the lead on Finance, HR, and IT; with a large focus on managing risk factors and costs, identifying efficiencies, and improving the financial viability and sustainability of YSS. I also take on the role of Deputy CEO and Company Secretary. Prior to YSS, I have worked within charities since 2009, both as an employee and external consultant, and within finance-based roles for 10 years before that. My work supporting charities has been in very similar positions, where I have gained senior level experience of strategic planning, finance, HR, IT, operations, project management, marketing & events, commercial operations, and fundraising.

I am the Community Partnership Manager here at YSS. My role is to support our current partners and collaborators, whilst looking to aid growth and future potential within our current projects, as well as reaching out to new organisations to increase visibility and future opportunities.
I am always keen to meet new organisations, from the public and private sectors, whilst working on developing more commercial links within our community.

I joined YSS in 2021 as Communications Specialist. My role revolves around enabling internal and external communications, as well as running our social media accounts.

I joined YSS in October 2022 as a Referrals Coordinator. My role was recently introduced, and is a new venture for YSS. I will be the single point of contact for referrals for most of the YSS services.