Consistently passionate and always there to support us. I always feel comfortable expressing myself or my difficulties here.
Our Team

Kevin Franks
Chief Executive
kevin@youthfocusne.org.uk

David McCreedy
Director of Youth Programmes
dave@youthfocusne.org.uk

Laura Bush
Director of Youth Work
laurab@youthfocusne.org.uk

Heather Insull
Regional Youth Development Manager
heather@youthfocusne.org.uk

Caroline Garrity
Operations Manager
caroline@youthfocusne.org.uk

Emma Abbott
Lead Youth Worker
emma@youthfocusne.org.uk

Simone Banks
Lead Youth Worker
simone@youthfocusne.org.uk

Zoe Jackson
Training and Development Officer
zoe@youthfocusne.org.uk

Rebecca Harrop
Programme Manager
rebecca@youthfocusne.org.uk

Hannah Potter
Lead Youth Worker
Great North Children's Hospital
hannah@youthfocusne.org.uk

Mark Lowdon
Lead Youth Worker
Great North Children's Hospital
mark@youthfocusne.org.uk

Tilly Stephenson
Lead Youth Worker
tilly@youthfocusne.org.uk

Jodie-Leigh Foster
Lead Youth Worker

Liani Weston
Lead Youth Worker
liani@youthfocusne.org.uk

Samantha Logan
Lead Youth Worker
sam@youthfocusne.org.uk

Megan Stratton
Lead Youth Worker
megan@youthfocusne.org.uk

Barry Flux
Administration Officer
barry@youthfocusne.org.uk

Amy Randall
Office Manager
amy@youthfocusne.org.uk

Judith Bennett
Communications Support Worker
judith@youthfocusne.org.uk

Bethany Risker
Sessional Youth Worker

Sue Todd
Sessional Youth Worker

Danny Trewin
Sessional Youth Worker

Amelia Bradley
Sessional Youth Worker

Caitlin Stephenson
Sessional Youth Worker

Adele Buttery
Sessional Youth Worker

Lindsay Wayman
Sessional Youth Worker

Ann Hanratty
Sessional Youth Worker

Bradley 'Chief' Matufa
Sessional Youth Worker

Marie Dorman
Sessional Youth Worker

Kelvin Hutton
Sessional Youth Worker

Katy Mann
Social Action Lead

Kendal Douglass
Peer Researcher

Jessica Elliott
Peer Researcher

Liana Crump
Peer Researcher

Yousaf Khan
Peer Researcher
ABOUT US
Youth Focus North East is an independent charity, established in 1989, with the overall vision to improve the lives of young people through high quality youth work. We exist for the benefit of young people and the organisations which support them.
Our organisation is rooted in the values of good youth work.
Honesty Respect Equality Inclusion
We pride ourselves on being a caring and learning organisation. One in which people are encouraged to take risks, learn from mistakes and achievements, and where young people are central to all we do.
We operate as both an infrastructure support body and a direct deliverer of services to young people and communities.
Through our infrastructure support we enable organisations across our sector to come together to collaborate, share and learn from best practice and have their views heard. We support them to be well informed on the policy, practice and strategy developments that affect young people. We facilitate programmes to build skills and capacity and develop leadership and sustainability in the sector. We hold and deliver the function of the Regional Youth Work Unit https://www.regionalyouthunits.com/about-us and are proud co-founders of the North East Youth Alliance http://neya.org.uk/.
Our direct support to young people and communities is mainly delivered from our two operating centres in Gateshead and Middlesbrough compromising youth centre, outreach work and community based activities to increase wellbeing and improve community cohesion.
Co-production is at the heart of our practice as a youth work organisation. We understand there is no ‘one catch all’ approach and that young people have to be provided with a variety of opportunities suitable to their interests, abilities and needs. We see the purpose of co-production as providing young people with the opportunity to ‘be the change’, rather than the problem.
Having our foundations firmly rooted in youth work practice via our direct delivery ensures we remain connected to the young people and organisations we serve through our role as an infrastructure support organisation. The dual roles are mutually beneficial and are equally important to us in our overall aim of Improving the lives of young people through high quality youth work.
Our Board of Trustees
Thomas Adams, Chair
Marc Mason
Mark Bagnall
Norma Tullock
David Hesselberth
Karen Marshall