MANAGING DIRECTOR
MANAGING DIRECTORKelly Walker
Kelly has over 15 years worth of experience as a Restorative Justice Practitioner, starting initially as the Restorative Justice Co-ordinator for Gravesham Schools implementing a restorative approach to 4 secondary and 10 primary schools. Before that 4 years working in neighbourhood and family mediation. She has 10+ years school-based experience in addition to 10+ years working in community development working with local authorities and charity organisations. Kelly has been fortunate to win national awards for her project work with young people.
Kelly has two adult children, one who has ASD and anxiety so has a wealth of personal experience in the areas that can affect young people in education that have additional needs.
She is passionate about changing the way education meets the needs of young people and how we can help them to build resilience in an era of increasing and sometimes very instant pressures. Our young people are challenged by the world of technology and the dynamic that has changed in recent years. Within seconds they can be exposed to life changing information and often have a limited understanding of how to deal with these things.
She is proud to be leading such an incredible team of staff and volunteers to help make a difference for the schools, children, young people and families that we support.
DIRECTOR OF SCRUTINY
DIRECTOR OF SCRUTINYHelen Rickards
Helen has joined YRUK after following their journey over the past 4 years. Helen has previously worked as an accountant’s manager buying and selling for a large client base. She came away from this role to have her family and her twins who have been a wonderful use of her time over the past 7 years. Helen has been supported by the organisation to navigate the struggles of education system and the pressures on children with additional needs. The system doesn’t always meet their needs but the ethos of YRUK is one that challenged that and pushes to make things better for our children and young people. Helen is proud to be stepping into a directors position with the organisation and is looking forward to helping us shape delivery for the next exciting chapter of our work!
DIRECTOR OF FUNDRAISING & DATA ANALYSIS
DIRECTOR OF FUNDRAISING & DATA ANALYSISRebecca Johnson
I have an established career working in the criminal justice system providing a range of roles within substance misuse. I have a passion for data! Which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but the role it plays in ensuring the smooth delivery of services, funding, allocation of provision, handling of personal data and so much more, is vital to the success of any organisation. YRUK have invested in secure database systems to process and handle their data as well as streamlining their service.
I look forward to helping them analyse their approaches and ensure that they are not only fully compliant but also maximising opportunities to understand data when it comes to funding and allocation of resources.
The other side of my role will be to over sea their fundraising strategies and efforts as we navigate an extremely challenging financial climate. I am passionate about supporting the outstanding work that YRUK and the benefits it has for so many young people and their families. I look forward to bringing my skills to the team and further enhancing the incredible outcomes the have proudly already achieved.
DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS
DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPSMichael Stocker
I am a passionate and progressive educator, dedicated to maximising the outcomes of young people. I currently work within a deprived community area that needs services like YRUK more than ever.
Yet, let so many other areas, we are facing huge budget and funding cuts meaning services like YRUK are suffering.
I am looking forward to parking my skills set on the board of Youth Resilience and supporting them with finding ways to battle the funding crisis and continue to provide their amazing services to our young people.
I am particularly enthusiastic to see our efforts continuing to support underrepresented areas of education such as alternative curriculum, SEN and diversity & inclusion.
I look forward to working with Youth Resilience!
CYP LEAD PRACTITIONER
CYP LEAD PRACTITIONER Emma Walker
Emma is currently studying a level 4 project management apprenticeship with us. She has been volunteering for the company for 4 years sitting in and supporting with sessional work. She has moved from a volunteer up into the role of volunteer co-ordinator where she heads the team of volunteers and helps run the volunteer projects. Whilst doing this Emma began to help with some general admin work as a volunteer, this is when she discovered how much she enjoyed the project management elements of the company. Later that year she was then offered the Level 4 apprenticeship. Emma has a background in theatre studies and can therefore come up with exciting new strategies to help engage young people. Whilst Emma has little experience in this field as she is just starting out in her career, she is keen to learn and is excited to be studying with Youth Resilience UK.
VOLUNTEER CYP SUPPORT WORKER
VOLUNTEER CYP SUPPORT WORKERCaitlin Walker
I have worked for YRUK over the last 3 years as a young volunteer and then doing some admin support. More recently I have taken on school support and love what I do. I am doing a T level in health hoping to progress to university for becoming a Midwife. I love the work we do and the skills it is developing for me to transfer to my work in hospitals. Seeing the results we get for our students really drives me to want to do more.
CYP SUPPORT WORKER
CYP SUPPORT WORKERZoe Drury
Zoe previously worked in the city for a large financial organisation for 12 years as a Regional Business Support Manager where she was an advocate for Women in Business. However, at the age of 35 and following the birth of her first child, Zoe decided to make a massive career change and started two successful businesses supporting baby’s, pre-schoolers, parents and guardians, and is qualified as a baby massage and baby yoga instructor, and has since had another child. At a young age of Zoe became a carer for a family member following a diagnosis of psychosis. She is incredibly passionate about supporting young carers and the mental health of young people.
SESSIONAL SUPPORT WORKER
SESSIONAL SUPPORT WORKERAngela Nugent
An accomplished Learning and Business development consultant, with extensive experience in design and delivery of bespoke training solutions that align with organisations current and future business objectives. She has worked with a range of organisations in the public, private, and charity sector. She also has a wealth of experience in service delivery whilst working for National charity supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents. On top of this she also has more than 10 years’ experience in social care, as a qualified Children and Young person’s practitioner, facilitating workshops on healthy/unhealthy relationships and personal safety, for young people in need of care and protection in a residential setting. She is a Qualified Community mediator, Qualified Mental Health First Aider for MHFA England and currently working towards a qualification in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) mediation. ‘In a time and space where so many voices are not heard, I’m passionate and committed in continuing my pursuit to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion, into everything I do. They are more than words they are the core of who I am.’
SESSIONAL SUPPORT WORKER
SESSIONAL SUPPORT WORKERAmy Shephard
I have been volunteering with YRUK for the last 3 years. I also do sessional support work when required and love to see the difference YRUK make for young people. They were a big support to me during covid and having the platform to raise awareness of neurodiversity and mental health was a real highlight! I have a passion for creative arts and providing young people with a more diverse approach to learning and growing! I love being part of the team and look forward to the next chapter for YRUK.
YOUTH AMBASSADOR
YOUTH AMBASSADORBilly
Billy is joining us as our first official youth ambassador and we are thrilled! You can read more about his journey with us and the work he will be doing on our new page COMING SOON.

OUR MISSION

To inspire young people to develop emotional and behavioural resilience, through the delivery of restorative frameworks, that enable them to make positive choices, changes & relationships.