Our Business Areas...

YouTurn is an independent charity based in Bedfordshire. We draw upon the common trends and agendas of the criminal justice system nationally, as well as having a wealth of local knowledge around our business areas. We aim to ensure that all of the areas we work in are an example of good practice, that we have an understanding of the key objectives and that they are delivered to a consistently high standard.

Serious Youth Violence

YouTurn provide business support to the Luton and Bedford (which includes central) Youth Offending Services. Specifically to their gang panels: MAGPan and Serious Youth Violence Panel. We are supporting the reduction of gang activity across the county.

Integrated Offender Management

YouTurn coordinates Bedfordshire’s Integrated Offender Management programme (IOM). IOM is a multi-agency approach that works intensively with the county’s most persistent and prolific offenders in order to reduce their offending.

Out of Court Disposals

A new out of court disposal option. The police can refer offenders to complete the Direction+ Conditional Caution Session or Community Resolution. The session has been designed to help the offender think about what may have led to their offending behaviour and the impact it has had on victims.

Direction for Bedfordshire

Direction for Bedfordshire – a one stop shop to help prevent the cycle of reoffending providing an online hub of services and direct support from experienced staff.

Exploitation

Since 2015, YouTurn have coordinated the Pan-Bedfordshire strategic response to tackling Child Sexual Exploitation. Bedfordshire is transitioning into an approach that will tackle exploitation as whole.

CBC and LBC Supported Pathway

A service for 16-25 year olds that require support to move away from serious violence, knife crime, gangs, organised criminality. The service also supports those at risk of being exploited through these activities.

YouTurn Futures was launched in 2014 as a local response to the Government’s ‘Transforming Rehabilitation’ agenda, ensuring that the very successful Integrated Offender Management approach to rehabilitation continued across Bedfordshire. Since then we have grown and are now working with partners to tackle Child Exploitation (including criminal and sexual exploitation) and Serious Youth Violence. As an independent charity, we are able to add value to the work of our partners by: brokering relationships, project managing new initiatives, developing performance products and providing business support to partnership arrangements. We believe that successful multi-agency partnership working is vital when it comes to ensuring the change, transition and rehabilitation of socially excluded groups.

Our most recent initiative has been the launch of ‘Direction’ a one-stop-shop to help prevent the cycle of re-offending in partnership with Kathryn Holloway, Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner. ‘Direction’ aims to help offenders, their families, their friends and also professionals who work within the criminal justice system to prevent re-offending by providing an online hub of services and direct support from experienced staff.

Stuart Smith

Director

Stuart was a Metropolitan Police Officer for 33 years during which he performed a variety of strategic and operational roles including a 3 year secondment to the Home Office. His final role was as Superintendent lead for Diversity and Community Engagement.

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Abbie Rowley

Performance & Project Lead

Abbie graduated in 2011 from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge with a Psychology and Criminology degree. After various placements within Bedfordshire Police whilst at university. Abbie joined as a civilian member of staff in 2011.

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Neill Waring

Deputy Director

Neill joined YouTurn as our IOM Co-ordinator in January 2018. Neill was a Police Officer with Bedfordshire Police for 31 years. For 15 years he strategically represented the Force in various Community Safety roles as well as taking active roles in national and regional initiatives including a secondment to the Eastern Regional Government Office.

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Elaine McConnell

Growth and Development Lead

Elaine joined YouTurn in August 2019 on a part time basis to assist with business development and growth. Elaine had been the CEO of The Lucy Faithfull Foundation a national child protection charity. Elaine’s previous background was with Hertfordshire Probation where she was the director of operations.

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Alison Owens

Business Support Officer

Alison joined Probation in May 2011 in the then newly formed Integrated Offender Management (IOM) team. In February 2016 Alison began working for YouTurn Futures and brings to the team many years administrative experience.

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Lisa Robinson

Exploitation Lead

Lisa joined YouTurn in December 2016. Her experience spans over 15 years in social care and mental health sectors working with children, young people and families with complex needs.

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Benita Branagan

Performance Analyst

Benita is the performance analyst for YouTurn Futures and started the job with YouTurn in November 2018. She graduated with a 2:1 degree in Psychology from the University of Leicester back in 2016 and joined us after gaining work experience whilst overseas in Sri Lanka.

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Emma Freeman

Direction Coordinator

Emma joined You Turn Futures in March 2020. She was a Police Officer for 16 years, including the last 11 years with the Metropolitan Police Service. Emma performed a variety of roles as Police Constable, most recently as an Offender Manager working with those convicted of sexual offences and serious violence.

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Olivia Ingle

Direction Coordinator

Olivia joined You Turn Futures in September 2021. Olivia has experience of working with adults, children and young people who have been affected by domestic abuse, substance misuse and mental health issues. She is currently completing a level 2 peer mentoring in a criminal justice setting qualification.

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Teri Parish

HR/ Business Manager

Teri joined YouTurn in March 22. She is a CIPD L5 qualified HR generalist with a passion for supporting the enablement of an inclusive, engaged, motivated team in where people can thrive, achieve their full potential and perform brilliantly. Teri previously worked for Leicestershire Police.

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Sharon Simpson

Direction Coordinator

Sharon joined YouTurn Futures as a caseworker in September 2021. She has been involved in projects related to the criminal justice system for over 15 years, and most recently managed a vocational qualifications contract with the Ministry of Justice working across the prison service in England and Wales.

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Lucy Page

PERFORMANCE ANALYST

Lucy is the performance analyst for YouTurn Futures and joined us in June 2022. She graduated with a 2:1 degree in Criminology and Psychology from Leeds Beckett University back in 2018 with experience as a crime analyst at a security solutions company.

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Olivia Haughton

Data Researcher

Olivia joined YouTurn Futures in July 2022 as a data researcher after Graduating from the University of Derby with a first-class honours’ degree in Criminology. She is keen to launch her career in the criminal justice sector and gain experience with YouTurn Futures.

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Antonella Greco

DIRECTION COORDINATOR

Antonella joined YouTurn Futures in September 2022. Antonella has over 25 years of experience working with children and young people in various settings as a Youth Worker. Previously Antonella spent 10 years working for Bedfordshire Youth Offending Service as a Youth Justice Practitioner in the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Team.


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Jade Davies

Mental Health Peer Support Worker

Jade joined Youturn Futures in September 2022. Jade is currently a third year undergraduate student studying a Young Person and Child Counselling course within which she has gained Person-Centred skills and knowledge. Jade is also a member of the BACP and has volunteered with some amazing charities. She is enthusiastic about working with different people, empowering and supporting them with their lives.


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Promi Haque

DIRECTION COORDINATOR

Promi Joined You Turn Futures in October 2022. Promi has worked with Women and Girls fleeing from Domestic Abuse relationships, as well as a children’s worker to support with trauma from young age. Promi also has 6 years’ experience in working with housing, finance, substance misuse and mental health support.


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Arriana Vararu

OPERATIONAL INTERN

Arriana joined YouTurn Futures as the first ever intern in June 2022. Arriana is currently a third-year undergraduate student studying Psychology with Forensic Psychology, and has experience developing and delivering workshops with people of all ages, managing projects and handling our social media presence.

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