Governance

The YouTurn Trustee Board is responsible for oversight of the charity.  This includes ensuring the charity is carrying out its purpose, complying with the law and managing resources responsibly.

There are currently eight Trustees. The Board are always keen to hear from passionate and skilled people who are interested in joining them.

“I am a recently retired GP with extensive experience of strategic leadership, transformation and governance in Luton. I have been a trustee with YouTurn Futures for approximately 9 years and Chair of Trustees since 2024. I am passionate about fairness and equity in all aspects of life for all people.”

“I have been a trustee for 4 years. Prior to my retirement I was a police officer and then on retirement became a local Central Bedfordshire councillor and have worked with Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire, the local Citizens Advice Service and undertaken a mentoring role with Groundwork East. I am currently an active member of the Bedfordshire Police & Crime Panel. I believe in social justice and the creation of opportunities that enable young people to live their best life. With Rotary GB&I I am engaged in a significant project involved in raising awareness and training in issues relating to violence against women and girls and domestic violence.”

“I trained as a probation officer in 2001 and worked across several teams before moving to Integrated Offender Management in 2008. I then became Chief Executive of HopeWorks in 2020. The charity specialises in resettling displaced families, providing supported accommodation, street outreach and delivering numerous courses for training and employability as well as creating community for the loneliest in our town.

Having previously been a trustee of two charities as well as a school governor I am experienced in governance and strategic leadership. I am also the current chair of the Bedford Homeless Executive Partnership. Becoming a trustee for YouTurn has enabled me to put my experience and skills to good use in pursuing my passion for seeing better outcomes and long-lasting positive change for those who find themselves caught up in the criminal justice system.”

When she isn’t at work Kirstie relaxes by wild swimming, running, walking her springer spaniels and watching West Ham.

“I am a qualified accountant and have worked in the financial services sector for over 35 years and I am currently a finance director within a major UK pension provider. I have a lot of experience in all things financial but also have an extensive knowledge of data, technology, and managing teams and businesses. In the period that I have been a Trustee I have been extremely impressed with the essential services that YouTurn provides in Bedfordshire and the obvious positive effects they make on many lives.”

“I am the Assistant Chief Constable for Bedfordshire Police. I have over 20 years of experience in policing and bring a wealth of knowledge and insight from working across a wide range of roles. I became a Trustee with YouTurn in 2024, and so far, I have thoroughly enjoyed contributing to the organisation’s mission. I am deeply passionate about supporting individuals and making a meaningful difference in the communities that I serve.”

“I am an accomplished leader with years of experience in Education and currently a headteacher of a Nursery School. I am also a co-opted member of the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Panel which is how I became familiar with the work of YouTurn and I joined the Trustee Board in 2024. Through my work in education, I am familiar with the barriers to opportunity if children and young people become involved in criminality and I admire the work YouTurn does with schools to provide different options. I am also a firm believer in social justice and providing opportunities for a second chance by providing skills, knowledge and a sense of purpose which is at the core of what the charity provides.”

“I have worked in specialist education for over 20 years, working in behaviour, safeguarding, pastoral and counselling roles. Then I went on to working with young people at risk of exploitation with Link to Change. I started to work for OneYMCA in 2023, working with perpetrators of Domestic Abuse and still work here but I am the Domestic Abuse Support Lead now working with survivors of Domestic Abuse. In 2025 I became a trustee of YouTurn futures because I feel I have a passion for what goes on in Bedfordshire especially with young people and I feel YouTurn really put a lot of work in around helping people to manage a safer environment.”

“I am an Assistant Principal in a secondary school and have worked across a variety of schools in my career with Behaviour, Pastoral and safeguarding as my specialist areas. I became a trustee in 2025 as I wanted to have a wider input into services provided for young people in and around Bedfordshire. YouTurn was the perfect fit as putting young people and their needs is at the heart of what YouTurn stands for.”