This Trustees’ Week, we’re celebrating the volunteers who give their time, expertise and leadership to help us deliver our strategy and achieve our purpose: working alongside children and young people so they can be safe, heard and shape their own futures. 

Trustees play an important role in ensuring the charity remains focused, sustainable and able to respond to the changing needs of children and young people. They provide strategic oversight, constructive challenge and accountability, drawing on experience from a wide range of professional and personal backgrounds. 

For Damian Haley, who joined our Board in 2024, meeting young people and learning more about the support provided across YMCA DownsLink Group has reinforced why this matters. 

“When you read the stories of young people we’ve helped, or visit a project and meet them in person, you realise you can’t put a price on it. 

“The young people are doing the hard work themselves, they’re making the changes in their lives, but having that support around them can help guide them in the right direction or signpost them to support that’s right for them at that particular time.” 

Helping deliver our strategy

The role of our Trustees is particularly important as YMCA DownsLink Group begins delivering its new 2026–31 strategy, which sets out a clear direction for how we will support children and young people over the next five years. 

At a time when demand is rising and sources of support are under increasing pressure, the strategy recognises both the growing complexity of the challenges young people face and their resilience, strength and potential.  

It is built around four priorities: 

• Reach: supporting more young people who need us 

• Impact: deepening the difference we make 

• Voice: ensuring young people help shape what we do 

• Potential: strengthening our organisation so that we can sustain and grow our work 

Together, these priorities will help us reach more children and young people, strengthen the impact of our services and create more opportunities for young people to influence the decisions that affect their lives.  

Our Trustees work alongside the Executive Team to oversee the delivery of this strategy. They help ensure decisions remain aligned with our purpose, resources are used responsibly and YMCA DownsLink Group is equipped to respond to both emerging challenges and new opportunities. 

Damian brings more than 25 years’ experience in affordable housing to this work and sits on our Resources Committee. He was initially attracted to YMCA DownsLink Group by the combination of housing and support for young people. 

“I felt I could be helpful on the housing and development side because that’s my background. But alongside that, I’ve learned much more about the wraparound care and support that young people need in addition to housing.” 

Welcoming new experience and perspectives 

Over the past year, we have continued a planned period of Board renewal, welcoming new skills, experience and perspectives while building on the expertise already in place. 

In March, Paul Roche joined as Chair of our People and Remuneration Committee, bringing experience in workforce strategy, system leadership and organisational development. Catherine Parkinson also joined the Board and the committee, contributing expertise in HR, early careers development, mentoring, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and values-led leadership.  

More recently, we announced the appointment of Trevor Beattie MBE as our incoming Chair. Trevor will formally take up the role in January, following a planned handover period with our current Chair, Fran Beckett. 

These developments are part of a wider story of continuity and renewal. They ensure YMCA DownsLink Group continues to benefit from experienced leadership and a broad range of perspectives as we move forward with our new strategy. 

A shared commitment to children and young people 

Although Trustees often work behind the scenes, their contribution supports everything YMCA DownsLink Group is working to achieve. 

Damian says one of the things that has stood out during his time on the Board is the commitment shown by people across the organisation: 

“People genuinely want to make a difference and are passionate about what they do. Everybody plays a part in helping us make that difference.” 

Trustees’ Week gives us an opportunity to recognise that contribution and to thank all our Trustees, past and present, for volunteering their time, experience and leadership. 

Together with young people, colleagues, volunteers, partners and supporters, they help us remain focused on our purpose and deliver a strategy designed to expand our reach, deepen our impact and ensure more children and young people can be safe, heard and shape their own futures.