We are delighted to announce the appointment of two new members to our Executive team. Anna Cooley joins us as Director of Supported Housing and Emma Norman as Director of Mental Health and Advice.
Both bring a wealth of experience, expertise and strategic leadership to YMCA DownsLink Group to help us strengthen and shape the future of support for children and young people across Sussex and Surrey.
The appointments come at an important time for our organisation as we continue to deliver the first year of our five-year strategy, strengthen our services and respond to growing demand for housing, mental health, wellbeing and advice services for young people.
Chief Executive Emily Brock said: “We are delighted to welcome Emma and Anna to YMCA DownsLink Group. Both are highly experienced leaders with a strong track record of leading services, driving improvement and delivering positive outcomes for children, young people and communities.
“They share our commitment to listening to young people and ensuring our values remain at the heart of everything we do.”
Anna Cooley: Director of Supported Housing
Anna brings more than three decades of leadership experience across supported housing, homelessness and social care.
Her career has included executive, operational and governance roles with organisations including YMCA DownsLink Group, Salvation Army Housing Association and Altair. She has led large housing and support portfolios, strengthened service performance and advised charities, housing providers and local authorities on strategy, governance and sustainability.
Alongside her consultancy work, Anna serves as Chair of the Sussex-based Grace Eyre Foundation and brings significant expertise in safeguarding, financial stewardship, asset management, regulatory compliance and service quality.
Based in West Sussex, Anna is passionate about creating safe, stable housing and support that enables young people to build independent and fulfilling lives. She is motivated by the opportunity to widen access to high-quality services for those facing homelessness, poor mental health, family breakdown and other challenges, while ensuring organisations remain strong and sustainable for the future.
Her commitment to youth voice, trauma-informed practice and partnership working reflects a belief that the best outcomes are achieved when young people are empowered to shape the support they receive and the futures they want to create.
Emma Norman: Director of Mental Health and Advice
Emma is an experienced senior leader with more than 20 years’ experience delivering services for children, young people and families.
Her career has spanned frontline practice and senior leadership roles at Catch22, The Hyde Group and The Children’s Society, giving her broad experience across mental health and wellbeing, safeguarding, early intervention, youth participation, commissioning and service development.
In her previous role as Director of Young People & Families at Catch22, Emma led large multidisciplinary teams and complex service portfolios across multiple local authority areas, supporting young people experiencing a wide range of vulnerabilities and challenges, including mental health needs, exploitation, substance use and safeguarding concerns.
Based in Brighton and Hove, Emma is a values-led and collaborative leader who is passionate about listening to young people, empowering teams and developing services that respond to the whole needs of the young person. Alongside her executive leadership role, she is Safeguarding Governor at Longhill High School.
