Jane is a charted psychologist and Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health who has specialised in gambling harm prevention for over 15 years. She has co-authored several journal articles, book chapters and reports for local authorities and regulators.
Helen Martin
Chief Operating Officer
Helen Martin
Helen is a chartered accountant with over 20 years of experience in senior finance and governance roles, primarily in the not-for-profit sector. Helen qualified at KPMG where she specialised in business planning and grant funding.
Daniel Bliss
Director of External Affairs
Daniel Bliss
Daniel previously worked for the Gambling Commission for 3 years in several roles within their communications team. He has also held roles in politics and regional press. Daniel has valuable expertise in communications, marketing, public affairs and stakeholder engagement.
Linda Scollins-Smith
Director of Programmes
Linda Scollins-Smith
Linda is a qualified teacher and has 14 years’ experience working with children and young people within Education and not-for-profit organisations, specialising in SEND and improving opportunities for hard to reach young people. Linda has been successful in management roles demonstrating excellent stakeholder management, establishing local networks and partners.
Caroline Gallagher
Director of Digital and QA
Caroline Gallagher
Caroline has 9 years experience working in quality assurance and assessment for a national awarding organisation. Previous experience includes working in the drug and alcohol and disability sectors. Caroline brings a wealth of experience working with vulnerable people of all ages, along with her quality assurance expertise.
Ian Shanahan
Director of Business Development and Fundraising
Ian Shanahan
Ian has over 30 years in the gambling industry working in land based casinos both in the UK and abroad. He has worked through the various customer facing roles up to management and progressed into compliance and responsible gambling training which he managed for over 8 years at the Rank Group.
Kevin Orchard
People Director
Kevin Orchard
Kevin joins Ygam with over 15 years HR experience, across a variety of sectors, including tech, hospitality, and within the third sector. Prior to joining Ygam, Kevin led HR Operations at ShelterBox for five years with overall responsibility for HR, L&D, Safeguarding, & Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion.
EDUCATION TEAM
Kyle Riding
Head of Programmes
Kyle Riding
Kyle has 3 years’ experience as a client relations manager focusing on the digital safeguarding of young people and prior to this had 7 years’ experience as a teacher and member of middle management within school; holding subject leadership roles in Speaking and Listening and Modern Foreign Languages.
Sam Starsmore
Programme Lead: Education
Sam Starsmore
Sam has spent 12 years working within the Insurance industry in several roles including Relationship Management, Training Delivery & Customer Service. His passion for joining Ygam and safeguarding young people stems from his personal struggles with gambling.
Sacha Kent
Programme Lead: Education, Sports and Youth
Sacha Kent
Sacha has spent the past six years working in a safeguarding background, the majority through an online child abuse team within the police as a civilian, and more recently with the official charity of a premier league football club. She received her masters in Criminology from Portsmouth in 2019, continuing her passion for safeguarding young people through academic studies.
Ryan Phillips
Training & Engagement Manager: Midlands
Ryan Phillips
Ryan has over 10 years’ experience working with young people, including 5 years through one of the UK’s largest youth programmes recruiting and delivering sessions. In his spare time, he is a Trustee and Volunteer for a RAF Air Cadets squadron in the West Midlands.
Sam Robinson
Training & Engagement Manager: Wales
Sam Robinson
Sam has almost 6 years of direct delivery experience supporting young people in Wales for The Prince’s Trust Cymru, creating and delivering their employability and engagement activities in South West Wales as an Operations Executive. Out of work Sam loves to travel and is a keen Cardiff Devil’s Ice Hockey and Welsh Rugby supporter.
Amy Bussey
Content Development Lead
Amy Bussey
Amy is a qualified secondary teacher and has 7 years’ experience working with children and young people within inner city secondary schools. Her experience includes leading outreach projects alongside Bradford Council, as well as organising and leading on continuous professional development.
Claire Morris
Training & Engagement Manager: North West
Claire Morris
Claire has many years of experience in the education sector, both as a classroom teacher and also as a trainer, educating children and adults on the topics of animal welfare and, more recently, road safety. In her spare time she enjoys walking and getting involved in amateur dramatics.
Jack Hill
Training & Engagement Manager: Education, Sports, Trusts and Foundations
Jack Hill
Jack is a qualified secondary teacher with charity sector experience in arts and education programme delivery in Wales. Prior to joining Ygam, he spent three years in a sales and marketing role in Amsterdam. Jack is driven by making positive change, and having the opportunity to train and upskill other professionals. He is passionate about vintage postcards, international rugby, and Italian food.
Colette Oxtoby
Training & Engagement Manager: Yorkshire & Humber
Colette Oxtoby
Colette is a qualified Primary Teacher and has over 10 years of experience working with children and young people. Her experience includes being a teacher governor and a member of middle management within school; holding subject leadership roles in Computing and French.
Leah Cornish
Training & Engagement Manager:
East of England
Leah Cornish
Leah is a dedicated education professional with almost a decade of experience working in alternative education and further education provisions before joining Ygam. Throughout her career she has provided support to students tailoring support and delivery to help young people to overcome adversity and achieve their full potential.
Jack McBride
Training & Engagement Manager: Education & Parents
Jack McBride
Jack is a qualified Primary Teacher and has several years of experience working with children and young people. In his spare time, Jack is a keen gamer and a devoted Middlesbrough supporter.
Favill Gill
Training & Engagement Manager: South West
Favill Gill
Favill is a qualified primary teacher with 15 years of experience in the education sector. She has spent the last 10 years as a class teacher and is passionate about the health and well-being of young people. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her dog and going SCUBA diving.
Shaun Paskin
Training & Engagement Manager: Northern Ireland
Shaun Paskin
Shaun has several years’ experience working in the charity sector, both in and out of education. After many successful years at a leading school governor charity, Shaun relocated to Northern Ireland where he was delivering events throughout the country. He has stayed heavily involved in education and is the Co-Vice chair of trustees at an Independent School in England.
JoAnn Sproule
Training & Engagement Manager: London & South East
JoAnn Sproule
JoAnn is a dedicated professional with a diverse background in education, youth work, and the charity sector. She previously worked as a Religious Studies teacher, having trained with Teach First, and is driven by a passion for enriching and safeguarding young people. Her roles have included being a Mental Health First Aider, Senior Youth Worker, and an Education and Media intern at an Interfaith organisation based in Scotland.
Anna Harper
Resource Development Lead
Anna Harper
Anna is a qualified teacher with over 12 years of experience working with primary and secondary aged children, in schools and youth clubs. With a performing arts and English background, she loves to use her creative skills to produce engaging, relevant and accessible content and resources.
George Bricher
Content Development Lead (Maternity Cover)
George Bricher
George has 6 years of experience in working with young people in the care industry as well as in formal secondary education as a teacher. George also has several years’ experience as a writer and regularly produces cabaret and comedy shows across Britain.
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TEAM
Kelly Delgado
Brand & Design Manager
Kelly Delgado
Kelly has worked within the gambling industry for a number of years during which she has gained a vast amount of knowledge within compliance and safer gambling. She has a degree in Design and Illustration and has recently completed courses within Web and UX/UI design.
Charley Hill
Digital Marketing Manager
Charley Hill
Charley earned a Master's degree in Media, Ethics & Social Change. Since then, she has spent many years in the charity sector before joining Ygam as the Digital Marketing Manager. Charley leverages her enthusiasm for digital innovation to drive growth and positive social change.
Tom Moodey
Communications Officer
Tom Moodey
Tom achieved a BA(Hons) in Drama and an MA in Creative Writing. He has worked in communications across both public and private sectors, before joining Ygam in 2023. Tom’s passionate about using communications to build community, connecting people through telling stories with authenticity and purpose.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TEAM
Sandy Thompson
Programme Lead: Health & Social Care
Sandy Thompson
After a rewarding career in retail management, Sandy re-trained as a project manager and now has fifteen years’ experience planning and delivering high profile, public facing and commercial projects. She has volunteered with a number of organisations that educate and mentor young people.
Shaheen Edoo
Engagement Manager: Health & Social Care
Shaheen Edoo
Shaheen has a variety of sector experience in charities, education, healthcare, and volunteer organisations. Interested in engagement and the important work that charities like Ygam do.
Verity Sowden
Training & Engagement Manager: Health & Social Care
Verity Sowden
Verity has over 7 years' experience working and volunteering in the charity sector during which she has gained skills in training delivery, membership management, digital marketing, and fundraising. Her particular areas of professional interest are disability and children and young people, having previously worked in organisations that support SEND schools, therapy teams, and Early Years settings.
Lois Mundy
Delivery Manager: Health & Social Care
Lois Mundy
Lois is a qualified Primary Teacher and has over 20 years’ experience working with children and young people. For the last 10 years of her teaching career, she coordinated eSafety, and is passionate about the positives of the internet and making it a safe place for all. Outside work, she enjoys travelling, the theatre, fresh air and spending time with her husband and two crazy cats!
PARENTS PROGRAMME
Claire Patel
Programme Lead: Parents and Student & University Engagement
Claire Patel
Claire has over 12 years’ experience of working within the education, employment and charity sector. Prior to this Claire worked for a Drug and Alcohol team whilst completing her BA (Hons) Criminology degree and her Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Diploma.
UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
Jimmy Parkin
Training & Engagement Manager: University & Student Engagement
Jimmy Parkin
Jimmy has over 9 years’ experience in the Further Education sector, holding various roles from managing the cross-college PSHE and enrichment programme to delivering an extensive number of subjects including Enterprise, Gambling Awareness and GCSE English.
Andrea Hutchings
Training & Engagement Manager: University & Student Engagement
Andrea Hutchings
Andrea left the UK in 2008 to pursue her teaching career in the Middle East. She enjoyed 13 years of teaching and 2 years as Vice Principal. Teaching in the Middle East gave her the opportunity to work with students and teachers from various backgrounds.
PREVENTING GAMBLING HARMS IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME
Asma Akbar
Programme Lead and Education Manager – Diverse Communities
Asma Akbar
Asma recently graduated from the University of Manchester with a Masters in Humanitarianism and Conflict Response. During her academic life and career she nurtured a passion to work with young people. Asma strived to combine young people and youth work with her international development work.
SAFER GAMBLING PROGRAMME
Niall O'Connor
Fundraising & Training Manager
Niall O'Connor
Niall has spent the past 4 years teaching a variety of subjects at a sixth form college. During this time he also furthered his own learning by completing a Master's in Politics, Policy, and Government. In working to overcome his own struggles with gambling, Niall developed a passion for safeguarding others from similar experiences.
Rebecca Lipscombe
Fundraising & Training Officer
Rebecca Lipscombe
Rebecca has several years’ experience working in training and development, with a particular focus on eLearning within the charity sector. She is passionate about the work Ygam do and is excited to continue to develop the Safer Gambling Training Programme. Outside of work she enjoys travelling, going on dog walks and visiting the theatre.
SUPPORT TEAMS
Peter Kearney
In-House Lawyer
Peter Kearney
Peter is a qualified solicitor with extensive experience of supporting and advising charities in a variety of roles. Alongside working for Ygam, he works as an in-house lawyer for other organisations, he works as a leadership coach and sits as an independent panel member on a number of fostering panels.
Naomi Higham
Management Accountant
Naomi Higham
Naomi is an AAT Qualified Bookkeeper. Naomi started her career as a paediatric staff nurse and worked for the NHS for 16 years on a supra-regional cardiology unit. She has since taken on the role of Clerical Assistant in a busy school office.
Ann Coxall
Clerk to the Board
Ann Coxall
Ann has spent many years as a senior manager in charities and eight years at the TEC National Council, a not-for-profit company, supporting the Training and Enterprise Councils where she was Director of Operations. For the last 11 years Ann has worked as an Assessor for the Trusted Charity Quality Mark and has assessed over 50 organisations.
Lauren Raymer
HR Officer
Lauren Raymer
Lauren has several years HR experience in the facilities management industry, with a focus on health and wellbeing. She is excited to be working in the charity sector and supporting Ygam’s mission. In her spare time she likes to craft, visit the theatre and get out in the countryside near her home.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Sam Low
Information Systems Manager
Sam Low
Sam has 9 years’ experience working within the charity sector, and brings a wealth of expertise in data, digital systems, and databases. Outside of work, Sam spends most of his spare time Whitewater Kayaking and volunteering at his local canoe club!
Daniel Carlin
Programme Data Manager
Daniel Carlin
For the past 4 years Dan has been an NHS employee At the Royal Derby hospital, within Histology as a Medical Science Associate. Having studied physics at the University of Hull he previously worked as a research and development test engineer in the private sector.
Ellie Allum-Marshall
Digital Project Lead
Ellie Allum-Marshall
Ellie is Digital Project Lead for the English Gaming Education Hub programme. Ellie has previously worked in the private e-learning sector managing digital projects and operational systems. She has also worked and volunteered in the charity sector for many years working as part of the NCS programme.
Lucy Williamson
Accreditation Lead
Lucy Williamson
Before joining Ygam Lucy worked as a qualification designer and curriculum consultant for awarding organisations, she was a training manager for housing associations supporting refugees and asylum seekers and has been responsible for the continuing professional development of the early years workforce in Wolverhampton.
PATRONS
Anne & Keith Evans
Founder Patrons
Anne & Keith Evans
Founded the charity in 2014 alongside Lee Willows following their own devasting experiences with gambling harms. Anne is a former teacher and they both bring a considerable insight into education, lived experience and governance.
Paul Bellringer OBE
Patron
Paul Bellringer OBE
Paul has over 40 years’ experience in gambling harm prevention including founding the charity GamCare in 1997. He is the author of a number of publications including the book ‘Understanding Problem Gamblers’.
Keep up to date with all our latest charity news and progress as we continue to inform, educate and safeguard future generations.
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