Meet the Team

Meet the team

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Dr Jane Rigbye

Chief Executive Officer

Jane Rigbye

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.

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 Manager

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.

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.

PREVENTING GAMBLING HARMS IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME

Andrea Hutchings

Training & Engagement Manager: Community & Faith Leaders

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.

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.

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’.