YO SOLIHULL TEAM
I have a long history of experience as a youth worker, playworker, community development worker and foster carer and have co-managed Meriden Adventure Playground for several years until recently. Alongside working face to face over the decades, I have also co-authored three playwork textbooks, undertaken related research projects, and been a designer, writer and deliverer of several national playwork qualifications. I am also currently a trustee and secretary of the UK Playwork Foundation and regularly present at both national and international playwork conferences.
I chair this board, because our experience of working together in the voluntary sector over the last decade since statutory services were cut, not only makes sense but has been integral to our survival and that of local families.
Chair and Founding Member:
Ali Wood
Brett has extensive experience working with young people, with 12 years of experience working as Head of PE in a Birmingham based primary school and 16 years of experience working in community settings. Brett believes his most valuable experience has derived from his own personal journey, growing up in a tough neighbourhood in Birmingham has made him very passionate about becoming a positive role model. He has a natural gift for working with young people and supporting vulnerable families. He is very relatable and can adapt his style to build rapports with people from many different backgrounds. Brett has shown hard work and dedication to working in this area and has done lots of remarkable work within the West Midlands area!
Vice Chair: Brett Craythorne
Founding member and Secretary: Charly Slater
Charly Slater is a social entrepreneur and sociologist, armed with a degree from The University of Birmingham and abundance of voluntary experiences home and abroad, she develops preventative health programmes and behavioural change models. Her fascination with human behaviour and perceptions risk, has driven these models and has been imperative to the success of her first organisation Moo Moo Youth Marketing (2007 – 2016) and then in her successful Community Interest Company Urban Heard: Youth Engagement Specialist CIC, which has grown, year-on-year since its inception in 2014.
Charly is passionate about partnership working, providing creative solutions and truly listening to the voices of those we serve, which she believes is imperative for any voluntary or community based organisation. Driven to make sustainable systemic societal change, Urban Heard provides opportunities for young people through a youth centre and outreach, through the importance of safe spaces and trusted adults. With a modest turnover and 7 staff, we have supported hundreds of teenagers each year to make positive life choices, increase confidence and be more positive about their future.
I have worked at inclusive sports for over 3 years. Prior to this I have worked within the third sector for over 15 years.
I have many years experience within the social care sector and strive for inclusion for children and young people with special educational needs and having their voices heard.
I continue to build gaps and strong relationships with our families and CYP, and signpost where needed, as well as being a constant in the journey navigating the social care system.
Finance Officer: Kat O’Donovan
Strategic Lead for Safeguarding: Katie Washbourne
We all face adversity at some point in our lives and over the last 11 years I have worked for various organisations with people who were in crisis or were struggling to manage their emotions. During my professional career I have provided support to children, parents, families and professionals in the areas of:
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Death (Pre and post bereavement support due to natural causes or murder)
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Terrorist Attacks
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Low Confidence
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Offending – Youth and adult offenders
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Parental/ Family Seperation
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Financial Worries
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Abuse (Emotional, physical, neglect and financial)
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Alcohol and drug dependency
Whilst doing this work I developed a curiosity about why some people ‘bounce back’ from adversity and others find it complicated. Using this curiosity I set about to support creating ‘bouncy’ human beings. Using my specialist knowledge, research, professional background and passion for supporting people to be able to overcome adversities, I created Ordinary Magic Ordinary Magic – Come Join the Fun! I am a member of YO Solihull’s board, because it is clear to me that working together is essential for us to better support children and young people.
Strategic Lead for Inclusion: Chet Parmer
Chet Parmar FRSH, is a Solihull resident and father to 2 sons - aged 10 & 12. After studying business & marketing he worked in the private sector from 2000, before joining Solihull Council in 2013 to lead on regeneration work. In 2016 he joined Colebridge Trust & Unity Schools Collaborative (a cluster of 8 Solihull primary schools) where he continued to manage community, employment, skills and enterprise related projects. He became CEO of Colebridge Trust in 2019. In 2023 Chet gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health and Health Promotion and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health. Personal interests include football and live music.
YO Solihull Admin Support:
Niki Stevens
Niki has worked in Urban Heard supporting with both finance and admin for over 5 years. The only paid member of the YO Solihull team, Niki works 8 hours a week to share network information, grant information and supports in organising events and training.
Feel free to contact Niki on info@yosolihull .com if you have any news or events you would like to share.
Zoe Hill: Strategic Board Member
Zoe has extensive experience of working with children, young people and communities in a wide range of settings and across all sectors, including 10 years working across Warwickshire, as part of the project and management team for Targeted Youth Support and Early Help. Having initially qualified in outdoor learning and youth and community work, and with an unusual collection of qualifications, Zoe worked with a national charity at the forefront of therapeutic 'development training' with marginalised young people and communities, finishing her work there as part of the training and development team. Zoe's eclectic mix of qualifications and interests means she has worked in a wide range of settings from delivering outdoor management development training to blue chip companies to working with young people on a documentary about their attitudes to drugs shown at IMAX cinemas across the UK. When not at work, Zoe volunteers as head coach at a junior triathlon club and as a licensed chaperone at children & young people's drama and dance productions.