Young Lives Leeds Advocates
Have an issue that you would like your advocate to raise at a future board meeting? Email advocates@val.org.uk
Helen Hart
Helen is the Chief Officer of Barca Leeds, an organisation that delivers transformational projects for adults, children, young people and families in Leeds, connecting them with services that respond to the needs of each individual.
Helen is the co-Chair of Young Lives Leeds, and represents the forum on the Leeds Children’s Partnership Board, Trauma Development Group, and at Third Sector Leeds.
Julia Preston
Julia is the Chief Officer of GIPSIL, an organisation that provides housing-related services to young people, adults and families across Leeds.
Julia is the co-Chair of Young Lives Leeds, and represents the forum on the Leeds Children’s Partnership Board, Family Help Partnership Board, and at Third Sector Leeds. Julia is also co-Chair of the Homelessness Prevention Forum in Leeds.
Laura Whittaker
Laura is the Operations Director for Children, Young People and Families at Barca Leeds, leading young people focused services including FDAC, targeted family support, counselling, wellbeing and youth work-based services.
Laura is a Young Lives Leeds advocate on the Family Help Partnership Board.
Lucy Owen
Lucy is the Chief Officer at SNAPS Yorkshire, a Leeds-based organisation that provides support services for children with additional needs of all kinds, and their families.
Lucy is the Young Lives Leeds advocate on the Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND)/Special Inclusive Learning Centre (SILC) Partnership.
Carl Harrison
Carl is the Chief Officer at LS-TEN, a small, independent school that specialises in supporting young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
Carl is the Young Lives Leeds advocate on the 14-19 Partnership Board.
Tracey Simpson-Laing
Tracey is the Chief Officer at Home Start Leeds, an organisation offering emotional and practical support to families with at least one child under seven in the Leeds area.
Tracey is a Young Lives Leeds advocate on the Family Help Partnership Board.
Shanaz Gul
Shanaz is the Director of a Community Interest Company, The Heritage Cooking Company. Shanaz has a background in youth work, which drives Heritage Cooking Company’s work supporting young people into catering careers through volunteering.
Shanaz is the Young Lives Leeds advocate on the Children & Families Scrutiny Board.
Louise Forrest
Louise is the Director of Development and Partnerships at GIPSIL.
Louise is a Young Lives Leeds advocate and represents the third sector at the ICB Population Health Board for Children & Families.
Rebecca Stone
Rebecca leads the AIM Project at GIPSIL. The AIM Project offers wellbeing and practical support to care experienced young people across Leeds in the transitional period between high school years 9-12, as well as offering aspirational activities and experiences.
Rebecca is the Chair of the Care Collaborative.