Beth joined Manchester Young Lives in January 2023, having spent 20 years managing children and young people’s services in a range of voluntary and public sector organisations. Beth is a professionally qualified youth worker, holding a Post Graduate Diploma in Youth and Community Work. Beth also has an undergraduate Degree in Psychology and a Post Graduate Certificate in Voluntary Sector Management.
Prior to her role at Manchester Young Lives, Beth worked for Coram Voice managing Manchester’s Children’s Rights Service for Cared for Children. Beth managed targeted youth support services in Trafford, including sexual and mental health, child sexual exploitation and missing from home, and young parents. She established a new detached youth work team and was the Chair of the multi-agency Complex Safeguarding Quality Assurance Group.
Beth worked for The Children’s Society for 7 years, initially coordinating an education inclusion programme for young refugees, later becoming responsible for volunteering nationwide, and culminating in being the national strategic lead for Quality and Practice Improvement. Earlier in her career Beth worked in community regeneration managing youth participation, play development, and alternative education, for the Children’s Fund on prevention and early intervention, and in lifelong learning.
Beth is passionate about supporting children and young people to achieve their potential, whatever the challenges in their lives. Beth advocates for children’s rights and believes in listening to children and young people and involving them in decisions about their lives and services. As a parent to children with additional needs she understands personally as well as professionally the difference the right support at the right time can make.