Meet the United Youth Alliance Team

Deborah Terras

Deborah Terras

Director

I have been a Youthworker practitioner for approximately 25 years, having started my youth work journey in Scouts. I have an MA in Education from the University of Cumbria. I was part of The project Marginalisation and Co-created Education (MaCE), which is a response to youth unemployment rates within the EU area and concerns regarding young people who are “Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)”  I was part of the co research team, working alongside colleagues from University of Cumbria, Norway and Denmark. You can find my contribution to the MaCe project in the Journal of Youth Voices in Education: Methods theory practice  https://ojs.cumbria.ac.uk/index.php/Youth/index  Fylde Coast Living Libraries, Seaside Story Telling within a pedagogy framework

I have extensive experience in strategic development of projects and organisations,  as well as enjoying working within communities to develop capacity and innovation, through training and social action. I am thrilled to be part of the Washington Group because it gives more opportunities to develop people’s creativity and skills across all our communities such as International Women’s Day Festival and International Men’s Day and Blackpool Youth Pride.

In my spare time I dabble in Biathle, triathlons, cycling and open water swimming, as well as touring UK in my VW Van.

Sue Littlefair

Sue Littlefair

Director

I have been around for over 36 years working as a Senior Manager across the North West for a number of companies working with young people. Having started out as a Careers Adviser in school then developing  apprenticeship programmes for a range of Government Organisations and then the 13 years with the Princes Trust enabled me to further develop my skills and in turn create innovative programmes and activities for many disadvantaged young people.

I was looking to take things a bit easier and I was approached by the Washington Group and I was given an opportunity that I could not turn down.  The company is very passionate about working with young people and communities and the ‘We Can’ attitude just said it all. I am therefore, very excited about being involved with this organisation and I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge to help and support young people who are just starting out.

I am very active and enjoy the gym and love many sports. My secret passion is working at Accrington Stanley on match days and it’s great fun.  

Jake Adams

Jake Adams

Director

Jake Adams is the CEO of The Mina Group. Jake has always been an advocate for the VCFS sector providing support across the sector.

As a young person he set up his own business at the age of 14 and this has now progressed into a successful national workwear establishment, employing local people with a specific focus on supporting young people into employment.

Jake was instrumental in setting up Blackpool Young People’s council, he represented Blackpool as a Member of Youth Parliament visiting places such as Canada and the Houses of Parliament to ensure that young people in Blackpool had a voice.

Jake‘s company has supported United Youth Alliance throughout all its projects and is fully supported from a corporate social responsibility and the staff team as corporate volunteers. Jake is the recipient of BIBAs young person of the year award and his company are BIBAS finalist for 2021 and 2022.

Consultants

Shughie Morrison

Shughie Morrison

Associate

I am a qualified tutor who has extensive experience in delivering a number of CPD training courses, including DANOS (Drug and Alcohol Industry National Occupational Standards), conflict resolution, confidence building and many more.

My experience is linked predominately in the community offering support services for people in recovery from addiction.

My role within UYA as an Associate, enables me to act as a critical sounding board to the organisations, offering reflective practice and support where required as well as supporting the quality of the projects.

I am very proud to have written the first Level 3 LGBTQ qualification and deliver through The Washington Group.

I am an avid Kylie Minogue fan and in 2018 I was awarded Blackpool Local Hero’s award for Best Charity Worker

Julie Brotherton

Julie Brotherton

Consultant

Proudly Blackpool-born and bred, I have over 35 years’ experience of working in large multi-national organisations (CSC and BAE Systems) with knowledge of various sectors, including aerospace, IT and healthcare. Having held a wide variety of senior management/leadership roles, working with teams and clients across the world, I then set up my own consultancy business, delivering executive coaching, mentoring and leadership development.

I am a graduate of CSC’s Emerging Leaders and Exceptional Leaders programmes, and hold a certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University. As former Chair of CSC’s Women in Leadership in the UK, I am a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and I am passionate about helping others to recognise and fulfil their true potential. I have coached and mentored at all levels from apprentice and graduate recruits to seasoned chief executives. In 2017, I was nominated for a We Are the City ‘Rising Star Champion’ Award and the NorthernPowerWomen Power List in 2018.

I want to use my experience to support my local community and have been involved with the Fylde Coast International Women’s Day Festival for the past 5 years, as a role model and as a volunteer. Now I have the opportunity to get even more involved as one of the organisers of the next event.

I am a member of the Association of Speakers Clubs, a STEM Ambassador and was a school governor in Blackpool for 5 years. My other passions are Zumba, reading and also dressmaking, which I learnt to do in lockdown!

Steve Walker

Steve Walker

Youth & Community Worker

I have been a youth worker for many years with experience working alongside young people in urban, coastal, rural and european communities, developing an understanding of the important access to agency and participation for individuals and groups.  
Through practice to leadership roles within organisations in both the statutory and voluntary sector, i have strategic leadership experience and act in support of organisations to enhance the offer to young people.  I have substantial training and development experiences and am currently engaged in learning and teaching in Higher Education across a wide range of programmes to support the field. I am actively involved in detached youth work at present and value the privilege of listening to the lived experience of young people across the Fylde Coast.
My research focuses upon access, agency and participation and how the effects of contemporary society impact upon youth services and youth work.
I enjoy spoken work and a broad range of music to support my own health and wellbeing.
Brendan Bunting

Brendan Bunting

Associate

Brendan Bunting is a Blackpool based Artist and Social Activist. Who is a Youth Worker for Lancashire County Council in both Wyre & Fylde. Who is also a Leaving Care PA For Blackpool Council’s Children’s Services.

Brendan is also a member of Reclaim Blackpool Men’s group, who champion equality for women whilst campaigning against misogyny, and sexism.”

Brendan fully endorses the work of The Washington Group, and International Mens Day, in saying 

“Sadly Blackpool tops so many lists for health inequalities where sadly men a significantly higher than the national average, as being victims of these social inequalities and issues.

It’s important that through community activism we are not only able to raise awareness, but engage in positive activities to create change. 

Thankfully for a good number of years now The Washington Group, and International Mens Day have been leading the way on the Fylde Coast in inspiring grassroots movements to change our communities for the better. I’m proud to be a part of this revolution.

Helen Gore

Helen Gore

Volunteer Youth Support Worker

I first began volunteering when I was 16 at a local charity shop. Since then I have participated in many wonderful projects at University from organising social events to making homes for hedgehogs. Aside from helping great causes, the things I always enjoyed most was meeting new people and using my creative skills. 

Having seen the value in participating in community groups and projects whilst at uni, I now want to support others in my home town with UYA. In particular, I am passionate about the Coastal Social Action Group which empowers young women to raise their voices. 

My other passions include the arts and media from mainstream pop culture to supporting local theater in Blackpool.

Volunteers

Social Action Projects

To work together with key stakeholders to support organisations and individuals to bring about social change for the benefit of their communites of need, interest and geography. We will provide opportunities in accessing capacity support, funding and training to support communities.

Research & Consultancy

Our research aims to apply mixed methodological approaches to evaluate, measure and review areas of community engagement, learning and development. Our approach intends to incorporate participatory research methods, developing a community of practice, alongside implementing evidence based praxis which supports our ethos of social mobility and co-production.

Education & Learning

To provide learning and training opportunities to all members of the community to improve their well-being. We will support growth, development and toolkits for continued success. This will include formal training opportunities with nationally recognised qualifications, voluntary or work based experience and employability skills inc confidence. We will provide self-help sessions to address specific needs.

Community Events

Evidence based research shows that targeted community events such as International Women’s Day and the Community Big Lunch create greater community cohesion and community sustainability through co design approaches.

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