The BYC Board

BYC Vice-Chair (Campaigns & Communications)
Dara Farrell

Dara is the former Chair of Kent Youth County Council, a member of BYC. As an MYP for Kent he debated twice in the House of Commons and attended the annual sitting in Belfast. In 2010 Dara was selected as a UK Young Ambassador for the British Youth Council attending EU presidency youth conferences on employment. He also formed part of two BYC delegations to youth summits with the deputy prime minister.

Dara firmly believes youth work empowered him to take such an active role within youth politics. This lead him to start the save our services campaign. At the 2010 ACM Dara moved the save our youth services motion which was later selected as a BYC priority campaign. Since then has been active within the choose youth coalition, sitting on its steering group and opening both choose youth services rallies as well as the parliamentary lobby.

Dara is at the University of Kent Studying a joint honours degree in politics and sociology, while also working as a part time youth worker. A proud supporter of Arsenal and both the Ireland Rugby and Football teams. In his spare time he captains a pool team in Ashford.

 

BYC Vice-Chair (Participation & Development)
Rosina St James

 

 

Rosina St James is 21 years old and is currently studying a Social Policy with Government degree at The London School of Economics. She is also the President of the African Caribbean Society at LSE.

 

She has been working part time for Croydon Council's Integrated Youth Support Service as a Youth Participation Support Worker for the past four years. She is presently one of the trustees for v (vinspired) and used to be on v's youth advisory board. She co founded the TIA (The Inner Attitude) in 2010 to work on performing arts projects with young woman.

 

Rosina volunteered in India, Rajasthan for 3 months, where she taught English, Maths to disadvantage children and was a Money Mentor for London Citizens running financial literacy workshops to young people aged between 14- 18. She also mentors young inmates in youth prisons; is a sixth form student advisor and is currently starting up a new project that will work with the homeless In Central London. She really enjoys travelling to explore different parts of the world and is a lover of the great outdoors and extreme sports.

 

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BYC Vice-Chair (Finance & Treasurer)
Thomas Turrell

 

Thomas was elected as BYC Vice-Chair Finance in September 2011 after serving as Deputy Member of Youth Parliament for Northamptonshire (2008 - 2010), Chairman of the Wellingborough Youth Council (2009 - 2010) and Young Ambassador for Northamptonshire (2010 - Present). Thomas has an extensive back ground in Youth Politics and representing his peers, a member of the Wellingborough Children and Young Peoples Area Board and the Northamptonshire Shadow Board.

Thomas was Chairman of the Off Da Street Youth Committee and is currently the youngest Governor at Kettering NHS Foundation Trust where he takes the lead of Youth Development and represents the constituency of Wellingborough. Thomas is currently studying Politics at the University of Greenwich and has just finished a term on the Students Union Council.

Thomas build up his financial experience starting small, as the Finance
Secretary to Weavers Sixth Form Leadership team, Deputy Area Chairman
(Membership and Finance) for South East London Conservative Future and as
Treasurer of the Greenwich University Conservatives.

Thomas is a member of The Financial Strategy Group and UK Youth Parliament Reference Group.

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BYC Trustee - Francesca Temitope Danmole

 

Francesca is a Psychology graduate whose previous roles have included Student Society President, Youth Worker, Student Mentor and Community Teacher. In her work, she has helped turn issues faced by young people into positive outcomes. She is firmly convicted that young people need to be empowered to be the change they wish to see, then equipped with the tools to be that change.

She has been named a Future Leader on the Powerful Media UK Power List and a role Model in London Borough of Hackney, where she grew up and has one various awards for her service to her community. Although these may be noteworthy achievements, Francesca says her biggest accomplishment is the work she has done through the workshops she facilitates. Here she provides young people with the time and space to explore their hopes and dreams, whilst enforcing the idea that today's actions shape their tomorrows.

Francesca is passionate about seeing young people realising and reaching their full potential; regardless of what their background, environment and circumstances say. Francesca is particularly interested in how youth development and youth participation can impact education.

 
 

BYC Trustee - Josh Snape

Josh is passionate about youth governance and has been active in youth councils and projects in his home county of Suffolk before becoming a student at Queen Mary University of London.

He continues to volunteer for BYC member organisation the Boys Brigade as a Leader and a member of the England Committee. At university he represents fellow students as a course rep. In his spare time he enjoys exploring the many historical attractions and green spaces in London.

 
 

BYC Trustee - Ian Adderley

Ian is active in the co-operative movement: currently serving on an Area Committee of The Co-operative, and on the National Executive Committee of the Co-operative Party as the youth representative. He has been heavily involved in the Fairtrade movement previously chairing Fairtrade Leeds and Fairtrade Yorkshire. He works for a trade union and previously worked for co-operative and social enterprise regional bodies in Yorkshire and the Humber.

In 2008 he graduated from the University of Hull with a degree on Law with Politics and later went on to be Called to the Bar. As a trustee of BYC since 2008, Ian has served on the policy response group, financial strategy group, and has led on the board's governance work, in particular chairing a review of its governance.

 
 

BYC Trustee - Ben Mallon

Ben is Chairman of the Northern Ireland Youth Forum and is currently in his fourth year of studying Education (with History) at Queens University, Belfast. His background is with the Scout Association he has previously been Chair of the Procedures Group of the UK Youth Parliament and a UK Young Ambassador for Northern Ireland.

Ben wanted to join the BYC board because he passionately believes in the work of the charity. While a trustee he'll seek to develop the voice of BYC to challenge the difficulties young people throughout our country face.

BYC Trustee - Chris Neal

 

Chris joined the BYC board to help empower young people across the UK to have a say through good and effective youth governance.

Currently a student (education studies) at the University of Greenwich, through BYC Chris is actively involved with representing young people's voices in Europe and the European Youth Forum.

His background is with The Scout Association, as an adult volunteer, local trustee and at a national level. He is also involved with his student union and is an active campaigner for youth issues.

 
 

BYC Trustee - Sam Hale

 

Sam got involved with BYC through serving as a Member of the UK Youth Parliament (MYP) in 2009. He has been elected as Chair of his local youth forum and through this, is leading local and national campaigns.

Next year, Sam plans to read Politics, Philosophy and Economics at university. He is currently studying Maths, Further Maths, Computing and Physics at A-level and is Director of Ramico Media, an online business based on an affiliated marketing concept. In his free time Sam enjoys spending sailing, playing the piano and debating.

 

BYC Trustee - Marc Kidson

 

Marc works for the University of York Students' Union as Representation & Democracy Development Coordinator. In this role he supports the effective engagement of members in the democratic processes of the Union, seeking to expand the range of opportunities that they have to set policy. He also coordinates the election, training and activities of course representatives in academic departments, helping students to have a say on their learning experience.

Prior to this, Marc studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Oxford, graduating in 2010. While at university, he was involved in a number of societies and wrote for the Cherwell student newspaper.

Marc was elected as a Trustee in September 2011, and serves on the Policy Response Group. He also has a role supporting the governance work of the Board.

BYC Trustee - Zain Awan

 

Zain Haider Awan at 18 is the youngest trustee on board of the BYC. A British activist of Pakistani heritage. Ever since the age of 13 Zain has been involved in Charity & Voluntary work. Having worked on a Local, National and Global level representing the views of young people, Awan has become an experienced advocate for young people. In the past five years, Awan has been involved in over thirty-three youth projects including the UK Young Ambassadors programme, the UK Youth Parliament and helped shape the Peterborough Youth Council. He has served as an advisor, activist and advocate.

Due to his vast experience and his young age, Awan is regularly invited to speak and facilitate workshops. He has spoken at local and global summits to a whole host of audiences; from groups of youths to senior foreign policy makers.
Zain has been elected a trustee of the British Youth Council; where he is one of two representatives to the European Youth Forum.

In recognition of his efforts, Zain was awarded the 'Malcom X's young person of the year award' in 2010 by the Muslim News, 'the Young Person of the Year' award by the 'Young People of the Year' and Ahlulbayt TV global award in 'recognition of exemplary achievement within the Muslim Community'. At the age of 16, Awan was the youngest person to be featured in the EMEL magazine 'Watch this Face' feature. Currently studying his final year of A-levels, Awan wishes to pursue a career within Human Rights.

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