News

Leap Confronting Conflict boosts Board for further growth

Tuesday 17th November 2009

Leap Confronting Conflict (Leap), today announced the appointment of four trustees in order to prepare for further growth. A UK specialist in youth and conflict, Leap has been growing rapidly over the last few years and was recently named Overall Winner of the Charity Awards 2009.

Leap’s three core activities are set out in the ‘notes to editors’; these are Youth Programmes, Training and Consultancy and the Leap Academy of Youth and Conflict. Leap will reach over 30,000 young people this year as well as undertaking further pioneering research on this very important social issue.

The four new trustees have a wide range of complimentary experience to Leap’s existing trustees and are drawn from very different backgrounds.

Michael Barrington-Hibbert has a wide range of experience in sport, business and community activity, having previously been a member of the Chelsea Youth Academy and a professional footballer until he retired prematurely through injury at 19. Prior to his current role as Head of the city practice of leading search firm Odgers, his early business career was with Morgan Stanley in New York. As an active member of REACH he is also involved in inspiring young men from ethnic minorities across the UK.

Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, Commercial Director of BT plc’s Openreach division, is an experienced business leader with extensive experience in transformational change, eBusiness, Human Resources, Commercial development and Finance, gained in leading organisations such as BT, Centrica and British Airways. Hetti is also a programme facilitator for the Windsor Leadership Trust.

Peter Myers is an experienced Executive and Non Executive Director. Following a successful international career in financial services, during which time he worked in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA, Peter has recently been appointed Chief Executive of the West Yorkshire Tourist Board. He is a Non Executive Director of Leeds NHS and Finance Yorkshire and an Officer in the RAF Reserve, responsible for running the cadet force.

Reedah N. El-Saie, has an understanding of interfaith issues as a member of the Government’s National Muslim Women’s Advisory Group, the National Sikh Muslim Action Group, Faith Matters and Mosaic. A Barrister by background Reedah also has a deep interest in art and in addition to founding ArRum, the UK’s first club promoting Islamic art and culture, is also the founder and Director of the Mica Gallery, London (formerly islamicartanddesign.com). Reedah is also a member of the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust.

These new appointees join Leap’s existing seven trustees whose profiles are contained in the ‘notes to editors’.

Commenting on the appointments, Leap’s Chairman Patrick Dunne who is also Communications Director for 3i Group plc and a member of the General Council of Warwick University said:

“Leap is now making a huge impact on a social issue. Yet, like many of the young people we support, we have much to do to fully realise our potential and face a very challenging environment. The appointments of our new trustees with their wide range of experience and considerable networks will provide a further boost to Leap’s growth.”

Ends

For further information, please contact:
Elly Gilbert: 020 7561 3718 / elly.gilbert@leapconfrontingconflict.org.uk

Notes to editors
Leap Confronting Conflict (Leap) has a track record of 22 years development of innovative youth programmes that work with young people and youth practitioners to prevent and manage violence and transform challenging and anti-social behaviour. Leap has the explicit vision that conflict resolution skills and understanding should be located within all informal and formal programmes for young people in the UK.
Leap Website: www.leapconfrontingconflict.org.uk
Registered Charity no: 1072376 | Registered Company no: 3628271

Youth Programmes
Leap Youth Programmes deliver structured projects working directly with young people aged 11-21 years old– in schools, in communities, in youth centres and on urban estates.

Training and Consultancy
Leap offers specialist training and consultancy to youth practitioners to work together more effectively with young people with issues such as challenging behaviour, gangs, identity and prejudice.

The Leap Academy of Youth and Conflict
The Leap Academy of Youth and Conflict offers a programme of short courses, and longer programmes of study, including a JNC approved Certificate in Youth and Conflict, and a University Diploma in Youth and Conflict.

Trustee Profiles
Patrick Dunne – Chair
Patrick joined the Leap board in 2002, and has been Chairman since 2006. In addition to his executive role as Communications Director for 3i Group plc, the international private equity business, he is also a member of the General Council of Warwick University, a Visiting Professor at Cranfield School of Management and a Visiting Fellow of Kingston University. He has extensive corporate governance experience and is a regular speaker and commentator on boardroom issues, having written several books on the subject. Patrick is also a leading advocate and practitioner of Venture Philanthropy. His charitable interests are focused on the education of disadvantaged young people in the UK and in Africa.

David Causer – Treasurer
David is a chartered accountant and a member of the Securities Institute. He has held a number of senior positions within financial organisations including being Finance director of Mercury Asset Management group plc and a managing director of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers until 2001. David also has extensive experience in a range of charities including the British Red Cross where he was director of Finances and Resources at until December 2007.David joined Leap’s board in 2008.

Anna Herrmann, MA, PG Cert
Anna has been working in the field of social change for twenty years, specialising in theatre and education with marginalised groups, both in the UK and abroad. Since 2002 she has been the Head of Education at Clean Break, a theatre company working with women affected by the criminal justice system. Anna worked at Leap from 1991-97, culminating in the writing and publication of ‘Making a Leap: Theatre of Empowerment’, a practical handbook in creating issue-based theatre with young people facing disadvantage. She returned as a trustee in 2006.

Christine Asbury, MA
Christine joined the Board of Leap in 2006, and has over 25 years of experience in leading organisations in the not for profit sector. She is currently Chief Executive of a start-up social enterprise, ATcare; prior to that she was Chief Executive of a charity providing supported living services for adults with complex needs and Chief Executive of TreeHouse, the national charity for autism education, where she led the rapid and sustainable growth from a staff team of six with a turnover of £100,000 to employing a hundred people with a turnover of over £4 million. Christine is also a trustee of the charity Birth Companions.

Janet Cummins, MBA, AKC, FRSA
Janet is a highly experienced company director who has started and developed several organisations, including a specialist recruitment consultancy for the charity sector. She currently holds the executive position of Administrator of Tomorrow’s Achievers, a project of the Gabbitas Truman & Thring Educational Trust, organising Saturday master classes for exceptionally able children. Janet has been a Trustee of Leap since 2000, and is currently a Trustee of the Ex-Pat Foundation, a grant giving foundation, and a Trustee and Clerk of Six Weeks Meeting, the organisation which manages the Quaker Meeting Houses in Greater London.

Michaela Howard, BA, REC
Michaela Howard is a qualified mediator, trainer and arbitrator and works for Hamilton Mayday in recruitment. She has an honours degree in Business Law and Human Resource Management and has been on the Leap board for eight years, having previously been a participant on and then a trainer for the Quarrel Shop. Michaela was diagnosed with dyslexia in her later education and is a natural role model for young people with special needs who have experienced conflict.

Mike Conradi
Mike is a Partner at specialist technology law firm Kemp Little. His passion for peer-led youth work arises from his years spent working as a leader in a Jewish youth movement. Mike joined the Leap board in 2003.

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