Team Profiles

Meet The Team

Staff

Catherine Westwell

Catherine Westwell

Young People’s Foundation Officer

Catherine brings over thirty years of experience working with young people across education, health, and the voluntary sector. She began her career as a Careers Adviser, developing a strong foundation in helping young people identify their strengths, aspirations, and future pathways. She went on to support vulnerable young people as a Learning Mentor and through specialist substance misuse work, providing early intervention and person-centred support. Catherine has led a county-wide partnership project raising awareness of alcohol misuse and, more recently, has supported autistic students transitioning into university and managing mental health challenges. She also has extensive experience in the charity sector, contributing to inclusive and supportive services for young people experiencing mental health difficulties.
Catherine leads the day-to-day operations of RISE, providing both strategic and operational leadership to ensure the organisation delivers its mission effectively. A consistent thread throughout her career is her commitment to empowering young people—supporting them to build confidence, overcome barriers, and dare to dream.

Trustees

Yak Patel

Yak Patel

Chair

Yak Patel is Chair of the RISE Young People Foundation and is deeply committed to ensuring young people feel heard, supported and believed in. With over 30 years’ experience working in youth and community work, Yak is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to build confidence, develop their strengths and shape their own futures.

Yak played a key role in helping to develop the RISE Young People Foundation from the very beginning, with a strong focus on building meaningful partnerships and collaboration to better support young people. Yak believes in the power of trusted relationships, listening to lived experience and working together to create positive change. As Chair, Yak is proud to support RISE in staying true to its values, amplifying young people’s voices and making a lasting difference in their lives and communities.

Nick Smith

Nick Smith

Secretary

To follow...

Steven Nayor

Steven Nayor

Treasurer

Steven strongly believes that organisations working together for young people is not only beneficial for maintaining and developing services, but essential in providing the diversity of approaches needed to make a real and lasting positive difference in young people’s lives. He brings extensive knowledge of youth work and the wider youth sector, alongside well-established relationships with partner organisations, which will support RISE in achieving its aims. Steven has strong leadership and organisational skills, complemented by a deep understanding of youth and community development. He holds both a degree and a Masters’ degree in Youth and Community Development, providing him with a solid academic foundation alongside practical experience. His commitment to collaboration, strategic thinking, and high-quality youth work enables him to contribute effectively to the development and sustainability of services for young people.
Guy Christiansen

Guy Christiansen

Trustee

Guy has over 28 years of experience supporting and inspiring young people through the creative arts and the wider youth work sector. Beginning his career in the creative industries, he designed platforms for young people and communities to express themselves through theatre, film, and music. He has held senior roles including Creative Learning Director at The Dukes Theatre in Lancaster, Associate Director: Participation at Theatre Porto, and Participation Manager at 20 Stories High, championing inclusion and underrepresented voices. In 2015, Guy co-founded the multi-award-winning charity Lancashire Youth Challenge, which empowers young people to build resilience, confidence, and leadership through strong partnerships with schools, communities, and local authorities. Guided by a belief in the transformative power of the arts, outdoor adventure, and nature-based wellbeing, he continues to create opportunities that inspire personal growth and lasting change.

Stuart Glover

Stuart Glover

Trustee

Stuart has worked with and on behalf of young people for most of his professional career, supporting their development and helping them access opportunities to thrive. He has held a range of senior roles, including Sport and Community Development Manager, Sport and Leisure Facility Manager, and currently serves as a Charity Chief Executive Officer. Throughout his career, Stuart has demonstrated a strong passion for enabling young people to access services, develop their potential, and achieve success. Being involved with an organisation at the early stages of its journey is something he finds particularly motivating and exciting, as it allows him to help shape strong foundations for long-term impact. Stuart brings over 20 years of senior management experience and a broad skill set that includes writing successful funding applications, financial management, strategy development and implementation, and project management. He is a strong and effective communicator with extensive local knowledge and holds a positive reputation with partners and peers at local, regional, and national levels.

Jamie Murphy

Jamie Murphy

Trustee

Since gaining a professional Youth and Community qualification in 1999, Jamie has demonstrated a strong commitment to developing services that enable young people to fulfil their potential through active participation and by ensuring their voices are heard. With over 25 years’ experience across Lancaster, Blackpool, and South Ribble, Jamie has worked in a wide range of roles including Leaving Care Case Worker, Youth Homelessness Lead, Children Missing Education and Alternative Education Lead, Young People’s Worker in several high schools, Blackpool Youth Participation Worker, and Senior Practitioner for Children and Family Wellbeing. Currently a Community Development Worker and Community Connector for Lancaster City Council, Jamie recognises youth work as essential to community capacity building and continues to champion young people as vital contributors to both current and future communities. Jamie is committed to using his experience and skills to promote the welfare, wellbeing, and voice of young people across the district.

Rachel Parsons

Rachel Parsons

Trustee

Rachel is a JNC-qualified youth and community worker with over 20 years’ experience in the youth and voluntary sectors across Lancaster and Morecambe, currently working as Operations Manager with Lancashire Youth Challenge. A youth worker at heart, her practice is rooted in inclusivity, accessibility and youth voice, with a strong belief that collaboration with young people and partner organisations is key to empowering young people to achieve their full potential. Alongside leading a team and delivering youth-led programmes for ages 6–25, Rachel has led youth voice strategy, the Girls Can initiative and contributed to local, regional and national youth networks, developing a deep understanding of the challenges facing young people today. Her background spans community music, project and events management, FE lecturing, creative careers development and safeguarding, and she is a committed advocate for joined-up, high-quality provision that strengthens the sector and creates meaningful opportunities for young people.
Alys

Alys

Member

Hi My name is alys
I’m on the spectrum and love all things dark and spooky.
I joined RISE because I wanted to express my voice which is something I struggled and am aiming to be better.

Amanda

Amanda

Member

Daz

Daz

Member

Ian

Ian

Member

Lydia

Lydia

Member

My name is Lydia and I'm currently enrolled in college doing a T-level health course in hopes of becoming a paramedic in the future. I became part of the RISE advisory panel cause I felt the voices of the youth weren't being heard, I felt like this was my chance to ensure that they had that voices with us as their advocate.

Niyah

Niyah

Member

Hi I’m Niyah , I’m a business owner in the Lancaster district, have a world record and multi award winning in pet shows, I adore animals and show kindness in everything I do and I strongly believe anyone can make a difference no matter how small, you may not be able to change the world , but you can change someone else’s world.