Our people
We celebrate the diversity of our people and the vast experience they contribute, with many having direct involvement in the youth work sector. We share a common belief in the transformative impact that youth work can have on the lives of young people.
Deborah Terras
Chief Executive Officer
Deborah is a JNC qualified youth and community worker and community educator, qualified PGCE Tutor and IQA Assessor.
Deborah has extensive experience in the strategic development of projects and organisations, both nationally and internationally, as well as enjoying working within communities and alongside young people to develop innovative projects through research, training and social action.
Deborah has over 25 years of youth and community work experience, developing one of the first Youth and community work Community Interest Companies in UK, coordinating the first young women’s IWD festival and Men’s IMD conference. Deborah also co-facilitates the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Youth Pride Festival, alongside young people.
Jake Adams
Director
Jake is a social entrepreneur setting up his first business at the age of 14 and highly regarded in the business community. Jake has always been an advocate for the VCFS sector providing business and infrastructure support.
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 is using this experience combined with his business acumen to support UYA.
Sue Littlefair
Director
Sue is a qualified Career Advisor with over 30 years’ experience at senior management. Sue has experience developing apprenticeship programmes for a range of Government Organisations and 13 years with the Princes Trust creating innovative programmes and activities for many disadvantaged young people.
Shughie Morrison
Director
Shughie is a qualified PGCE tutor and assessor who has extensive experience in delivering a number of CPD training courses, including DANOS (Drug and Alcohol Industry National Occupational Standards), conflict resolution, peer mentoring, confidence building and many more.
Shughie’s vast experience is linked predominately in the community offering support services for people in recovery from addiction. Shughie wrote the first UK wide accredited LGBTQ qualification.
Holly Gibson
Youth Support Worker
Holly is a youth support worker with UYA and leads our Young Women’s Social Action Group. With a background in teaching English and History at a Blackpool high school, she has been involved with UYA for over six years, supporting International Women’s Day and International Men’s Day initiatives.
Holly holds a degree in English and History, a PGCE, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, and is currently completing a Level 3 Youth Work qualification. She is passionate about creating inclusive spaces and empowering young people to drive positive social change.
Tasha Stroud
Youth Support Worker
Tasha is a youth support worker at UYA, leading both our Young Men’s Group and LGBTQ+ Group. Now in her final year studying Sexual Health (BA Hons), Tasha brings a unique blend of academic insight and lived experience to her role, having previously worked in hospitality and event management.
Passionate about equity and inclusion, she’s committed to creating enriching, meaningful opportunities for all young people and fostering connection, understanding, and shared learning across diverse communities.
Bec Cardwell
Youth Support Worker
Becca is a youth support worker for UYA. Becca is also a qualified experienced lead practitioner working within the care system supporting the voice of young people in care.
Becca supports the development of UYA bespoke youth led projects alongside young people ensuring their voices heard and co-develop social action projects across the Fylde coast.
Zach Terras
Youth Support Worker
Zach is a youth support worker and community sports coach with a passion for making activities inclusive and accessible for all. An original #iwill Ambassador since 2018, he has developed strong leadership skills through youth social action and continues to bring that energy to his work. Alongside volunteering with UYA, Zach is a lifeguard at the YMCA and a football coach with Blackpool FC Community Trust, where he leads sessions for children with disabilities, mental health challenges, and those from socially excluded backgrounds.
He is also a trained Dementia Champion and is currently studying for a foundation degree through Blackpool FC Community Trust and the University of South Wales. Zach is committed to giving back to his community, helping young people build confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging.
Associates and Consultants
We offer a range of events and activities. Head over to our calendar to see what we’re up to and join us if you see something you like!
Steve Walker
Consultant
Steve is a renowned JNC qualified youth and community worker with extensive 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.
Steve has a wide portfolio of strategic leadership, in both the statutory and voluntary sector. Steve has substantial training and development experiences in learning and teaching in Higher Education across a wide range of programmes to support the field. Steve’s research focuses upon access, agency and participation and how the effects of contemporary society impact upon youth services and youth work.
Steve enjoys spoken work and a broad range of music to support his own health and wellbeing.
Julie Brotherton
Consultant
Julie has 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, Julie set up a consultancy business, delivering executive coaching, mentoring and leadership development.
A graduate of CSC’s Emerging Leaders and Exceptional Leaders programmes and holds a certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University.
As faormer Chair of CSC’s Women in Leadership in the UK, Julie is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Brendan Bunting
Consultant
Brendan is a Blackpool based Artist and Social Activist. Brendan is a youth worker for Lancashire County Council in both Wyre & Fylde and 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. Brenda support UYA’s International men’s day events and advocates for young people to have a voice.
Karen McArdle
Consultant
Karen McArdle is Emeritus Professor at the University of Aberdeen and has worked in the community development field for over 30 years. In that time, she has worked in a community context in both Australia and the UK.
Karen has also worked educating teachers latterly and engaged in research in the context of health and well-being. Karen has a particular interest in research methodology and the link to values which she discusses in her text, ‘Freedom Research in Education; Becoming an autonomous researcher.’
Karen has always valued action research highly for its practical applications to practice and has supervised and examined PhD projects that use action research in education, community, social work and health domains.
Charlotte Gorton
Consultant
Charlotte is an associate of UYA with over 30 years’ experience working with vulnerable young people. A nationally respected youth worker and trainer, she specialises in supporting young people experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, and depression, and in equipping professionals with practical tools to build resilience. A passionate advocate for ADHD and neurodiversity, Charlotte draws on approaches such as motivational interviewing, CBT, and Positive Behavioural Support to help individuals and groups create positive change.
Charlotte is the founder of KIP Education and continues to teach in schools, as well as delivering training for teachers, parents, and professionals across the UK and beyond. She is a fellow of the RSA, a member of the Institute for Youth Work, and an Associate Specialist Trainer for the National Youth Agency.
Kevin Franks
Consultant
Kevin is an associate of UYA and a highly experienced management and youth work professional, with over 40 years’ expertise at local, regional, and national level. He has a proven track record in project management, multi-agency delivery, fundraising, and youth participation across both the voluntary and public sectors.
Holding a BA (Hons) in Informal & Community Education and a Certificate in Professional Studies in Supervision, Kevin is also a qualified trainer and assessor, and a fellow of the Clore Social Experienced Leadership Programme. He is co-author of the National Youth Agency’s National Youth Work Curriculum, a framework that supports youth workers to promote the personal, social, and political development of young people.
Kevin is committed to ensuring young people are at the heart of services, involved as equal participants in their design, delivery, and evaluation.
Donna Finer
Consultant
Donna is an associate of UYA and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, specialising in BSc/MSc Sexual Health and Health & Social Care courses. A qualified youth worker with over 25 years’ experience, she has worked extensively with vulnerable and isolated young people, from developing CSE projects and coordinating countywide RSE provision in Staffordshire, to managing outreach sexual health services in Blackpool.
Donna is also an AQA trainer and assessor, has managed youth and community centres, and published research exploring sex work policy in Amsterdam. Alongside her professional work, she enjoys running on the prom, keeping active, and spending time with her husband Mark and their pug, Delilah.
Vanessa Rogers
Consultant
Vanessa Rogers is a nationally acclaimed youth work trainer and author, best known for her creative, practice-based resources tackling challenging topics such as relationships, online harms, exploitation, and gang culture.
Published globally by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, her work supports youth workers and educators in engaging young people aged 11–25.
Vanessa delivers accredited youth work training across the UK and remains an active advocate for youth voice, continuing to practise at both senior and grassroots levels.
Bianca Askew-Gallipoli
Consultant
Bianca is a JNC-qualified youth worker with over 30 years’ experience supporting children and young people across a wide range of settings — from youth clubs and schools to PRUs, secure care, and street-based outreach. She holds a BA(Hons) in Juvenile Crime and Education, and works as a professional supervisor and assessor for youth and community work qualifications at Levels 2–4.
Her career has included leading peer education programmes on drugs and sexual health across multiple London boroughs, managing CAMHS services in East Berkshire, and developing inclusive youth provision — including co-creating an LGBTQ+ youth offer in Bracknell. Bianca is Vice Chair and Safeguarding Lead at The Wayz Youth Centre, and continues to champion youth voice, inclusion, and participation in all her work.