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
Chief Operating Officer
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.
Bec Anne
Lead Youth Support Worker
Bec is a youth support worker for UYA as well as a practitioner working within the care system supporting the voice of young people in care.
Bec leads on the UYA Rainbow Equality social action group working alongside young people to have their voices heard and co-develop social action projects.
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.