About Young Manchester

James has been working in the youth sector for the past 20 years including five years as a a partner and member of Young Manchester . Currently responsible for leading Groundwork Greater Manchester’s offer to young people, he has a passion for youth empowerment, social action and long- lasting meaningful support leading to positive outcomes for all young people.

Beth is Head of Grants and Membership at Young Manchester, supporting the youth and play sector across the city to strengthen its work and create better opportunities for children and young people.
With a background in grant-making, fundraising, partnerships and community development, Beth is passionate about making funding more equitable, helping organisations and networks thrive, and bringing people together to share learning and create change. She particularly values youth-led approaches and making sure the voices and experiences of children and young people shape decisions.
Outside of work, Beth enjoys running, travelling, learning languages and keeping her garden alive and thriving

Megan is a young professional who has over 5 years experience in the VCSE sector across the UK. Prior to joining Young Manchester, Megan was working for the Citizens Advice Bureau supporting those in debt and facing financial insecurity. Megan is passionate about ensuring young people have a seat at the table.

In Megan's spare-time she enjoys reading, illustrating and spending time with her family golden retriever Heidi.

Sarah Fowler is the Business Development & Communications Manager at Young Manchester, where she builds partnerships between businesses and the youth sector to create lasting social impact across Greater Manchester. With eight years' experience across the youth and not-for-profit sector, she has helped organisations influence policy change, create meaningful social impact and deliver place-based strategy . At Young Manchester, Sarah builds partnerships for W/Youth, a youth-powered consultancy that connects organisations directly with young people to co-design services, inform investment decisions and develop more inclusive, sustainable approaches to social value. She is passionate about moving beyond consultation towards genuine collaboration, where young people are recognised as partners in shaping the world where we can all thrive.

Abdullah is the Youth Engagement Coordinator at Young Manchester, having previously been involved with the organisation as a Young Manchester Ambassador. His journey with Young Manchester has given him first-hand experience of the importance of youth voice, representation and creating meaningful opportunities for young people to shape the communities they are part of.

With a background rooted in Pakistan and a strong connection to diverse communities, Abdullah is passionate about inclusion and ensuring that young people from all backgrounds have the confidence, opportunities and platforms to make their voices heard.

Alongside his role at Young Manchester, Abdullah has continued to develop his experience in youth leadership and participation. He currently serves as a trustee and sits on youth advisory boards for a number of organisations, contributing his experience and perspective to help influence decision-making and improve opportunities for young people.

Having experienced youth participation both as a young person and now as a professional, Abdullah is passionate about making sure young people aren’t simply invited into conversations, but are genuinely listened to and given the opportunity to influence change. In his role at Young Manchester, he is excited to build on his journey with the organisation and work alongside young people and youth organisations across Manchester to strengthen youth voice and create lasting positive change.

New to Manchester but already deeply connected to the community, Laura brings a powerful blend of community engagement and business management experience to our team. With a passion for supporting young people and a talent for building meaningful partnerships, she's already making waves.

Before joining us, Laura was General Manager at The Green Kiss, a sustainable business in Canada, and worked as a podcast producer on shows like Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby! (yes, she cold called the host and landed the job; proof that bold moves pay off!).

Outside of work, she enjoys climbing, hiking, and getting involved in local theatre.

Nikita has joined Young Manchester in a new role as the Membership Manager to support our organisations and leaders through the Membership programme.

Nikita's experience and background is predominantly around Student Voice and Advocacy within Higher Education, after graduating from the University of Lancashire and becoming an Elected Officer and a member of the Board of Trustees at the Students' Union.

Outside of work, Nikita enjoys creating social media content to raise awareness for hidden disabilities, cooking, and travelling.

After completing her Politics and Sociology degree at the University of Glasgow, Eliya returned to her roots in Manchester, the city she grew up in. From a young age, she has been passionate about addressing issues of social injustice, committing both her academic research and extracurricular time to social action within her communities. Prior to joining Young Manchester, Eliya volunteered at various Manchester-based human rights and refugee charities, including Europia and Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU). She is excited to be part of the Young Manchester team, working to create opportunities to amplify young people’s voices and place them at the centre of decision-making processes.

Outside of work, Eliya enjoys travelling, playing musical instruments and running. She lived and studied in Amsterdam for a year during university and completed a seven-month backpacking trip across Australia, Asia and Central America this past year.

Ogechi is a finance professional with experience across both the charity and corporate sectors. She is passionate about using finance to create positive impact and has supported organizations focused on improving opportunities for young people, strengthening communities, and delivering environmental change. She provides financial support at Young Manchester, helping to ensure resources are managed effectively so Young Manchester can maximize its impact on young people and communities across the city of Manchester.