NYA Academy

Aaron delivers training and support to youth workers within a wide range of settings as part of the NYA Academy team. 

He has worked in a range of settings in his 20 years of youth work practice including detached youth work and has extensive experience in church-based youth work. He also helps lead a summer youth festival. He also has experience of leading large teams of volunteers. His passion is to enable youth workers to deliver quality youth work. 

Ellie supports a team of Youth Work Specialists to deliver a high quality training offer.

Ellie is passionate about young people having the ability to truly participate and that youth workers come from all walks of life, starting her youth work journey volunteering in a youth café and has since worked in a variety of settings such as within a young persons drug and alcohol service and managing projects for young people whose parents are serving in the military. Ellie believes that those working with young people should have access to up to date, quality training.

A youth work specialist, Fran tutors and assesses in the NYA Academy and designs engaging courses for youth workers.

Her contributions to the NYA include projects for the Commonwealth, NatWest Thrive programme, CPD courses and service reviews.

Fran has extensive experience working in local authority youth provision, and in the voluntary sector with young people facing homelessness. Fran has been an advocate for youth work within Unite the Union and the national JNC.

Heather is an experienced administrator and joined the NYA in March 2021. She provides administration internally within the NYA and externally to support learners in the NYA Academy.

Heather’s background is in Early Years support for children with special educational needs. She is passionate about ensuring the academy is inclusive for all learners and supports the NYA to internally review our SEND standards and development. Heather is committed to the learners’ experience within the NYA, ensuring that their journey is personable, inclusive and meaningful.

Mark is a JNC qualified Youth Work and Community Development practitioner. He has more than 20 years of youth and community work experience within health-based youth work, working within a special educational setting to create outdoor learning opportunities and more recently as Youth Work and Community Development university lecturer.

He also holds a PGCE, is a qualified Forest School Leader and DofE Award Expedition Assessor.

Mark is an active member and volunteer within the community, from running community events, to fundraising campaigns. He’s also a Group Scout Leader and Charity Trustee at a local Scout provision.

Misia leads the NYA Academy team to deliver a range of training and support to develop those in the sector.

Misia has spent the last 22 years working within the education sector, leading schools in areas of high deprivation. She is driven by a desire to improve outcomes for all our young people and remove social and economic disadvantage. 

Misia loves working alongside other professionals, helping them to improve their own practice and develop their skills and talents so they can lead and inspire others.  

Nicola believes in nurturing future leaders by developing and delivering meaningful training experiences.

Nicola is a passionate professional specialising in the creation and delivery of up-to-date knowledge and research within training environments. Her skilful integration of theory, coaching and philosophy enriches the training experience, making it both contemporary and relevant. 

With a background in arts education and previous experience in intergenerational work, detached youth work, school-based youth work, mental health and wellbeing, coaching and residential youth work, Nicola brings a diverse and valuable perspective to her work.

Russell works with colleagues to deliver consultancy, training and development support for the organisation’s customers across the breadth of our offer.

Russell has worked in a variety of youth work settings in his 20 year career, and has extensive experience managing youth work for LGBT young people, both in local authority and voluntary sector organisations. 

His passion lies with challenging the stigma that still faces LGBT young people and ensuring that their voices are heard.

Rob is a JNC qualified youth worker with a Master’s Degree in Youth & Community Development and over 25 years’ experience in the field.

He’s been employed by local authorities and VCFS organisations across the North of England, from on the ground youth work delivery to strategic roles, he advocates for ‘face to face’ working.

Rob has a particular interest in supporting young people with learning difficulties and those who have been excluded from formal education. He has the skill, enthusiasm and qualifications to teach others to do the same. In his spare time he likes playing guitar, fell running and ‘reading, thinking and doing’.

Kayleigh supports the facilitation of learners across all training paths within the Academy. 

Kayleigh has experience in diverse youth work settings, including formal and informal education, social outreach, and looked-after young people. Kayleigh has developed and taught a Youth Work degree, supporting several new cohorts in their own journeys to becoming qualified. Kayleigh has a passion for developing youth workers’ knowledge base in supporting the holistic wellbeing of young people.