The OPEN Youth Trust (OPEN) on Bank Plain has just celebrated its 10th anniversary as a charity and following its recent Big Lottery funding success is now looking forward to the next era with four key appointments.
Peter Marron, joined the OPEN Youth Trust in June as Venue Development Manager, arriving from The Forum where he worked for 14 years. Peter comes with a wealth of experience in business development and strategic partnership gained from previously working in both the leisure and tourism industries.
Speaking of his appointment Peter said: “I am really excited to be part of a forward thinking and passionate team that is focused on working together in partnership with other likeminded businesses to deliver entertaining and engaging events at OPEN.
He continued to say: “The fantastic spaces and facilities at OPEN offer us a real opportunity to grow the variety of activity and business within the venue. We aim to increase the number of conferences, gigs, performance and events by building on the excellent reputation of the charity and therefore ultimately helping create a positive difference to the lives of young people in Norfolk”.
John Gordon-Saker joined OPEN in August as Chief Executive, returning to Norfolk after more than 30 years away. John comes from an event and marketing background and previously ran WPP’s brand communication agency, recruitment and lifestyle portal FiftyOn and the business media division of World Productions, the independent broadcast production company set up by Tony Garnett and Chris Blackwell.
John commented: “Joining a charity that offers so much to young people, especially those from a disadvantaged or troubled background, is a brilliant reason to come home to Norwich. I want OPEN to be recognised as the hub for youth services in Norfolk and I’m very much looking forward to telling our compelling story to a wider audience. The proposition is irresistible – the profits from all our conferences, live music and events held within the venue go directly to benefit young people. How many other venues can say that?”
Charlene Ledgard, will be taking up the post of Youth Programme Manager from 1st September. Charlene has been working with children and young people for over 10 years, the last three have been with OPEN as Performance Arts Instructor and she played a significant part in securing the recent lottery funding. Her previous experience was as a dance assistant, a youth worker and a dance instructor in the USA, and a learning support assistant at a local high school. Charlene is very passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people each and every day. Speaking of her promotion, Charlene said: “I hope to progress and expand the youth provision on offer by providing a varied programme of recreational activities for ages 7-19 years ensuring that we adapt to continuously meet the needs of children, young people and the local community and ensure the best outcomes for them. I believe work experience and employability skills are currently incredibly important to young people in Norfolk, so volunteering and employability training will be a key aspect of delivery at OPEN. Over the past decade we have positively developed and progressed in all aspects of the organisation and I look forward to seeing what the next 10 years will bring”.
Grainne Buckley, joins the Trust on 1st September as Fundraising Manager, which is a new post for the charity. Grainne has been fundraising on behalf of young people for much of her career and has previously worked at the Campaign Against Living Miserably – a national youth charity dedicated to preventing male suicide, and Norfolk based charities Eating Matters and the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind.
Grainne said: “I am incredibly excited to be taking up this new post at such a progressive and vibrant charity. I am looking forward to generating lots of income streams so that we can develop the activities already on offer and introduce new enticing and exciting programmes to actively engage with our young people. I am particularly looking forward to working with John, Peter and Charlene, and together I know we can grow, and continue to promote, the holistic development of young people in Norfolk.”
Photo caption (from left to right) Grainne Buckley, Charlene Ledgard, Peter Marron, John Gordon-Saker
