Genna Whitlock
With over 20 years’ experience in counselling and youth work, Genna has focused on supporting young people from complex backgrounds.
She is a director of a not-for-profit youth organisation where she focuses on leadership, organisational stability and quality assurance.
Genna also lectures in Health and Social Care, and her qualifications include a JNC recognised MA in Youth Work, Health and Community Development, an Advanced Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and an ACCA qualification.
"Young Northants will play an essential role in levelling the playing field for our passionate grassroots organisations and the vulnerable communities they serve."
Karen Cudby
Karen is passionate about aspiration and helping young people maximise their potential; a mindset that was developed early in her career as an international athlete.
Following her retirement from athletics in 2012, she has forged a path into youth charity work, working at The Prince’s Trust and now as the youth development coordinator at the Core at Corby Cube.
She believes that young people, given the right opportunities and influences, can achieve more than they might believe possible.
"Young Northants will lead to young people being able to benefit from increased resources and opportunities that are currently fragmented or unavailable. I am excited to be part of this positive change for Northamptonshire."
Kathryn White
With over 30 years’ experience in the charity sector, Kathryn joined Young Northants from her position as CEO of Growing Together Northampton.
She established the Blackthorn Good Neighbours Nursery in 2015 which was awarded ‘outstanding in all areas’ by OFSTED in 2017 and 2023. The nursery aims to improve outcomes and opportunities for young children whilst developing community support in East Northampton.
Kathryn is a successful fundraiser, securing support to extend the Blackthorn Community Centre to provide a self-contained space for children and young people.
"Young Northants will be synonymous with the fabric of children’s and youth services in Northamptonshire. I am passionate about us realising this vision. We will listen to, learn from, and ignite a passion for the voices of our young people; they will guide our thinking and energise our collaborative. We are excited about our work now, and for what is to come."
Amarjit Pawar
Amarjit is a JNC Qualified Youth Worker and has a wealth of experience targeting issues such as inclusion, the development of youth work provision, and in the delivery of services for Looked After Children.
She also fulfils a number of voluntary roles within her community such as serving as a special constable for Bedfordshire Police, a support worker for a women’s refuge, and a parent governor for a children’s centre and local school.
"Young Northants is needed now more than ever. We have a mandate and unique opportunity to galvanise frontline VCSE Youth Organisations to offer resource, income and collaboration in order to deliver everything the young people of this county deserve."
Matt Foreman
Matt has over 30 years’ experience in the voluntary sector and currently leads Home Start (Daventry and South Northants), focusing on early years children and their families.
He is passionate about sourcing long term funding solutions for children’s and youth services in the county so that every young person has a stable framework of youth provision in which they can thrive.
"Young Northants has a unique opportunity to harness the voice of young people to shape our framework for the county. I have spent my career advocating for children and young people; their rights and their ability to strive and thrive within their families and in their local communities. We must listen to the source and use that to shape the future."
Jodie Low
With over 25 years’ experience as a Youth and Community Worker in Northamptonshire, Jodie has focused her career on young people who live with complex life challenges and her passion is to create lasting social change to improve experiences for young people.
She has worked in local authorities, the VCSE sector and is now utilising her extensive expertise in higher education.
She is a qualified JNC Youth and Community Worker, lecturer and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
"Young Northants is the long-term solution for Youth Work in the county. For over a decade we have been striving for a formal and effective collaborative, and now we have the legislative, political and local changemakers in the right place at the right time to make this work. We must take responsibility for the world we have created for young people by providing well informed and effective solutions for their future."
Sharon Womersley
Sharon’s experience in the industry and dedication to youth work have culminated in her becoming CEO at The Lowdown, a mental health charity in Northampton. The Lowdown is part of the Reach Collaborative which supports mental health services for young people across the county.
Sharon’s tenure at The Lowdown has seen an increase in demand for mental health services, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, both of which have had a devastating impact on the bedrock of family life and shaken the framework of communities.
"It has never been more important for us to work together to provide more services and increase visibility for the many fantastic organisations we have in the county doing some amazing work; Young Northants is the key; an impactful collaborative that can shape the future for our young people and the talented children’s and youth workers of Northamptonshire."
Gemma Johnston-Smith
Gemma began youthwork as a volunteer while still at school. She studied Agriculture at University before returning to Northamptonshire as a trainee youth worker for the local authority. She completed a post graduate diploma in Youth and Community work with JNC accreditation and later became an Inclusion Coordinator, supporting those who were excluded or at risk of exclusion from school.
Gemma then worked with Connexions as an advisor to schools, a training officer, and working in business support; also achieving her ILM in leadership and management.
Following a career break, Gemma returned to youth work in her role as the Youth and Community manager for a Countywide charity.
Combining her passions for the countryside and young people, Gemma has a particular interest in working with rural communities.