Meet the team

David joined us as our (part time) Chief Executive in April 2019. During this time, he has led an exciting programme of modernisation and growth for the charity helping us to reach and support growing numbers of young people struggling with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
He brings over 25 years’ experience in a variety of senior management and leadership roles within a number of UK charities – including the British Heart Foundation, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, RNID and the Scout Association.
Prior to joining Youth Talk David was CEO of Crohn’s and Colitis UK where he led a significant programme of change and growth, doubling the size of the organisation in his five-year tenure.
When not at Youth Talk David runs his own film and media businesses and in his spare time is an active volunteer, an enthusiastic fundraiser and also supports St Albans District Scouts as a volunteer and Trustee.
David describes himself as – Determined. Energetic. Short.

Gill might be your first point of contact, whether that be in-person or via phone, arranging your appointments, taking messages for staff, booking you in, confirming that your contact details are correct and directing you where to go next.

Our Fundraising Manager, Rachel has worked in the charity sector for over 15 years. Rachel is a local resident in St Albans and joined Youth Talk in October 2020 as our first ever fundraiser. She’s determined to help grow Youth Talk’s presence in the local community and raise vital funds so that we can be there when times are tough for our local young people.

Rachel’s passionate about bringing people together and strives to put the fun into fundraising! Her goal is to ensure our supporters and volunteers have the best possible experience fundraising in aid of Youth Talk. If you’re ever stuck for ideas, looking for inspiration or have a question about our work and how to get involved, Rachel is always happy to chat and help. Get in touch at rachel.simkin@youthtalk.org.uk

Fact – Rachel loves cake, cats and a run or walk in the countryside!

Yvonne is a clinical receptionist and may also be your first point of contact. Yvonne may be able to answer your questions or provide general information, or direct you to someone who can provide more direct and specific information.

Our receptionists are responsible for keeping, updating, and maintaining records by getting the appropriate information from those that come to Youth Talk, therapists and counsellors.

Tara might be your first point of contact, whether that be in-person or via phone, arranging your appointments, taking messages for staff, booking you in, confirming that your contact details are correct and directing you where to go next.

Tara is a proud Aussie who has lived in the UK for 25 years, loves all sport, mostly cricket, tennis and rugby.

Sam might be your first point of contact, whether that be in-person or via phone, arranging your appointments, taking messages for staff, booking you in, confirming that your contact details are correct and directing you where to go next. 

Sam loves art and enjoys sharing art being used for mindfulness with others. 

She is also the Unit Leader of a St Albans Guiding unit.

Sally is registered with the HCPC and BAAT as an Art Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor. She has worked extensively with young children, adolescents and young adults in various sectors such as charity, education, inpatient, CAMHS  and private practice. Sally is passionate about the work Youth Talk does and the vital support it offers young people at challenging times in their lives. Sally supports the counsellors through supervision, is part of the clinical management team and also the project lead for group psychotherapy at Youth Talk

Our Fundraising Assistant Emily has a long history of working in her local community as a teacher. She joined Youth Talk in June 2022 to support a cause close to her heart. She has made it her goal to aid in Youth Talk’s mission to promote accessible, confidential, and safe spaces for young people in the St Albans District. Emily’s role is to support the fundraising team, help produce promotional materials and organise events that raise awareness and funds for the essential services that we offer.

Emily is passionate about animals and the importance of education to tackle social issues! She loves to go on long walks and settle down with a book.

Jim has spent a lifetime in local education with a passion for supporting young people through their formative years, into adulthood and beyond formal education. He has championed the pastoral and social wellbeing of his students which aligns perfectly with Youth Talk. 

Fundraising is in Jim’s DNA, with his first experience coming at the age of ten. Locally Jim is a well-known figure in the corporate, education and sporting communities and will be focusing on partnerships and continuing to raise awareness of our vital service. 

Outside of work and family, Jim loves sport, mostly watching these days, cooking and walking.  

After studying French with Mandarin, he took a role in production, working alongside Sean Bean on BBC One show ‘Marriage’. He’s a two-time author and one-time playwright, and when he isn’t writing, you’ll often find him taking photos!

Ben is excited to help grow Youth Talk’s online and offline presence, to help them grow their service so they can continue to help the young people who need it most.

Fun fact! Ben appeared on Channel 4’s Countdown – where he competed against the record-breaking Tom Stevenson (if you know you know) – and lost.

I’ve worked with charities for nearly 30 years, helping them to develop support, move people to action, and build long-term relationships with donors. I bring experience across a range of causes, large and small, from individual giving to building legacy support.

I’ve always believed that when you reach out to people with the right messages and stories to connect with them, you can build relationships that benefit both the cause and the supporter.

As a local resident and a Mum to three children in their teens and twenties, I know how important the work of Youth Talk is.

Having headed up a fundraising agency for many years, and been a trustee of a local charity, I am delighted to bring my experience to the board of Youth Talk.

I was a former probation officer and currently work as a consultant psychotherapist.

For nearly two decades I was Director of the Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships and have spent a professional lifetime researching, trying to help and teach others about troubled family relationships.

With two daughters and four grandchildren, the concern to give children the best chance in life is both personal as well as professional.

I have worked as a Solicitor for many years and then joined the Civil Service as a government lawyer, currently working on international fisheries issues. I have been involved in Youth Talk since its inception, and having two daughters in their twenties, am very aware of the stresses young people face and the crying need for early intervention to alleviate mental health difficulties.

Having lived in the St Albans District since 1987, my working life has included 36 years of helping businesses to grow, with special interests in finance and leadership & management.

Additionally, I trained as a counsellor in 2000 and practised continuously until 2023, the last seven years of which were as a psychotherapist with Youth Talk.

Having witnessed first hand the value to a young person of being able to access therapy to help resolve early-life difficulties, and the way in which Youth Talk enables young people to build resilience and gain agency in their lives, I’m delighted to now have the opportunity of supporting Youth Talk as a Trustee. Challenges faced by young people today mean that there has never been a greater need for Youth Talk’s evolving services.

As a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, I have much experience of working with children and their families in a variety of settings including NHS child mental health services, education, voluntary sector and currently in private practice.

I have known about the important work of Youth Talk for many years and have published widely on the subjects of psychotherapy, art therapy and related areas.

Alison joined Youth Talk in January 2023 with over 20 years of HR experience working in a number of sectors including technology, retail and the charity sector.  Alison has two teenage children and was a school governor for a number of years and therefore feels strongly about supporting young people with their mental health and understands the impact it can have on the lives of individuals.   In her spare time, Alison sings in a local choir and likes to be out walking her dog, preferably in the sunshine!

I originally qualified as a Chartered Accountant and since then have spent most of my career working for businesses as a Finance Director or latterly as CEO. I have lived in St Albans for over 15 years and have two children aged 18 & 21. The work that Youth Talk does is hugely important and has become even more so since the impact of the pandemic and I feel fortunate to offer any expertise that I can, to help further the great work the charity does.  

As a former Headteacher of a secondary school in Hertfordshire, I am aware of the need for additional professional support to help young people.

After my Headship I helped establish a new charity and we employed extra home-school support workers which was valued by all.

I have enjoyed and helped charities as a Board member, including local charities, Earthworks St Albans and Computer Friendly.

I was attracted to Youth Talk because of its self-referral process and focus on the needs and concerns of each individual.

The need for individual counselling for young people is required more than ever. I want to help Youth Talk to grow

I retired in September 2021 from the Elms Medical Practice in Harpenden where I had been a GP and Partner for 26 years. I have lived in the St Albans and Harpenden area for over thirty years and I am married to another local GP who also recently retired. We have two sons currently aged 24 and 22 years old.

I have always been impressed by the services Youth Talk provided for our patients.