TERRY

My name is Terry Macrowan I am the Manager and founder of GYGYC, I starting working with young people as a volunteer Youth Worker at the age of 17 and have progressed over the years through a range of positions within the areas covered by Norfolk County Council Youth Worker team. I have a BA Honours Degree in Youth & Community Studies, when the Norfolk County Council services ended and I set up GYGYC.

I have also worked in a number of different roles for other organisation, all with young people as working with them enables me to make a difference in some of their lives, offering them an alternative adult to speak to and support them.

The reason I set up GYGYC is because I believe Young carers and young adult carers need extra support to help them through the transition years into adulthood, I believe that is what GYGYC offer this to young carers and young adult carers

 

HAYLEY

I joined the GYGYC family in March 2018 as an Admin Assistant supporting Terry in the office.

My previous role was at Tesco as Community Champion, which is how I came to know of the charity as I had supported them a few times.  When I heard there was a position become available, I was ready for a change and a new challenge after having been with Tesco for 15 years so applied and was more than happy to accept the job offer.

I have completed various training in this role including Safeguarding, GDPR, Introduction to Youth Work and Youth Mental Health First Aid.  I have also recently completed a level 2 diploma in Business and Administration.

 

NIAMH

I have been working for GYGYC for 6 years and my current role is a support worker.  I joined the GYGYC family to try something new and I haven’t looked back since. 

I have undertaken various training courses which include First Aid, Designated Safeguarding Lead, C Card, Norfolk Steps, Youth Mental Health First Aid and Food Hygiene.

I have worked in schools including behavioural, emotional and social difficulties and social and mental health schools.

Working with children is something I feel passionate about and aim to help them become the best version of themselves.

 

RICKY

Well hello there, welcome  My Name is Ricky Buckland I’m 26, baby of the staff team I believe, however I have personal experience of who and what a young carer is and a young adult carer, Due to having been and now as an adult carer, I care for my sister as well as my mum, I would do the weekly food shopping, fetching medication, cooking for the family while trying to do homework and course work, when I was at school one of my regrets is not telling the school I was a young carer because I was scared of what the outcome would be, however now if I could go back in time, I would shout it from the roof top that I’m a young carer. In my spare time I like to travel so far, I have travelled around Thailand, East Coast of Australia, I have also done a safari in South Africa. I also like to sing in the car – PS I’m not the next Adele! Talking of Adele, I’ve been lucky to see her live! – It was an incredible experience!

Coming on to how I got involved with GYGYC, before they closed the youth services back in 2009, I was a young person who attended a young carers groups that Terry had ran for Norfolk County Council and I was on the young people’s committee and we said to Terry, ‘why do you need Norfolk county council’ can’t you open up your own young carers groups...? 6 months later, Terry had opened up an organisation to run some peer support groups for young carers, I volunteered at these groups for 4 years before I was offered a paid role within the organisation. 10 years later… we’re here today! I say let’s see what the future holds for Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Young Carers.

KIM

Let me introduce myself...

My name is Kim, I had the pleasure of joining this incredible team in October of 2021 as a young carers support worker and deputy safeguarding lead. Previously, I was DSL at a local Academy, for far too many years to remember!

It’s a real pleasure to work and support our young carers and their families to be the best version of themselves, to overcome and give resilience to some real challenges they face on a daily basis.

The charity itself works tirelessly to source funding so that they are able to continue to deliver this fantastic work. It’s a privilege to be part of this GYGYC family.

Donna-Lisa

My name is Donna-Lisa, I have been working with children and young people for 20 years. I have a primary school background and love being a part of the Young Carers Team, transferring care, nurture and skills to my role and helping to make a positive difference in young people’s lives. 

Caring for people and to help someone to smile and feel happy is important to me and my role in Young Carers gives me lots of opportunities to do this.

I enjoy being active by walking, jogging and swimming. I have 2 young children and love spending time as a family and being 'Mum'. I also enjoy time with my friends, visiting places together and eating out. I like to relax by walking my dog, reading a good book and watching movies with treats.

Chair of Trustees -Marlene Fairhead

I have 4 children of my own also 4 step children they are all grown up and have families of their own so I have a good understanding of the pressures of day to day living today. We have a grandchild with learning difficulties which has given me an understanding of the pressures it can cause within the family.

My working background is 37 years in the Health Service - both Hospital and Community, I retired at 60 and became a Great Yarmouth Borough Councillor and to date have been a councillor for 11 years.

I have been a Trustee for GYGYC 6 years and now hold the position of Chair.

Our Board of Trustees

Vice Chair - Colleen Walker

My name is Colleen Walker and I am a county councillor in the Magdalen division , I have also been until recently a borough councillor for many years representing the division and all the families within the area. I am retired from my job as a chef and work closely with community groups to ensure that people get the help and assistance they need. I have recently re joined the GYGYC board of trustees to help give them a well deserved break from there daily tasks.

Treasurer - Keith Farman

I left school at 16 l then started an apprenticeship with International stores starting on the shop floor until l became manager and l was with them for 11.5 years until they shut all the Yarmouth stores.

I then worked in the Prince Regent pub behind the bar for 2 years Doing six month college course in Principle of Accounts getting an O level and 3 RSA ‘s .

Then l joined British Sugar plc as a laboratory assistant then a laboratory recorder , timekeeper, wages clerk then l ran the payroll at the factory until l retired in 2016

Secretary - Kate Vince

I am the Safeguarding Lead and Pastoral Worker at a local Academy, I am also the keyworker for looked after children and young carers.  I feel very passionate about supporting young carers which is why I am on the Board of Trustees.

I have an advanced diploma in Administration Management and also have an extensive knowledge of local and national agencies that work to support young people.  I have attended a huge number of multi – agency training courses covering every aspect of Child Protection and support for young people and I attend regular conferences for equality, mental health and safeguarding too.

Julie Woods

I have in my previous positions worked in Health as Lead Community Nursery Nurse. the Voluntary Sector NSPCC, as Family Support Worker and carried out the original consultation for Seagulls the Children Centre for Gorleston, gathering the requirements to enable the Service Spec to be drawn up and facilitating the conversations between parents and the architects during the design process.  I then went on to work for Community Connections as a Community Development Worker and then Community Development Manager, running the Information Points and supporting groups across Great Yarmouth. I also was Project officer for Lowestoft District Council supporting and setting up Neighbourhood Projects, providing governance and training to small community groups.  In 2009 I set up MESH a neighbourhood Management Project that worked with agencies and community to improve Gorleston, and I located to Shrublands Youth and Adult Centre, and ensured that statutory functions worked hand in hand with the local community activities that were already going on.

Current role since 2019 as Manager for Shrublands Youth and Adult Centre Charity Trust, a small charity that runs community activities, including exercise, community Café, Youth and wellbeing groups as well Shrublands Community Food Club  and opens the centre to allow for other groups and organisations to also have a venue.  As the only full time member of staff my role is varied from taking bookings/admin and Fire Safety to covering in Café, Food Club or Youth Group.  Another key part of the role is Bid writing, monitoring and Evaluation. I am also a Parish Councillor in my village and Treasurer for the local village hall.