Meet the Team

  • Gary Stannett

    CEO

    Gary is a senior professional with extensive experience of developing and leading multi-million pound international charities and working with partners from the corporate, statutory and policy sectors since 1997. A qualified youth worker and sports coach, Gary received an MBE for services to young people in 2009 and took over as CEO in 2019.

  • Rhiannon Watts

    Director of Development

    Rhiannon has worked across the youth, sustainability, advocacy and international development sectors. Now our Director of Operations, Rhiannon works with the CEO to implement our strategy and is responsible for overseeing our operations, finances, fundraising and communications, as well as managing key stakeholder relationships.

  • Donald Forde

    Director of Operations

    Donald joined us in 2023, with significant experience, spending the last decade in several leadership roles within football, including Deputy CEO at the Crystal Palace’s Palace for Life and Senior Operations Manager for Arsenal FC's much respected Community Department, while also supporting the Premier League's Charitable Fund on a national project.

  • Victoria Lowe

    North West Programme Lead

    Victoria joined us in 2014 as a Programme Coordinator. She has a Masters in Art and Design and a background in youth empowerment and community initiatives across Greater Manchester. Now our Head of Programmes North West, Victoria manages all delivery and stakeholder reporting across a range of programmes in the North West.

  • Ryan Hunt

    Lead Youth Worker Greater Manchester

    Ryan joined the foundation in 2020 and is our Lead Youth Worker for the Northwest. He has a degree in Radio and Digital Media and has hosted Radio Shows for Reform Radio alongside his Youth Work career with Salford Council. Ryan has also coached grass roots football for 9 years as a volunteer and is passionate about giving young people access to opportunities.

  • Nadeem Din-Gabisi

    Youth Work Lead for Creative & Digital

    South London born and raised; Nadeem has many years of experience working with young people as a youth and play worker across London. Nadeem is passionate about the arts and how they can be used to inspire young people to pursue creative pathways and enhance their understanding of the world in and round them.

    Nadeem has a master’s degree in fine art and works as an artist across multiple disciplines, including film, music, visual art, and poetry.