Meet the Team

Our team are an unbelievable source of information, dedicated to providing a safe space for and helping LGBT+ youth in Dorset. Get to know the people who make Space Youth Project what it is.

If you are interested in joining the team, you can check out our vacancies or contact us.

Begin image. A mature white woman stands to the right of a blue net with many coloured hearts hanging off it. She is facing left, with her head turned to the camera. Her arm is bent at a right angle and she is holding something in her hand. She has shoulder-length brown hair, and the top of her hair has been dyed purple and pink. She is wearing a black tank top with a pattern of tropical leaves, and a beige bag strap can be seen running across her body. She is smiling brightly and proudly, enough to crinkle her eyes. End image.

Helen W - she/her

CEO

07973 405280

helen@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Helen is our CEO, tireless in her pursuit of equality and is the driving force behind Space Youth Project. She sources our funding, manages our resources and most importantly she inspires us.

Helen G - she/her

Project Coordinator

01202 205279

heleng@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Helen is our new Project Coordinator/ Admin. She believes young people should have a safe place where they can access guidance and advice from youth workers and peers.

Charity - she/her

Youth Worker in Charge/

One to One Worker

charity@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Charity is the Youth Worker in Charge of our Bridport group as well as our one to one worker who helps our young people reach their goals. She joined us in 2014 in order to use her knowledge and experience to help others.

Dean - he/him

Youth Worker in Charge

07584 096444
dean@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Dean is our new Leader in Charge Youth Worker in Sherborne
He has been working with young people for over 15 years and is very passionate about young people having the opportunities and choices they deserve. He believes that every young person can overcome barriers and achieve their goals.

Beth - she/they

Youth Support Worker

beth@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Beth works at most of our youth groups. She wants to help spread Space's message as far as possible so that people can find us easily and so they know that we exist and that we are here to support them.

Begin image. A mature white women with long blonde hair is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a rainbow lanyard around her neck and sunglasses on top of her head. She is surrounded by grass and trees. End image.

Jane - she/her

Youth Worker in Charge

07932 439000

jane@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Jane is our Youth Worker in Charge for Dorchester and Weymouth. She believes young people should have a safe place where they can explore their sexuality and identity.

Begin image. A white women is smiling at the camera in front of a white backdrop. Her brown hair is tied back and she is wearing a grey hoodie. End image.

Kirsty - she/her

Youth Worker in Charge

07384 958422
kirsty@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Kirsty is the Youth Worker in Charge for our Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole groups, using her years of experience in working with young people. She also works with our young people to help engage them in shaping every aspect of the services we deliver.

Begin image. A white woman in her 50s with glasses and short strawberry blonde hair beams at the camera. She is holding up some of the books she uses when she talks to young children about how all families are different, but share the same love - The Family Book by Todd Parr, And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, and Introducing Teddy by Jessica Walton. End image.

Mel - she/her

Training & Education Volunteer

Mel is our training and education volunteer. She delivers training for teachers on inclusive schools and age-appropriate workshops for young people on diverse families, gender and sexuality. You can find out more about the workshops Mel delivers here and how to contact her!

Begin image. Mature white lady smiling, with long brown hair wearing a dark green jumper, and a heart necklace. Sitting in the corner of a room with a grey painted wall on her left, and black and silver door curtain behind. End image.

Deborah - she/her

Volunteer Counsellor

Deborah started with Space as part of a placement. She is now a trained counsellor and offering Space members free counselling. She wanted to offer counselling to LGBT+ young people after researching into the multiple issues they face.

A 20 something white woman smiles gently to the camera in a well-lit kitchen. She is wearing a sparkly bronze headband with her shoulder length dark brown hair pulled up in a bun. She has a tiny white gem nose stud and an opal pendant necklace on and a purple velvet jacket which is zipped most of the way up.

Lucy - she/her

Training Volunteer Counsellor

Lucy is a trainee volunteer counsellor who is doing a placement with Space. She has worked with young people for the last five years and believes she can help Space users to speak about issues they are facing and give them a safe, confidential space.

Ben - he/him

Volunteer Counsellor

Ben is the LGBTQ+ lead for the Bournemouth service of We Are With You and works on the young persons and families team, working with YP’s up to the age of 24 who have been either directly or indirectly affected by substances.

Begin image. A young white man dressed in a white shirt and black knitted jumper is smiling at the camera. He is standing in front of a window. He has blonde hair and brown stubble. End image.

Chris - he/him

Volunteer Youth Work Assistant

Chris helps out at Bournemouth group. He likes to volunteer with Space because it's something he didn't have growing up. He wants to give something to the next generation.

Jodie - she/her

Volunteer Youth Work Assistant

Jodie helps out at our Poole group as well as being a current member of Space. She wanted to gain a greater understanding of working and supporting young people around gender identity.

Begin image. A young, white man with short, blonde hair and blue eyes is facing the camera and smiling. Behind his head is the black headrest of his wheelchair. The background is the inside of a train carriage, with one orange metal pole behind him to the left, one behind his head, and one to the right. Double doors to the train carriage are also behind him to the right. He is wearing a red and black large checked, zip up shirt, zipped half way up with a beige t-shirt showing under the unzipped top of the shirt. End image.

Dylan - he/him

Volunteer Youth Work Assistant

Dylan is a volunteer at our Trans Family Days and used to be a young person at Space. He wanted to use his personal experiences and knowledge to help give back to the community.

Josh - he/him

Volunteer Youth Work Assistant

Josh is one of our volunteers at Bournemouth group. He feels best when he is able to help others feel safe and happy and joined Space with that goal in mind. There's a lot of pain in the word, and he wants to do something about it - no matter how small that something may be.

Jo C - They/Them

Volunteer Youth Work Assistant

Jo is a volunteer at our Poole & Bournemouth groups. Jo wants to show their support for the LGBT+ community and help young people blossom into their adult lives.

They are also a tattoo artist and a youtuber! Their videos are available here.

Zac - he/him

Volunteer Youth Work Assistant

Zac volunteers at Space Bournemouth, his passion for LGBTQI+ rights and his experience as a youth and adult volunteer in previous organisations, really help young people pursue happy and fulfilling lives.

Begin image. A young white woman is standing in front of a wall of leaves. Her head is tilted slightly to the left. She has shoulder length brown hair and she is wearing rectangular glasses with thick black frames. She is smiling warmly at the camera. End image.

Liz - she/her

Volunteer Youth Work Assistant

Liz is a volunteer at Poole group. She wanted to work with young people as she finds it extremely rewarding and has a lot of personal experience she brings to the group.

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Naomi - she/her

Volunteer Youth Work Assistant

Naomi volunteers with our education specialist Mel in schools around Dorset

Ruby - she/her

Volunteer Youth Work Assistant

Ruby works at Space Dorchester. Ruby thinks it is important for young people to have a safe space and good remodels and loves having the opportunity to support young people in their journeys.

Tobias - he/him

Volunteer Youth Work Assistant

Tobias first joined Space as a member in 2015 & has recently returned as a volunteer to better understand how we support young people as a part of his Master's Degree in creative psychotherapy and counselling. He aspires to specialise in supporting LGBT+ youth with their wellbeing, mental health and identity in the future.

Lynne - she/her

Volunteer Paddleboard Instructor

Lynne was previously a Trustee at Space and is a nurse working in the charity sector reducing inequalities in access to health care. She is passionate about the strength of community in solving social problems.

Simon - he/him

Volunteer Youth Work Assistant

Simon is a volunteer at our Poole group. Simon encourages our members to "Try and learn new ways to surprise yourself and others; creativity facilitates growth"

Sonny - They/them & he/him

Social Media Creator & Admin

Sonny is keen to use his skills on our social media platforms to raise awareness of Space to the LGBT+ young people in Dorset.

Katie - she/her

Social Media Creator & Admin

Katie works in social media and admin for Space and is enthusiastic about giving young people the right tools to improve their wellbeing and confidence.

Alice - she/her

Volunteer Social Media

Alice helps with social media. I want to help spread Space’s message so no young person feels lost or alone.

Begin image. A friendly looking, white middle aged man, clean shaven with short dark hair, is standing just off-centre to the right of the picture. He is looking straight at the camera and he is wearing a bright blue shirt, unbuttoned at the neck, standing in front of a white background. End image.

Gary - he/him

Finance Support Volunteer

Gary volunteers to help with Space's finances. He brings decades of experience to the Space team.

Max - he/him

Volunteer Admin Support

Max volunteers weekly in the Space office, he started off as a member before joining the team.

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Kirsty - she/her

Volunteer Admin Support

Kirsty has been volunteering in the Space office since 2008. She loves that Space is accessible, open-minded and inclusive.

Jo D

Event & Transport Volunteer

Jo helps out as an event and transport volunteer.

Mick

Event & Transport Volunteer

Mick helps out as an event and transport volunteer.

Laura

Event & Transport Volunteer

Laura helps out as an event and transport volunteer.

Meet the Board

Our board of Trustees is the backbone of Space Youth Project! Some of them have been here since the beginning and others have joined in the last year, all of them helping shape the service that Space provides to our young people. To get in contact with the board, please email trustees@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Begin image. A mature bald, white male with a grey beard, wearing a pullover sweatshirt with a brightly coloured scarf around his neck stands outside in front of a small lake. There are trees in the distance on the far shore. He is facing directly to the camera and smiling. End image.

Harry - he/him

Co-Chair & Safeguarding Trustee

trustees@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Harry helps facilitate our Board of Trustee meetings. Harry works with young people and brings an outside expertise to the table.

A mature white woman is smiling at the camera. She has short brown hair and is wearing a white button down shirt with a greay waistcoat. She has purple flowers pinned to her waistcoat. She appears in front of picture frames. End image.

Charlee - she/her

Co-Chair of Trustees

trustees@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Charlee is a Trustee as well as doing some administration work with us. Space is a project that Charlee holds close to her heart, previously volunteering when the project began.

Begin image. A mature white man is smiling at the camera. He appears in front of a body of water and has short greying hair. He is wearing a blue button down shirt with a black cardigain. End image.

Michael - he/him

Trustee

trustees@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Michael became a Trustee as he wanted to give back. He prides himself on his creativity, rainbow face painting, empathy and understanding.

Begin image. A young man is smiling at the camera. He has short black hair and is wearing gold framed glasses. He appears infront of a door way wearing a blur lanyard and a white an dgrey striped top. End image.

Eli -he/him

Trustee

trustees@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Eli is became a Trustee after leaving his role within Space. He has personally benefited from Space's service and it inspired him to continue working with the LGBT+ community.

A young white woman stands in front of some greenery. Her head is turned to the camera and she is smiling. She has brown eyes and has a nose ring, as well as ear piercings. She has shoulder length two-tone blonde hair. She is wearing a navy blue round neck sweatshirt

Natalie - She/Her

Trustee

trustees@spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Natalie is the most recent Space Trustee and heads up the Finance & HR team for an animation studio. She wants to support the project as she thinks it is imperative for LGBT+ youth to have a safe space to learn about themselves and the wider community.