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We provide clinical excellence and community compassion to dismantle the barriers of systemic trauma, fostering resilience that persists.
Our Mission at actforchange is in the ongoing development of effective and empowering intervention supporting children, young people, single parents and families to overcome trauma and adversity.
By engaging in a systemic approach with strong multi-agency collaboration, we work to achieve our shared goals to strengthen mental health resilience and emotional wellbeing.
Setting the ground not just for improved personal behaviour but also improving the crucial environmental conditions of family, school and community. Resulting in better short and long-term outcomes.
We are committed to the principles that underpin Every Child Matters.
We create the context for better access and engagement by responding to specific cultural, communal and developmental needs, with youth-friendly services.
Building on the resilience of local communities by co-creating and providing the tools to continue the work and equip young people and their support networks with the skills to actforchange at crucial moments.
We create empowering interventions that help young people and families recover, grow, and thrive.
We believe in strong partnerships, uniting agencies and communities to create lasting impact.
Our services are tailored to cultural, communal, and developmental needs, making support accessible to all.
We empower young people and their networks with the tools and skills to act for change at crucial moments.
Meet the passionate team leading Act for Change's mission for trauma-informed care, equity, and real community impact.
Darren is a youth justice and safeguarding specialist with a background in frontline work, national policy, and senior leadership. He has championed support for high-risk young people affected by trauma and crime and also works to make outdoor spaces accessible to marginalised groups. A founder of youth services and national trainer, Darren brings lived insight and strategic expertise to Act for Change’s commitment to equity, safety, and inclusion.
Joanne is a social care leader with a background in fostering and youth services, and a Trustee at Act for Change. Throughout her career, she’s been dedicated to creating spaces where young people feel heard, safe, and valued. At Act for Change, Joanne leads the Youth Advisory Panel—ensuring that young voices are at the heart of how we design, evaluate, and grow our work. Passionate about co-production and about building bridges between professional systems and lived experience.
Sean is a trustee at Act for Change, with a deep commitment to inclusion, equity, and community-led change. His work focuses on amplifying voices that are often marginalised in mental health systems—especially fathers, minoritised communities, and individuals on the edges of care. At Act for Change, Sean supports initiatives that ensure programmes reflect the realities of the communities we serve and build genuine partnerships with those too often left out of the conversation. He believes that lasting change begins with listening—deeply, consistently, and across difference.
Marc is a solicitor and founding partner of Keidan Harrison LLP, and a trustee at Act for Change. His focus is on strengthening the charity’s governance, ensuring our systems, policies, and risk management processes evolve to support responsible growth. He brings experience from complex legal and organisational environments to help Act for Change build a resilient foundation—one that supports bold, trauma-informed work with integrity and care.
Lea is a psychotherapist, coach, and facilitator with a deep commitment to helping people heal from trauma and reclaim their agency. Lea founded Act for Change in 2007 to support young people and families who’ve experienced deep pain—especially the kind passed down through generations. Her work is rooted in lived experience and a belief in the power of empathy, connection, and community to transform lives.
Eva is a Processwork psychotherapist (UKCP registered), a certified coach (ICF), and has a degree in clinical psychology. She started her career in healthcare, supporting people with physical and mental problems. Today, in her private practice, she focuses on personal growth, psychotherapy and training. She coordinates and develops programmes for individuals, teams, and organisations to support trauma-informed practice and empower young people in creative leadership.
Tim is a strategic leader in business operations with over 20 years of experience in the youth and education sectors. He has delivered national programmes, managed multimillion-pound budgets, and pioneered scalable initiatives that uplift young people. As a skilled partnerships manager and safeguarding lead, Tim brings operational excellence and creative thinking to every challenge.
Josef is a specialist in digital infrastructure, data systems, and impact evaluation within the youth sector. He has led the implementation of data strategies for major national initiatives. Josef brings a sharp analytical lens and deep sector insight to help Act for Change understand and evidence its impact.
Talia has been part of Act for Change since 2022, working across marketing and communications to amplify the organisation’s vision and impact. Dedicated to storytelling, she ensures AFC’s work resonates with partners and the public. Talia also develops tools and materials to support and strengthen the AFC network.
Our group of therapists form the living heart of our trauma-informed approach. Each brings a unique cultural lens, professional journey, and lived experience. Drawn from schools, youth services, mental health, and community healing, they don’t just support our mission—they embody it. Their collaboration is our quality assurance. Their commitment is our credibility.
December 2024
In Act for Change, we have been providing individual counselling (1-2-1) for young people for more than...
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October 2024
Racism is not just a societal issue; it is a deeply personal one, affecting the mental and emotional...
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September 2024
At Act for Change, we often talk about how trauma affects our relationships, especially in how we handle...
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