The former Director of The Ramblers, Simon Barnett, has joined Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire based charity Action4Youth as its new Operations Director.
An energetic senior leader with extensive experience of volunteering and programme management in large, complex charities, Simon has a real passion and enthusiasm for encouraging children and young people to get involved in adventures and activities outside of the classroom.
Motivated by making a difference to the lives of individuals and to wider society, Simon is looking forward to overseeing the Caldecotte Xperience, Action4Youth’s outdoor adventure and education facility, which includes bunk rooms, two yurt villages and facilities for sailing, canoeing, rowing, paddle-boarding, climbing, zorbing, caving, archery and much more.
Simon will also be responsible for The Inspiration Programme, which is continuing to go from strength to strength and has just recently received backing from Buckinghamshire County Council, who will be running the programme in six of its schools during the next academic year.
Simon explains why he’s so enthusiastic about his future at Action4Youth: “Having worked for The Ramblers for more than 10 years I felt like I’d gained some fantastic skills and experience within the outdoor education and environment industry.
“I was impressed by the amazing work that had been taking place at Action4Youth over the past year, adding The Inspiration Programme to its portfolio of activities and opportunities, and increasing and improving its facilities at the Caldecotte Xperience; I wanted to be a part of continuing to grow these successes and support Action4Youth in achieving its ambitions to drive forward change for children and young people.”