Meet the team: introducing our new Young Board and Committee Members

At The National Lottery Community Fund, we believe that society can benefit by listening more to young people’s views. We also know from our own experience that they’re skilled and determined to make a real, positive difference to the world around them.

As a funder, we’re committed to making sure young people’s voices are included in all our work, whether that’s through the grants we make, the people we influence, or the things we learn. Over the past five years, we’ve been on a real journey; we introduced our first Youth Voice team back in 2020 and have since gone on to recruit a number of Youth Voice Advisors to help our funding teams design and shape the decisions that affect young people and their communities. More recently, we invited two of our Advisors – Tia and Rachael – to sit on the decision-making panel for the UK Fund, which marks the start of an exciting new chapter for us.

But the work doesn’t stop here. Today, we’re delighted to announce that we have appointed four young people to our board and Country Committees for the very first time.

The appointments – which include Ellie, Holly (Glasgow), Caolan (Northern Ireland), Callum (Wales) and Millie (England) – will ensure that young people across the UK have a say in the things we do, the decisions we make, and the way we support generations to come. Our young committee members will bring their lived experience, coupled with extensive knowledge of the area they represent, to make decisions about our largest funding programmes (over £500,000) and advise on the future of our funding strategy. Our young board member – Ellie – will also work with the board to set the Fund’s long-term strategy and key policies.

Each our new recruits bring a diverse set of skills and experience, yet they are united in their passion and drive to make a real difference for the next generation. Find out more about them in our latest blog.

Ellie (she/her), 21, UK – Board member

‘I’m a passionate campaigner for children’s rights and youth participation in decision making processes.

I’m currently the Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) and the MSYP for Glasgow Cathcart. As chair, I lead the organisation and the board of trustees and ensures SYP’s youth led mandate is at the forefront of everything SYP does. As well as my role as chair, I’m a trustee of Young Scot, Scotland’s National Youth Information and Citizenship Charity.

I led SYP’s ‘The Right Way’ project which aims to support officials to meaningfully include young people in their work. I also work on issues relating to childhood bereavement through my campaign, ‘Grieving and Growing’ and my work on the advisory panel of ‘It’s Time’ who support young people who have lost a parent.

I’m about to enter my final year at the University of Glasgow and am studying Politics and Sociology. I also work with the Student Experience team within the College of Social Sciences.

I also work as a youth worker for a young carers centre in East Renfrewshire where I support their peer education programme.

In my spare time, I enjoy going to concerts, reading, and playing with my three cats!’

Holly (she/her), 26, Scotland

‘My journey in youth participation and governance began in 2020 when I shadowed Tim Frew, CEO of YouthLink Scotland, during university. After graduating, I joined YouthLink Scotland as their Youth Volunteering Development Officer, collaborating with young people and organisations to support the YouthVIP and IWill programmes. I was inspired by seeing first-hand the value of putting young people at the centre of decision making. In 2022, I moved to UK Youth as a project officer, where I continued to support the delivery of youth-led programmes and further develop my skills in youth engagement.

In 2024, I joined Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) as a Strategy and Governance Officer and was selected to sit on the board of trustees for Change Mental Health. It is in these two roles that I developed an interest in charity boards and inclusive governance. I’m looking forward to bringing my unique insight from working with a board of trustees in my day-to-day role, coupled with being a trustee myself, to the Scotland committee.

My combined experience in youth participation and charity governance drives my passion for making a difference. I’m excited to bring my expertise to the Scotland Committee and strongly believe that putting young people at the heart of charity governance is key to creating lasting change.’

Caolan (he/him), 24, Northern Ireland

‘My name is Caolan McKiernan, and I am honoured to be joining the Northern Ireland Committee for The National Lottery Community Fund. To be given this opportunity at 24 years old is something I am very proud of. I am deeply passionate about working with young people and supporting their development through youth work. I have seen firsthand the transformative impact that The National Lottery Community Fund has on individuals and organisations across Northern Ireland, particularly in empowering young people and strengthening communities. I am excited to contribute to this vital work and help ensure funding reaches the projects that make a real difference in their lives.

As a lifelong resident of West Belfast, I have dedicated my career to youth work, driven by my own experiences growing up in the area. For over four years, I have worked at Holy Trinity Youth Centre, where I have had the privilege of supporting and empowering young people, just as my own youth workers once did for me. The guidance I received in youth centres shaped my path, opening doors to life-changing opportunities, and I am committed to providing the same for the next generation.

I am currently in my third year of a four-year part-time degree in Community Youth Work at Ulster University Belfast. In 2024, I had the privilege of completing a 12-week remote leadership programme with The Washington Ireland Programme Academy. As part of this initiative, I co-presented a project on Community Policing alongside young leaders from across the country. In September 2024, I was honoured to be awarded Class Valedictorian, a recognition that reflects my commitment to leadership and community engagement.

I am eager to bring my experience, passion, and insight to the Northern Ireland Committee for The National Lottery Community Fund. I look forward to working with my fellow Committee Members to support projects that make a real and lasting difference in our communities.’

Callum (he/him), 26, Wales

‘Shwmae! / Hello! My name is Callum and I’m really excited to get started as a member of the Wales Committee. I’m a freelance Participatory Filmmaker and Facilitator who grew up in the village of Brynaman in south Wales, but I’m now based in Swansea. I studied English Literature and Film & TV Studies at Aberystwyth University and graduated in 2019.

I began my freelance practice in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic and have since then worked with different youth and community groups to create films, videos and short documentaries as vehicles for them to gain practical and personal skills, as well as giving them the tools to tell their own stories. I also work for Amgueddfa Cymru as an Engagement & Volunteering Coordinator, as well as a Sessional Youth Support Worker for YMCA Swansea. I’m also a member of the Board of Directors for a youth theatre company based in Ammanford, called Mess Up the Mess.

Previously, I was a member of the Youth Advisory Board of the Youth Endowment Fund, based in London. Having worked in the third sector for most of my short professional career, I’m really excited to see things from the perspective of a funder and hope to use my lived and professional experiences to inform my role as a member of the Wales Committee.’

Millie (she/her), 28, England

‘I’ve volunteered in a variety of roles over the past 15 years. I started out when I was a teenager as a Youth Nature Officer with the RSPB and was even fortunate enough to be recognised for my volunteering efforts by carrying the Olympic Torch ahead of the London 2012 Olympics!

I have a real passion for sport and youth leadership. I was a Young Ambassador throughout school, eventually progressing to sit on the National Young Ambassador Steering Group, providing direction for the national youth leadership programme. Throughout university, I continued to empower emerging young leaders as a Team Leader at the Youth Sport Trust and supported national talent and girls’ active camps. Leaning on these experiences, I’m now a trustee at Achieve, Thrive, Flourish, who help young people, local residents and stakeholders to collectively identify their strengths, aspirations and opportunities and become the drivers of create, positive change for all, within the heart of their community.

Aside from volunteering, I’ve worked for the national charity SportInspired, establishing their Young Leaders programme before leading the Communities Team at Basildon Borough Council where I trained as an Asset-based Community Development Guide. Now, I work as a Senior Voluntary and Community Development Officer at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, leading on external funding and capacity building in the community.

I’m excited to bring my experiences as a young leader and my passion for place-based community development to the Fund.’