Who we are

Gavin Stone

CEO

Gavin has been at the helm of 4YP since October 2021, and can be credited with shaping the charity’s vision and maintaining its reputation at the centre of young people’s services in Suffolk.

John Weller

Operations Manager

John ensures the smooth day-to-day running of the whole organisation, guaranteeing the efficient delivery of all 4YP services.

Nancy Merfeld

Clinical Services Manager

Nancy oversees the delivery of 4YP’s formidable counselling programme that offers over 6,500 counselling sessions each year.

Dawn Herbert

Finance Manager

Dawn keeps a close eye on all the money at 4YP – coming in and out!

Laura Hall

Marketing & Communications Officer

Laura is responsible for all brand, press and communications matters but mainly getting the word out about just how great 4YP is.

Marie Tapp

Counselling Service & Administration Officer

Marie is often the first point of contact for 4YP clients and looks after the counselling service on a day-to-day basis.

Zephryn Taitte

Zephryn, who plays Cyril Robinson in the hit BBC drama series Call The Midwife, dedicates much of his time to working with young people by using drama and the creative arts as a tool for youth engagement and crime prevention. He co-founded Pan-Arts, an organisation that aims to inspire and implement social change and was recognised for his outstanding community work when he was awarded the Freedom of London.

In 2022 he collaborated with 4YP on a project aimed at developing self-confidence using drama. Zephryn and colleagues delivered a weekly programme of creative, performing arts workshops to an enthusiastic group of budding young actors at the 4YP HQ, which culminated in a live performance to friends and families as well as a day on set as extras on Call The Midwife.

Richard Lister OBE

Richard, Chair of the Trustee Board, was previously Vice-Chancellor at the University of Suffolk. Richard has a particular interest in relationships with the wider community and championing aspiration, achievement and social mobility. Richard previously worked at Brunel, Hull and Essex Universities and has been closely involved with several charities. In addition to being on the Board of 4YP, Richard is also Chair of the Board of the Food Museum and Chair of the Ipswich Social Mobility Alliance.

Nick Parker

Nick qualified as a chartered surveyor in 2006 and has had a successful career developing social infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and social housing. He was a founding director of an international infrastructure business and has vast experience of finance and construction having collaborated with world class leaders in architecture, building, banking and law.

Nick has been a Trustee of 4YP since 2021. His passion for 4YP is to ensure the charity is financially sustainable to be able to deliver the core service we believe in, and to create positive local and national networking relationships to enhance and maximise 4YP’s opportunities going forward.

Anne-Marie Hardwick

Anne-Marie grew up in Dublin where she graduated, in 1985, from Trinity College with a degree in Economics and Social Studies. She went on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte Touche and then spent the following decade working in the financial sector in both Dublin and London, before becoming a fulltime mum to her three now grown-up children. She joined 4YP as a Trustee (Treasurer) in 2017.

Helen Kent

Helen is Head Teacher at Ravenswood Community Primary School in Ipswich.

Helen wears her heart on her sleeve. Her best attributes are integrity, trustworthiness, empowerment, responsibility, and fairness.

Helen’s experience in UK and International schools has strengthened her knowledge and skills to drive school improvement. The most instrumental part of this has been listening to the young people.

Young people are at the heart of every decision Helen makes as a mum and educator. Becoming a Trustee at 4YP has given her an exciting opportunity to share her experiences and expertise while supporting likeminded people in shaping outcomes for our future generation.

Claire Barritt

Claire joined the Board of Trustees in October 2016. She qualified as a solicitor in 2003 and is a partner in a Suffolk-based firm of solicitors. She studied law at De Montfort and London Guildhall universities and  has a degree in business studies from the University of East Anglia. Prior to moving to the private legal sector in 2017, she worked for many years in the public sector as the Head of Legal and Democratic Services for an urban local authority.  In addition to supporting 4YP, Claire is also interested in environmental issues and the arts.

Gary Peverley

Gary is currently the Acting Diocesan Secretary and Finance Director for the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Board of Finance, supporting the Church of England’s presence in the 443 parishes across most of Suffolk. Prior to this, he was the Head of Management Accounts and Associate Director of Business and Finance for Enable East, the project management arm of North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. Gary is a Qualified Chartered Management Accountant and Honours Graduate with experience in a diverse range of businesses and industries.

Gary lives in Felixstowe and, away from work, enjoys spending time with family, walking, cycling, days on the beach, and gardening, as well as taking his children to and from their various activities! He is also an active member of a local church.

Sian Robertson

Sian grew up in Ipswich and is proud to call it her home. Since graduating from the University of Suffolk, her career has been focused on supporting young people in making the career choices that are right for them. From early on, as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Suffolk, to her current role as Director of Programmes for Career Ready, Sian has always been a passionate advocate for social mobility and ensuring that young people are heard.

Sian is an experienced leader who has enjoyed developing and writing careers programmes, creating inspiring university residentials and workplace visits for young people, fundraising and account management.

When not at work or volunteering, Sian is usually kept busy by her two small children and hopes one day to find the time again to sit down with a good book!

Rosemary Gravell

Rosemary had a successful career in London and Suffolk, as a clinician and in service management, in the field of Acquired Brain Injury rehabilitation before recently retiring to develop wider interests. She has also been involved in academic writing and research and has written or edited various books/chapters. She has a PhD and undergraduate degrees in Speech and Language Therapy and in Counselling.

She has been a Trustee/Governor within the education sector for many years, including safeguarding responsibilities, and brings this experience to 4YP, alongside her professional skills and knowledge.

Rosemary has four sons and two grandchildren.

Peter Broughton

Peter is a Programme Manager in the local health system and has worked for the NHS for almost a decade. He studied Business Management at the University of Suffolk and continues to reside locally since he graduated.

Before moving to Ipswich in 2016, Peter accessed mental health services in Norfolk as a young person, this was a key driver in Peter wanting to join the board at 4YP. He is passionate about equality, diversity, inclusion, mental health advocacy as well as LGBTQ+ rights.

Outside of work Peter enjoys getting back to nature and spending time with friends and family.