WAY names new Chief Executive

July 2021

We are delighted to announce the appointment of WAY’s new Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Patrick.

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Stephanie is currently Acting Chief Executive Officer at YMCA Sutton Coldfield, where she has worked for the past 20 years. Starting her career as a professionally qualified youth worker, she has nearly 30 years’ experience of working within the third sector and has substantial experience of strategic leadership and organisational growth. She has led, managed and delivered a wide range of services for vulnerable young people, including services for young carers, children and adults with learning disabilities.

“I’ve always had a passion for working with people and for empowering young people in particular to have a voice,” she told us. “I’ve focused particularly on enabling positive change for disadvantaged young people, children and their families.”

Over the past 12 months, Stephanie has attracted around £700,000 of funding through bid and tender writing, partnership working and other fundraising opportunities – experience that will be invaluable to her new role with WAY.

She told us: “I was attracted to WAY because my brother was widowed in his 30s, so I understand some of the challenges that come with being widowed at a young age. What also appealed to me is that WAY is all about supporting young people. And it seems to be a really unique charity in the peer support it offers to young widowed people. I am really looking forward to working with the trustees, staff and members to achieve great things together as WAY approaches its 25^th anniversary.”

Stephanie will work closely with WAY’s Board of Trustees – led by our new Chair Jo Sedley-Burke – and will build on the excellent work of outgoing Chief Executive Rebecca Cooper, who left the charity in a robust position after three years at the helm.

We hope you will join us in extending Stephanie a warm welcome when she starts in post at the end of August.