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Staff

Woman with nose piercing and white cardigan holding a cute tiny brown dog with shaggy fur, outside on a sunny day

Abbi Oakley

Head of Communications/Marketing

I look after our marketing, communications and brand alongside a small team. Our goal is to increase awareness of Youth Music’s bold mission, great partnerships and impressive impact. I’m really enjoying working in a purpose-led organisation after more than a decade in commercial businesses. In my spare time, I’ve volunteered for a South London youth club for three years.

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  • Favourite album Childish Gambino, Because the Internet
  • Favourite tv show Would I Lie to You
  • Favourite animal My own dog Nelly, a “shorkie” (Shih Tzu x Yorkie). Instagram (of course): @NellyNoDilemma
Man smiling wearing checked shirt

Adam Cookson

Programme Manager

I support grantholders from application through to project evaluation and also line-manage a G&L Officer. I currently manage Youth Music’s portfolio of grants in London and nationally. 

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Aimee Phillips

Digital Content Officer

I develop Youth Music’s editorial content calendar and distribution across our website and social media channels. My role is to shout about Youth Music’s mission and make sure all our content is as informative and engaging as possible.

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  • Favourite animal Basset Hound
  • Favourite album Khruangbin - The Universe Smiles Upon You
  • Favourite city Lisbon
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Angela Linton

Chief Operating Officer

My key areas of responsibilities are in relation to operational strategy and management including finance, policy, HR and legal compliance. I take care of the F&A committee, chair panel and it is my pleasure to lead the CORE team (Comms, Operations, Research and Evaluation).

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  • Favourite journey home
  • Favourite album to play in the car A Woman's Heart (compilation of Irish female artists)
  • Favourite playwright Samuel Beckett
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Beatriz Martinez

Digital Marketing Manager

I oversee the strategic direction of Youth Music's digital channels, working towards a future where our mission to support young people in the music industry is known to everyone in the UK. With over ten years of experience in the charity sector, I specialise in leveraging digital communications for social change.

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  • Favourite food Anything made of potatoes. A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G.
  • My guilty pleasure Old school reggaeton
  • One of my favourite songs Animal Nitrate (Suede)
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Carol Reid

Programme Director

I oversee the work of the Grants and Learning Team and lead a lot of our inclusion-related resources and communications. I’ve been in the grants team for over 10 years so have a good knowledge about the people and organisations in the portfolio!

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  • Favourite gig Prince at Hop Farm Festival
  • Favourite music city New Orleans
  • Favourite breakfast Banana and peanut butter on toast
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Constance Dingri

Office Manager

I oversee the day-to-day coordination of the office and support with operations tasks within the CORE team. I support on daily administration tasks, diary management, HR and policies, staff training and also support on the Board Meetings liaising with all trustees.

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  • Favourite album Justified by Justin Timberlake
  • Favourite animal Penguin
  • Favourite book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
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Cristina Barone

Events & Corporate Manager

I project manage the Youth Music Awards, and oversee all other events that may take place during the year. I am the account manager for our current corporate partners, and I also work on seeking new, meaningful partnership opportunities with companies that share the same values as Youth Music.

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  • Favourite gigs Arctic Monkeys at the Palau Olimpic and Paul McCartney at the o2
  • Favourite snacks Tomatoes and Chipsticks
  • Favourite tv series Breaking Bad
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Daniel Williams

Engagement Director

I lead on developing strategies and mechanisms to engage young people and music industry partners in Youth Music’s work, and I also oversee partnerships and fundraising.

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  • Favourite food Green Fruit Gums
  • Favourite music venue The End (RIP)
  • North or South London? South EAST London!
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Domenica Simpson

Youth Engagement Officer

My role is to look after the logistics for Youth Music's NextGen programme which aims to support young people aged 18-25, who are pursuing a career in the music industries.

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  • Three rappers I love Little Simz, Leikeli47, Missy Elliott
  • Favourite live gig Skunk Anansie at Brixton Academy
  • Favourite Tattoo My chrysanthemum on my forearm!
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Ella Guthrie

Grants & Learning Officer

I am the Grants and Learning Officer for the South East (and help out with London too). I provide guidance and support to both new applicants and a portfolio of around 50 funded partners in these regions. I work on many stages of the grants process, from applications to reporting. I am also the Secretary of our staff-led Values Committee. Outside of Youth Music, I am a DJ and organise events and workshops for a female/gender expansive DJ collective.  

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  • Favourite music to dance to 90’s and 00’s trance/prog house
  • Favourite sport Yoga
  • Favourite season Summer
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Elliot Popeau-George

Grants & Learning Officer

I am the G&L officer for the London area, supporting up to 80 grant holders with their funding bids, reporting and signposting to useful resources and potential networking opportunities. Born and raised in East London, I am always keen to share my knowledge of the landscape and experience of the rich culture we have here in the capital.

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  • Favourite TV show Watchmen (finally overthrowing The Wire!)
  • Favourite gig Run The Jewels (opened by Young Fathers), Electric Brixton
  • Favourite albums Blue Lines – Massive Attack, Game Theory – The Roots, With Teeth – Nine Inch Nails
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Hannah Crompton

Ambassador & Events Lead

I help organise our flagship events such as the Youth Music Awards and Give a Gig Week. I lead on guest management for the awards and coordinate other logistics to make sure the event is a great experience for our guests. I liaise with artists and their managers for our Give a Gig campaign and help support our funded projects and other organisations with their fundraising activities. I work closely with our supporters and I really enjoy getting to know them and learning about why they chose to support Youth Music. If you'd like to fundraise for us or need some advice on how to organise your fundraising event, please feel free to email me!

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  • Favourite gigs Eminem at Wembley Arena, Charli XCX at The Jazz Café, Collard at OMEARA
  • Favourite place The beach – I’m a typical Pisces!
  • Favourite Netflix series Prison Break. Stressful, but worth it!
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Ife Okonkwo

Partnerships Manager

As Partnerships Manager, my role is to lead the Partnership and Fundraising Strategy growing Youth Music’s ability to shape a better future of music. Having a background in the wider creative space, I’m also focused on creating opportunities that embed Youth Music into the wider cultural landscape.

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  • Favourite album Kissland - The Weeknd
  • Favourite TV show Two and a Half Men
  • Favourite drink Peach Soju
  • Favourite book The Examined Mind by Stephen Grosz
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Jana Jammal

Grants & Learning Officer

Born and bred in Beirut, I'm currently based in London.

I'm the Trailblazer and Cataylser Fund Lead, driving the funds refresh process. I’m also the Youth Music contact for funded partners based in the South East, supporting them from the initial application stage to delivery and reporting. 

I have led on both the Recharge Fund and IDEA project and I continue to be interested in supporting funded partners with their organisational development, sustainability, and inclusion practices. 

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  • Favourite book Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
  • Favourite animal CATS
  • Favourite podcast Pod fanatic – but will always want to listen to episodes of ‘How did this get made?’
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Jessica Richards

Grants & Learning Officer

I am the Grants & Learning Officer for East of England and the North West. I look after a portfolio of around 80 funded partners across these two regions, giving guidance and support through their programmes, from initial application through to their reporting.

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  • Favourite festival Shambala Festival
  • Favourite gig M83 at The Roundhouse
  • Favourite theatre experience Punchdrunk - The Burnt City
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Matt Griffiths

CEO

I’ve been here since June 2012. My role includes vision, strategy, innovation and partnership development. I’m also our main spokesperson, which includes briefings with the media and commenting on social media. I love this job, being the CEO here is an absolute privilege.

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  • Favourite album Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
  • Favourite animal Dog
  • Favourite book Gotta Get Theroux This by Louis Theroux
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Michelle Myrie

Grants and Learning Officer

I am the Grants and Learning Officer for Yorkshire and the Humber, giving guidance and support to my grant holders as well as to new applicants on their projects. My role also involves monitoring evaluation reports from grant holders, and assessing applications. I’m a drummer with over 20 years experience performing and touring with various bands and artists. I also like to keep fit and I run a lot!

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  • Favourite place to party Ibiza
  • Favourite book Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway – Susan Jeffers
  • Favourite instrument Drums
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Molly Graham

Engagement Assistant

I assist the Engagement Team primarily with the NextGen programme, collating opportunities for young people and publishing them on our newsletters and website. I also assist with the research and logistics of events such as Give a Gig Week and the Youth Music Awards.

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  • Favourite film When Harry Met Sally
  • Favourite artists Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder
  • Favourite pastimes Gigging with my jazz band and cooking new recipes
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Phoebe Cross

Programme Officer

I work in the Grants and Learning team, coordinating the running of our grants programme as well as scheduling our Exchanging Notes learning sessions. I also work on a lot of funded partner comms. I absolutely love working for an organisation that makes such a tangible positive impact and is so relevant to my interests. I have previously mentored young people and run inclusive drum workshops. I also play in way too many bands! 

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  • Favourite album Saint Cloud by Waxahatchee
  • Favourite recent film Everything Everywhere All At Once
  • Favourite gig Tyler The Creator at Wireless 2022
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Rachel Sears

Grants & Learning Officer

I am the Grants & Learning Officer for the West Midlands and South West of England. I support grant holders in these regions from the application stage through to delivery and reporting. I also advise and support potential applicants.

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  • Favourite tea Earl Grey
  • Favourite karaoke song Believe by Cher
  • Favourite pastime Watching cosy murder mysteries
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Remi Fairweather Stride

Insights Manager

My role is to drive our Insights strategy at Youth Music. My role focuses on establishing evidence-led and equitable decision-making across the organisation, by transforming data into actionable insights that support young people making, learning and earning in music. I am passionate about amplifying the voices of children and young people as the true experts of their lives. I also serve as the Chair of the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Working Group.

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  • Favourite gig Bob Vylan at Vegan Camp Out 2023
  • Favourite riding road Healy Pass, County Cork/Kerry, Ireland
  • Favourite bike Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen
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Sam Harvey

Grants & Learning Officer

I am the Grants & Learning Officer for the North East and Scotland. I look after a portfolio of around 50 funded partners, and support new applicants through their grant application, delivery and reporting stages.

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  • Favourite album On the Beach – Neil Young
  • Favourite artist Kurt Vile
  • Favourite gig Anything at End of the Road festival, most recently Wu-Lu or Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
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Sam Scott

Grants & Learning Officer

I’m a Grants & Learning Officer and Youth Voice Lead for Youth Music’s Grants & Learning Team. I am responsible for further embedding the voices and influence of young people in Youth Music’s grant-making processes. I also look after Youth Music’s East Midlands portfolio; supporting funded partners both known and new to Youth Music through the grant application, project delivery, and reporting stages.

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  • Favourite instrument Piano
  • Pointless skill Stone skimming
  • Favourite isle Skye
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Sam Williams

Insights Officer

My role involves helping to collect and analyse data from our funded partners and the NextGen community. We use these findings to evaluate our impact and reinforce our evidence-led decision making. I also contribute to the production of reports and research projects that aim to provide insights into the experiences of children and young people in the sector.

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  • Favourite album Write It On Your Skin by Newton Faulkner
  • Favourite time of year When the Six Nations is on (Cymru am byth!)
  • Favourite pastime Attempting to win a pub quiz
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Sophie Appleby

Internal Communications Lead

I co-ordinate communications needs across the organisation, ensuring that everything we produce is inclusive, accessible, high quality and relevant. I have a particular focus on communications with our projects and professionals audiences - the people who work for organisations funded by Youth Music.

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  • Favourite animal Fox
  • Favourite album Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher
  • Favourite genre Sad bangers
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Victoria Opitz

Database Administrator

My role is to look after, and help people get the most out of the databases here at Youth Music, working alongside the very helpful super users.

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  • Favourite food anything spicy or with tofu, ideally both!
  • Favourite music Bjork, Burial, Chic, Craig David, Groove Armada, Moonwiring Club, Phillippe Jaroussky, Scissor Sisters, Time Attendant
  • Favourite singing project I've taken part in Singing in ‘A Nightingale Sang’ by John Browne at the Queen Elizabeth Hall led by Suzi Zumpe, we were a choir supporting singers from a variety of mental health community settings
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Zoe Kilb

Head of Grants

I oversee the grant-making cycle (from setting up funding rounds through to processing final evaluation reports) and I coordinate the work of the 5 Grants & Learning Officers. I was previously a Senior Grants & Learning Officer – looking after South West, East of England & East Midlands for nearly 4 years – so I have good knowledge about these regions. I also take a lead on our Early Years priority area, and I am fairly well connected in the Early Years music making community!

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  • Favourite album Tuesday Night Music Club
  • Favourite podcast The Parapod
  • Favourite book Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow by Peter Høeg
Dog wearing sunglasses on a beach

Buzz

Office Dog

I started my career as the stunt double for Falkor in The Neverending Story. But now I work in security, keeping homes and offices safe from intruders.

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  • Favourite TV programme Baywatch
  • Favourite animal Squirrels
  • Favourite walk The Pembrokeshire coastal path
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Albie

Office Dog

Friend of Youth Music CEO, Matt.

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  • Favourite thing Fetching ball
  • Favourite place Seaton beach in Cornwall
  • Favourite food Anything
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Nelly

Office Dog

Friend of Youth Music Head of Communications/Marketing, Abbi.

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  • Favourite sport Football (ideally on a beach)
  • Favourite food Cheese
  • Best trick Her side smile