Wendover Youth Centre Trustees
Chairman – Chris Heald (he/him)
Chris has lived in Wendover since 1994 with his wife Margaret and two (now adult) boys. He has been a Trustee at WYC since its inception in 2012 and took over the role of Chair of Trustees in 2020.
Both of his children benefitted greatly from the Youth Centre and its activities and have also been involved in volunteering at WYC.
Chris brings a great deal of experience and relevant business skills to the role of Chair.
Having qualified as a chartered accountant early in his career he has now run his own consultancy business for 25 years.
Most of his work is with senior teams and Boards grappling with business sustainability, strategic, and governance issues.
Trustee and Safeguarding Officer - Kazeem Olayinka (he/him)
Passionate and energetic Youth Work Manager/ Programme Manager with over 14 years experience in the Youth Sector. Appointed Trustee and designated Safeguarding Lead for adults & children. Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training. Track record of managing young-person-centred programmes from design to evaluation with a focus on positive change for young people and communities. Proven track
record of developing community programmes for young people and adults. For more safeguarding information see our safeguarding document.
Secretary - Miranda Frost (she/her)
Miranda has been secretary since 2021. She has lived in the area her whole life. She has been involved with the youth centre for several years as a volunteer and her two children currently attend and also volunteer.
Treasurer – Paul Hammett (he/him)
Paul, who first became involved with youth work at St Mary’s Church in around 2000, completed a degree in Youth & Community Work in 2008 as part of which he founded the Amazing Donkey Youth Club in 2006 that has met at Wendover Youth Centre on Friday nights since. When Bucks County Council made cuts to their youth provision budget in 2011, Paul and the committee that ran Amazing Donkey were approached and helped to form the charity that now runs the Centre.
Since graduating, Paul also qualified as an Accountant and has been the Centre’s Treasurer since the start and this experience alongside his youth work knowledge, has enabled the Centre to access funding in support of our activities. Running his own practice gives Paul the opportunity to be involved with the Youth Centre which, at one time or other, has seen him performing most aspects of its operations. Whilst Paul has continued to be involved with Amazing Donkey, he has also helped to develop and deliver the broadening range of activities at the Centre and particularly enjoys being involved with the annual Youth Festival which started in 2015.
Jennifer Ballantine
Jennifer has lived in Wendover since 1964 and all her children were educated in Wendover and Aylesbury. Jennifer has always been an active member of the local community. She has been a Parish Councillor for over 40 years and she is currently Verger at St Marys Wendover. Jennifer has been involved with the youth centre for many years and been a Trustee since its formation as a charity. She currently helps out every week at the Youth Café.
Tessa Churchard (she/her)
Having grown up locally Tessa moved back to Wendover from London in 2010 with her husband and young son and was invited to become a trustee in 2017. Tessa is passionate about helping young people to thrive and achieve their full potential in what is an increasingly challenging world.
Tessa has worked as a professional actress in theatre and TV for over 20 years, she is also a qualified primary teacher and has taught in a variety of settings including main stream and hospital schools.
In 2015 Tessa started a Drama Club at the Youth Centre to combine her two loves - drama and teaching. ‘Drama Hub’ now has 7 classes teaching drama to children and young people from Reception to A level.
Tessa has volunteered in Wendover at the John Hampden school, Wendover Swimming pool and St Mary’s Wendover.
Rev'd Nadine Rose (she/her)
Nadine joined St Mary's Church, Wendover in November 2019 as Associate Priest and shortly after that had the privilege of becoming a trustee of Wendover Youth Centre. At St Mary's Church, Nadine works with families, children and the church Youth Minister. She is a Mum and a Nana and brings that experience to the role of Trustee! She is passionate about ensuring all young people are given opportunities to build their confidence, self-esteem and build life skills while having lots of fun.
Keith Lavine (he/him)
Keith moved to Wendover in 2007 from London just after the birth of his second child. He has three children that all go to local schools and use or have used the Youth Centre. His eldest child was the reason he got involved with the youth centre 5 or 6 years ago when she started attending Amazing Donkey on Friday evenings. At that time the influx of new members meant new volunteers were desperately needed and the rest is history.
He has been regularly volunteering after being welcomed into the WYC family and enjoys dealing with the young people of Wendover. He became a trustee in 2021.
In his work life he manages people from different backgrounds and upbringings and volunteering with the youngsters at the youth centre holds quite a few similarities!
Kyla Sansbury (she/her)
Kyla has been living in Wendover with her family since 2003. Her children have been attending the youth centre since pre-school and still come to the sessions as teenagers. All the members of the Sansbury household have been involved in volunteering at the centre and Kyla became a Trustee in 2021.
Kyla is a qualified chartered accountant and spent the start of her career working in the banking sector in London and New York. Since moving to Wendover Kyla has worked for the local accountancy firm Numbers Ltd.
Kyla has also been involved in running the church's Fairtrade shop on the High Street "Just", the Noah's Ark playgroup and helping out at the children's schools and clubs.