WHO WE ARE

 LLB (Hons), NLP Dip, Level 3 Accredited Mediator and Restorative Practitioner, Level 3 Child Advocate and Teenage Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour Mentor. 

Steve is a former police officer, having spent many years as a neighbourhood Sergeant, and he has a wealth of first-hand experience in partnership working. Steve has years of experience in supporting parents and carers with Teenage Anti-Social Behaviour problems.

Amongst some of the skills that Steve can pass on to parents, careers and young people are; leadership, resilience, confidence, team work, motivation, understanding the criminal justice system, conflict resolution and communication skills, and self-worth.

Experience

Steve has years of experience helping families with young people at risk of involvement in anti-social behaviour, crime, CSE, county lines, gangs, drugs, and alcohol issues. 

Steve also has experience of Outward Bound Activities and After School Enrichment Programmes and works as a mentor and motivational coach within schools, local communities and family environments.

Steve is also involved with the Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester providing skills workshops and team building events based on the effectiveness of early interventions.

Having spent the first 10 years of his life in Barnardo’s, in a residential children’s home, Steve understands some of the difficulties young people can face.

Karen has spent 30 years with Greater Manchester Police and has spent much of her service as a Dectective within the Public Protection Investigation Unit including Domestic Violence, Child Protection and Vulnerable Adults Unit. Karen has also been a Safeguarding Adults Manager.

Experience

Karen has worked on many complex cases involving CSE, Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences and has a wealth of experience in Multi Agency approaches to solving complex cases.

Board Director, UCAN Northwest

Co-chair & Director, Upturn Enterprise Ltd

Maria Williams is a highly respected leader and co-founder of Upturn Enterprise Ltd, a multi-award-winning social business based in Oldham. With over 21 years of dedicated service, Maria has been instrumental in transforming the lives of more than 15,000 individuals through her unwavering commitment to social mobility and community empowerment

As the HRM Director at Upturn Enterprise Ltd, Maria has played a pivotal role in fostering a culture of inclusivity, respect, and innovation. Her leadership has been marked by a deep understanding of the challenges faced by communities and a relentless drive to create opportunities for personal and professional growth

In her role as a Board Director at UCAN Northwest, Maria brings her extensive experience and passion for community development to the forefront. She is responsible for setting strategic directions, ensuring high standards of excellence across programs, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to achieve the organization's goals

Maria's dedication to empowering individuals and her ability to inspire those around her make her an invaluable asset to both Upturn Enterprise Ltd and UCAN Northwest. Her work continues to be a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives.s succeed and reach their full potential.

Phil Arnold has been a leading educational innovator for over two decades, spanning early years to higher education and work-based learning. Whether serving as a Lecturer, Executive Head, MAT CEO, or Chair of Trustees, Phil's primary focus has always been the success of everyone involved.

Phil has significant expertise in fostering partnerships across public, private, and third sectors, as well as in co-production and multi-agency collaboration. He possesses a deep understanding of trauma-informed practices, strength-based approaches, and supporting underrepresented and minority groups.

Phil is passionate about helping individuals achieve their full potential and do good. 

  FE Lecturer, mainstream school leader, Executive Head of 3 SEMH provisions, Schools Excellence in Cities Partnership Director, Chair of National Schools Co-operative Society (MAT), Appreciation of grant-making processes and co-funding opportunities such as government grants, philanthropic foundations and corporate sponsorship and experience in the charitable sector. I’ve worked on over 40 publicly funded programmes and held £6M plus budgets a year, including philanthropic and social corporate responsibility developments. Supported over 100 social businesses. I was the Chair of the £8.25M Access Foundation’s social impact investment programme across Greater Manchester. Served as a Trustee for GMCVO as a grant giver and community development network. I am an innovator in developing traded services and have experience in the use of social finance.

Phil works with leaders to navigate points of change. Many of these social business, private and public sector clients are part of a wider social change movement in circular economics, social value, education, health care and environmental actions. 

Phil is an Innovator and researcher across the public, private and 3rd sectors. Phil has contributed to research in curriculum design, well-being and positive mental health, exclusion, criminal and at-risk behaviours, SEND and neurodiversity. 

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thwest. Her work continues to be a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives.s succeed and reach their full potential.