Trustees | Chat Youth Counselling

Our Trustees

CHAT Youth Counselling is a local charity providing mental health support to young people, primarily in the 11 – 18 years age range. The counselling is provided by professional counsellors and the day to day running of CHAT is co-ordinated by our Clinical and Business Manager.

However, CHAT does rely on its board of trustees who, in conjunction with the manager, shape the strategy and scope of the charity. The trustees come from a variety of backgrounds, but what they have in common is a concern for the mental health of young people.

We are always looking to add trustees to the existing board. If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a trustee, please contact peter.burrows@chatyouthtrustees.co.uk.

Peter Burrows

Peter is a retired lawyer who spent 25 years as a partner in an International law firm, working in London, Russia and China before joining a highly regarded Chinese law firm in Beijing for the last few years of his career.

Peter, who has previous experience as a trustee, joined CHAT in 2022. He was attracted to CHAT because of its important role in helping local young people facing mental issues.

Mike Jakeways

Mike has lived in Oundle for forty years. He worked as an English teacher in several schools across the country and was Deputy Head at Prince William School for more than twenty years.

Mike became a Trustee of CHAT two years ago though contact with a previous colleague who had held a senior pastoral post at the school.

Kathryn Newell

Kathryn has been a GP in Oundle for nearly 25 years and became a CHAT trustee in 2022.She retired from GP partnership in 2023 but continues to work for the local surgery as Oundle School GP. She has an interest in the mental health and well-being of all our young people and works within CHAT to help provide accessible support and counselling locally.

She is a keen gardener and member of her local Parish Council.

Gwen Radcliffe

Gwen was an Oundle Town Councillor for 36 years. She was a member of their steering group which established the Youth Counselling organisation in 1997. She has been actively involved with CHAT ever since.

In her professional life Gwen was a teacher of Mathematics in secondary schools with a particular interest in Sixth Form pastoral work.

In addition to her work as CHAT Youth Counselling Treasurer, Gwen is Vice Chairman of Parson Latham’s Oundle Trust and Chairman of Oundle Festival of Music & Drama.

Sarah Taylor

Sarah was a writer/strategist in advertising and digital media for 10 years before stepping out of the workforce to focus on family. During this time, she also embarked on part-time studies towards a counselling and psychotherapy qualification. She worked as a psychotherapist for five years, but missed the collaborative nature of being part of a team, and now fulfils the role of administrator for the day houses at Oundle School.

She has been Secretary of CHAT Youth Counselling for three years.

Lita Grey

Lita Gray has been a resident of Oundle for many years and has been a CHAT Trustee for over a year. She has an interest in the mental health and well-being of young people and also works as a Prince’s Trust Employability Skills Mentor for young people. She has also been an Oundle Town Councillor for the past 2 years.

In her professional life she worked in various management/strategic roles in Human Resources for over 40 years in the UK and Australia.

01832 274422