We are delighted to welcome Dr Matt Plen as our interim Chief Executive. Matt brings a wealth of experience in youth work and the charity sector, and we are thrilled to have his support and leadership as we enter a new phase of growth.
Matt began his career in youth work before moving into education and then into charity leadership. His last Chief Executive role was with Masorti Judaism, a community development and youth work charity that nurtures teenagers and young adults to take on challenging, values-driven leadership positions and gives them the confidence and skills to succeed in life. Matt’s most recent role was Interim Director of Martingale Foundation, a new charity enabling students who face socio-economic barriers to pursue postgraduate degrees in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects. He currently serves on the strategy committee of the Reach Foundation, a national education charity, and as a member of the Small Charity Advisory Panel. Matt holds a PhD in the philosophy of education and is the author of Judaism, Education and Social Justice: Towards a Jewish Critical Pedagogy.
Matt says, “My motivation to take on this exciting position stems from a lifelong commitment to the education, development and wellbeing of young people. As a teenager, I was a member of a youth movement and benefited profoundly from my relationships with youth workers and mentors. As a parent, I understand how important effective educational interventions and social and emotional skills support are, and how difficult it can be to access this through the NHS. Chance UK has an impressive track record and huge potential and I feel privileged to be able to play a role in its development.”
Welcoming Matt enables us to continue our exciting development plans, including our expansion thanks to our recent funding success with Propel London, while we recruit the permanent CEO role, details of which can be found here: Chief Executive Officer – Starfish Search, closing date 2nd June.
