Staff
The people at LCET are our greatest asset. Their commitment, passion and skills are what help us make a real difference in the lives of young people. We're proud of all them and what they bring to our organisation.
Ruth Bennett
Staff member since: 1998
Role: Deputy Chief Executive
Ruth has been involved in youth work for 16 years. She has a Masters Degree in Youth Ministry and Theological Education from Kings College London, with her first degree being in Fine Art. Starting in LCET as a chaplain, helping young people develop holistically and healthily, Ruth now spends most of her time mentoring staff to do the same. A gifted communicator and teacher, Ruth is also responsible for developing policies and procedures within the organisation. Ruth has served as a Governor of two local schools and has two young children.
Kal Budwal
Staff member since: 2006
Role: Finance Director
Kal worked in the Corporate Business Sector for over thirty three years with extensive experience in finance before taking on the role at LCET. He spent fifteen years in the motor industry before moving into the rag trade in London’s Oxford Street for eight years and then taking up a post in Hertfordshire leading a finance team in a large catering company. Kal and his wife Wendy were also youth leaders at a local church for fifteen years and still continue to work with young people.
Chris Curtis
Staff member since: 1993
Role: Chief Executive
Chris trained in law at the University of Bristol before moving on to work in schools as a youth worker in the early 1980's. He became the first member of staff at LCET in 1993 and, as Chief Executive, oversees the strategic development of the project. In 2001 Chris completed a Master Degree at the University of Birmingham in Educational Psychology (Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties). He writes and speaks widely on education, culture and young people. Both he and his wife Helen are registered Foster Carers and have two children of their own.
Trudy Hankin
Staff member since: 2009
Role: Compass Worker
Trudy worked for Connexions (and formerly the Careers Service) in Bedfordshire for 11 years prior to joining LCET, offering advice and guidance to young people in school and college as well as to those who were excluded or NEET. She is a youth leader at her church in Hitchin and enjoys playing the trombone in the band there when they allow her to!
Lynsey Johnston
Staff member since: 2006
Role: Therapeutic worker specialising in children in care/Acting Therapeutic Team Director
Lynsey lived in Luton until she was nineteen when she took the opportunity to study vocals for two years at the Nexus Academy in Coventry. After this, she returned to her home town to begin working with LCET as the children in care specialist. Lynsey has developed and implemented the support that LCET offers to those in the care system including the group programmes, the 'See Me' art project, and a skills course for young people about to transition into independent living. She is currently studying for a BA (Hons) degree in Child and Adolescent Studies.
Donna Lumsden
Staff member since: 2010
Role: Therapeutic worker specialising in self harm
Donna gained a degree in psychology at the University of Hertfordshire and went onto apply this to working with children and young people in a variety of settings and with varying emotional, behavioural and special education needs. Donna worked at a school in Luton for 18 months and volunteered on the LCET summer camp before recently joining the therapeutic team to specialize in self harm. She will also be working alongside Rachel Welch in developing the selfharm.co.uk website.
Jane Malcolm
Staff member since: 2007
Role: Chaplain
During her University years Jane volunteered for re:generation, a schools work project in Harrow. She completed her degree from London School of Theology in Music, Worship and Theology in 2007 and joined the chaplaincy team in September 2007. Jane has been working in Lealands and Lea Manor for two years now, offering creative R.E. lessons, R.E. study days, thought provoking assemblies and one to one mentoring.
Nadia Power
Staff member since: 2006
Role: Therapeutic Team Director (currently on maternity leave)
Nadia joined the LCET team a Therapeutic worker specializing in the role of self harm. A year later she took on the role of Therapeutic Director. A role which sees her managing the work of the Therapeutic Team, liaising with Lutons High Schools and delivering training to local agencies. She is studying for a Masters Degree at De Montfort University in Youth Work and Community Development. She is currently taking a break from LCET work to have her first child.
Grace Read
Staff member since: 2010
Role: Therapeutic worker specialising in self worth
Grace studied Psychology and English at Keele University, focussing on special educational needs and behaviour management in mainstream schools. After graduating, she worked as a learning mentor for nearly 5 years. During her time as a mentor, Grace began experimenting with creative methods of successfully engaging disengaged pupils. Grace leads the youth work at Courtyard church in Hitchin and volunteers at the Coffee Mill youth club, also in Hitchin. In her spare time she enjoys reading, and writes the odd book review for a literary magazine.
Jason Royce
Staff member since: 2009
Role: Compass Team Director
Jason Royce has been working with young people for the past 10 years. As a Connexions Personal Adviser and Team Manager he has worked in schools across Luton, Bedford, and London to help young people explore their options and motivations towards Education, Employment, and Training. Jason is also a JNC qualified Youth Worker, having training with the Centre for Youth Ministry, and has lived in Luton throughout his life.
Johnny Scott
Staff member since: 2009
Role: Compass Worker
Johnny has recently joined the Compass Team having spent 7 years with The Salvation Army in both rural and urban settings. Working with young people both in and out of a school environment, he uses his passion for playing sport to engage young people and to build mentoring relationships with them. Johnny went to University in Luton and graduated as is a JNC qualified youth worker in 2006. He was married in October 2009 and lives with his wife in Hertfordshire.
Amy Stock
Staff member since: 2005
Role: Director, schoolswork.co.uk
Amy studied for a music degree at City University, London, before going on to teach in Sevenoaks, Kent. She moved to Devon in 2003 to train with South West Youth Ministries in youth and schools work. In 2005 she moved to Luton, joining the chaplaincy team to work in Cardinal Newman and Icknield High School. In November 2007, Amy took on the role of Director for schoolswork.co.uk, a project for resourcing, inspiring and training Christian visitors to schools across the UK.
Nicki Summerson
Staff member since: 2002
Role: Office Manager
Nicki has a background in finance and administration and has been involved in youth work for twenty years. Alongside her role at LCET includes administrating the team, she also works with young people on LCET residentials. Nicki has a son called Ben and is a keen photographer, a skill she uses in a variety of ways at LCET.
Claire Yuen
Staff member since: 2008
Role: Therapeutic worker specialising in ADHD
Claire trained in graphic design in Luton before going on to assist with the University in their chaplaincy department. She then worked at a local charity for the homeless as a drug and alcohol worker and later as a manager. Her first contact with LCET was as a volunteer on one of the summer camps, which led to more regular volunteering and eventually a full time role on the therapeutic team. She is also a voluntary youth worker in her local church.
Rachel Welch
Staff member since: 2010
Role: Director, selfharm.co.uk
Rachel has been involved with LCET since 1993, which includes volunteering for a year as part of the original intern programme in 1996. She has spent the last 12 years working in the care sector, with 6 of those as a Mental Health Advocate in a Medium Secure Hospital. Rachel sat on the advisory group of selfharm.co.uk before taking up post as Project Director in 2010. She is studying for a degree in Mental Health & Child and Adolescent Psychology, and lives in Norfolk with her husband Mark and their young son Rudy.
