UK Youth says a huge thank you to CEO Ndidi Okezie

Ndidi Okezie OBE to step down as Chief Executive Officer of UK Youth  

Nigel Mansell CBE, UK Youth President, said: “Ndidi has been a driving force of the incredible life-changing work of young people across the UK. Her commitment, passion and advocacy for the importance of youth work and amplifying the needs of young people is truly unwavering.

“I feel so thankful that I have been able to work so closely with Ndidi during her tenure. She is one of the kindest and most compelling people I have had the pleasure of working with. Thank you just isn’t enough for everything she has given to UK Youth. Both I and all of UK Youth will miss her greatly”  

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, David Thomlinson, chair of trustees, said: “The board extends its gratitude to Ndidi for her dedicated leadership as CEO over the past five years, a period during which UK Youth has made significant strides.

“Her time as CEO saw the charity navigate complex challenges. Under her leadership, UK Youth partnered with a range of funders and established a grant distribution fund of more than £20 million of support, accessible to a network of more than 9,000 youth organisations.  During this time, income also grew by £10m annually, enabling vital partnerships that help young people thrive across the country. 

“Ndidi leaves UK Youth in a strong and stable position, for which the board is enormously grateful for. With an excellent leadership team in place, we are confident the organisation will continue its important work without disruption. 

“As we look to the future, we remain committed to our mission to empower young people to thrive in every stage of life.  We look forward to embarking on this next chapter, alongside our partners and supporters, to meet the ever-growing needs of young people across the country.” 

Ndidi said: “Leading UK Youth has been an incredible journey of growth and impact. I’m deeply grateful to our amazing staff, the most dedicated network of organisations, and our generous funders and partners for their unwavering confidence and support. Together, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones in our mission to unlock the transformational power of youth work for all young people across the UK. 

“UK Youth is stronger than ever, with a bold strategy, a strong leadership team and brilliant staff, all poised to guide the charity into its next exciting chapter. As I prepare for my next adventure, I leave with immense pride in our accomplishments and confidence in UK Youth’s bright future.” 

Ndidi will continue in her role until December 2024. The recruitment process for her successor will start shortly.