Youth Vision is staffed by a team of Development Youth Workers, volunteers, and guided by a Board of Trustees. We achieved charitable status in 2009 and gained an accreditation for Investing in Volunteers in 2014.
Youth Vision currently has three part-time members of staff and is supported by a vital team of over 25 volunteers.
Our Team
Sara Beauregard MBE
Field Manager
The dreamer, visionary and co-founder of Youth Vision.
With 30 years of working with young people and their families in the social sector, qualifications in Nursery education, Psychiatric nursing, Children and Young people’s Counselling and Forest School she continues to be enthusiastic about working with families, young people and the outdoors.
With experience working with Emotional and Behavioural Disorder (EBD) schools and as mental health nurse before moving to America to work for Vision Quest, an organisation that provides alternative education for young offenders with the aim of helping them to avoid further involvement with the penal system.
Her work with Vision Quest was her inspiration to return to the UK do similar work in Scotland. In 2005 she met up with Claudia Goncalves, who has been a catalyst in helping manifest that dream here – to create Youth Vision – supporting young people through the transitional process from childhood to adulthood.
In January 2018, Sara was made a Member of the British Empire for her work with the charity.
You can email Sara directly at sara@youthvision.uk
Madeleine Bisset (Maddy)
Youth Development worker
“I have been with Youth Vision for just over a year now. Prior to this, I studied HNC Social Care and worked at an additional support needs school for 4 years. My professional background has been based around children and teenagers with autism, ADHD and behavioural issues. Moving from the classroom to an outdoor environment has been the highlight of my career, especially post-Lockdown! Working with young people who are not coping with a formal education setting, then seeing the change in attitude and confidence when you bring them outdoors and give them trust is what makes the job so great. We are supporting young people to build their self-esteem, life skills and encourage them to try new skills. I have primarily been involved in both the Saturday Wilderness and Back on Track groups this year, which set the foundation for moving on to Staying on Track when they turn 16. It’s great hearing when they’ve chosen to stay on and always interesting to see what path they choose to take when working towards employment.
This year has already brought lots of fantastic memories and training, including getting to drive the minibus which has been a dream of mine for years. Youth vision creates great opportunities not only for young people, but also volunteers and staff. I am looking forward to seeing what else the journey brings! I can be emailed directly at maddy@youthvision.uk“
Sam Brittain
Freelance Facilitator and Volunteer
I’ve been involved at Youth Vision for a little over two years now – first as a volunteer and more recently as a freelance staff member.
Youth Vision is an amazing grassroots organisation and I’ve learned a lot since I first met the team in 2016. First, I volunteered with the Back On Track group each Thursday for almost a full year – we were working with young people from a variety of backgrounds who each had very challenging circumstances in their home lives. I loved being part of a consistent team trying to support these young people as they approached the end of their school years.
Since then, I’ve developed my group work skills working with the Forest Skills project, as well as with other organisations outwith Youth Vision. I’m very motivated and excited for our new Forest Skills project, which we are taking into local green spaces within the community – a big change and challenge away from our farmstead in the hills.
I’m pleased to be able to contribute behind the scenes in the office and to continue raising awareness of Youth Vision with our Community Gatherings! Hope to see you up at the cottage soon!
Phil Hardie
Freelance facilitator, Back on Track programme co-leader
I’ve worked with Youth Vision since 2013. It gives me a chance to have positive influence on vulnerable individuals and groups while using my experience and skills in the outdoors as tool to achieve this. The breadth of my experience in using different art forms and skills to reach and engage people helps considerably and I thoroughly enjoy the challenge and the satisfaction that working with our ‘Back on Track’ young people can provide.
I’ve worked as an outdoor instructor/educator since 2009 when I got involved with a Forestry Commission project called ‘Branching Out’. I was initially involved as a workshop leader of environmental art practice but was quickly asked to lead all aspects of the field work due to my experience and enthusiasm for all aspects of living and working outdoors.
I have worked with people and in particular vulnerable groups my entire life. This has taken many paths including arts tutor, circus skills teacher, Capoiera instructor, bushcraft instructor, musician and support worker. I love being in the natural world and spend as much of both my working and recreational time being in nature. I firmly believe that the natural world feeds our mind, body and soul.
Youth Vision is a vital and rare resource in the challenge of helping young people that have already slipped through the net to some extent and for whom the standard modes of education and support have simply not worked. It fills a gap in our social support systems that few other organisations are willing or able to take on.
Leadership and management
The work at Youth Vision is directed by a Board of Trustees, made up of five members, who all have a range of professional and personal skills which includes health and social care, accountancy, leadership, development and management.
Peter Smith – Treasurer. BA (hons) In Accountancy
12 years financial services and accounting.
Lesley Hughes – Secretary
Currently employed at City of Edinburgh Council since 2004 in Health and Social Care within elderly services. Previous experience working for many years as a volunteer and paid youth worker and adults with learning disability.
Katrina Vernon – Volunteer coordinator
BA in Pre-school education. Forest School leader level 3. Foraging and gardening experience.
Rich Tildesley – Committee member
Tilly has a passion for the natural world and outdoor experiential learning and believes that vulnerable young people can learn about themselves and their place in the world through a better connection to nature.
He has worked as an environmental and outdoor educator for 17 years, designing and facilitating programmes and expeditions throughout the UK and New Zealand and working with a wide range of client groups with a variety of complex behavioural, physical, mental and emotional abilities
Mark Gwynne – Chair
Bringing knowledge of policies and procedures, with 15 years of youth work experience, plus leadership and project management skills.
Youth Vision also has a consultant:
Fiona Hoskyns – Cheque Signatory and Advisor for Youth Vision, both financial and managerial
With an accounting background for over 20 years, she assists with the Annual report and gives advice and support where needed.