Our Team

We are Youth Workers bringing a voice of hope to people aged 10-25 during and after attending A&E because of self-harm, a suicide attempt or an emotional crisis.

In June 2021, Emerge Advocacy received The Queens Award for
Voluntary Service in recognition of all the hard work, comfort and care that our volunteers give through their support of young people in crisis.

Join our award-winning team

Our Founder’s original vision was to see volunteers supporting young people in her local hospital in Guildford, Surrey. The original project was a success and we started receiving requests from other hospitals saying, ‘We need this in our A&E too!’.

Since then, we have been working with hospitals and the communities surrounding them to build teams and put Emerge projects into hospitals wherever there is a need, and to offer follow up support in the community for up to three months to help young people take the next steps towards recovery.

Our Culture.

Emerge exists to be a voice of hope to young people in crisis. We are passionate about reaching out to young people in a spirit of love, compassion, empowerment, and in a way which helps them to reimagine themselves and their futures.

In all things, we seek to reflect the hope and generosity we find in the Christian faith. All our life-giving interactions overflow from the culture that flows through Emerge, and that we each personally carry. Within our team we extend the same generosity, hope and compassion to one another as we do to young people.

We know that this may be counter-cultural to many other areas of life. It doesn’t always come naturally, and we will be the first to admit that we don’t always get it right! To help us live out the team culture we aspire to, we prioritise times of connection as a team – both locally and across the whole of Emerge.

We are open to being challenged to learn and grow. Our heart is that Emerge is a safe, life-giving, consistent, and gracious place where we believe the best, where we are free to make mistakes and help each other put things right, and where accountability and kindness meet.

At Emerge, we avoid hierarchy and prefer to operate as a network. Operating as a network means having a level playing field where we believe that we are all ‘powerful people’, uniquely created and gifted.

We all have different skills and our own individual parts to play. Different roles carry different responsibilities but no one is more important than anyone else. We are all on a journey of learning and growing together.

Our Network.

Hover to reveal our wonderful team members…

Meet the Support Workers.

Our award-winning youth support workers are well trained and come from a range of backgrounds and experience. Meet your lovely local Emerge Support Workers by finding your nearest Emerge Project…

Find your local project

Meet the Leadership Team.

Abby

Surrey Area Manager

Learn About Abby

Hi, I’m Abby – the Emerge Surrey Area Manager. I love working with our Surrey projects and supporting them to reach many young people as they can and bring them a voice of hope! Spending time with young people and letting them know their value is so important. I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family, exploring new places, music (listening and playing), reading and the occasional run!

Abby has been involved in youth work since 2014 in both voluntary and employed capacities. She has a BA (Hons) in Theology, Ministry and Mission. She is also our East Surrey Hospital Project Lead.

Bethany

Project Manager

Learn About Bethany

Hey, I’m Bethany, Project Manager at Emerge, overseeing and serving in various areas. Since joining in 2018, it has been amazing to see Emerge grow, launching new projects and supporting more young people in crisis. I’m honoured to be a part of this journey both behind the scenes in facilitating our work and directly in supporting young people. In my spare time, I play for a local football team, enjoy countryside walks with my husband and our Sprocker Spaniel, bake, and spend time with family and friends.

Bethany has years of youth work experience, an NVQ in Practical Youth Work – Level 2 & 3 and a Distance Learning qualification in Understanding Children & Young People’s Mental Health.

Carolyn

Office Manager

Learn About Carolyn

Hi I’m Carolyn and I joined Emerge as Office Manager in 2024. My background is in education & the charity sector and I have experience of supporting leadership teams in HR and administration. I love the variety of my role at Emerge and enjoy making our systems run smoothly to enable the team to get on with their amazing work supporting young people.

Away from work, I volunteer as a Street Angel and help in a group for children with additional needs. I have two grown up sons and with my husband, like to travel and visit new places. We’re also keen walkers and I manage an occasional run or two!

Michael

Head of Finance

Learn About Michael

Hi, I’m Michael and I’m the Head of Finance at Emerge. I have spent over 30 years as a finance professional, mostly in the City of London working in investments, and I am both a Chartered Accountant and a CFA charterholder. I love solving problems and figuring things out, and it is a privilege to support the wonderful work done by Emerge.

In my spare time I am a musician and a worship leader. I am married to Miriam and have two sons.

Joy

Founder & CEO

Learn About Joy

Hi, I’m Joy, I’m the Founder of Emerge Advocacy and it’s been amazing to see how Emerge has grown from a small seed of an idea into the charity we have today. I have three kids and am married to Dave. I enjoy taking my dog for a walk to get some headspace and spending time with my family. I love what we do at Emerge because I know what it’s like to feel completely out of hope and how precious it is to have someone come alongside and help us find some light during the darkest moments. Having the opportunity to do this for other people is just the best thing ever!

Joy has worked with vulnerable young people since 2000 in both youth work and NHS based roles. She has a BA Hons in Youth and Community Work and Applied Theology.

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Elizabeth

Interim Head for People

Learn About Elizabeth

More Information coming soon

Fiona

Kent Area Manager

Learn About Fiona

Hi, I’m Fiona, Kent Area Manager and Project Lead for the service at Tunbridge Wells Hospitals in Kent.

I regularly get involved with detached youth work in my local community. I love getting alongside young people, speaking positive things to encourage them about who they are and what their strengths are. I have the heart to see every young person reach their potential.

Fiona has a degree in Psychology and was a practitioner in the NHS in a community team working with people with learning disabilities and mental health issues.

Jo

Head of Reporting

Learn About Jo

Hi, I’m Jo and I’m the Head of Reporting for the Kent team. I love writing about all the things our teams do to improve the lives of young people, and liaising with our wonderful supporters.

In my spare time I like to swim, watch live comedy and share good food with friends and family. I’m married to Dave and we have two children.

Jo has a BA (Hons) in History and an MA in Applied Theology, and is a qualified teacher. She has many years of experience in working with children and young people, in the education sector and her local church.