NSPCC appoints first ‘young trustees’

The NSPCC has appointed its first youth trustees to ensure it is including young people’s views in senior-level decision making.

Shena Patelmaster, 24, and Ife Grillo, 22, have joined the charity’s board of trustees after being elected at the NSPCC’s annual general meeting, which took place virtually this month.

The new trustees were selected from 166 applications from young people to join the charity’s board.

They have been appointed for a three year term and will work alongside chair Neil Berkett and the charity’s Young People’s Advisory Board.

NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: “I am energised by their enthusiasm already and confident that they will both be a real asset to the Board, providing step change in the diversity and breadth of perspective at the top table. We stand to learn a lot from this approach and new way of working.

“Children and young people must be at the heart of everything that we do and every decision we make, across the entire organisation. We exist to fight for every childhood, and in order to do so we must be child focused at all times.”
Priorities highlighted by Patelmaster, who is a young trustee at other charities, including Tameside Scouts, are to improve children’s communication with protection services.

“I’m really excited at the chance to have a positive impact for young people as a young trustee, while also feeling responsible to make sure this role is successful given it’s the first time,” said Patelmaster.

Meanwhile, Grillo, who is a former vice chair of the British Young Council board of trustees, is prioritising structural changes in society to help young people and ensuring young black people’s voices are heard.

“I have always believed that young people aren’t just the future, they are part of the present. That means their voices need to be heard at every level within society, in order for society to be effective,” said Grillo.

“It means a lot to me that a leading children’s charity like the NSPCC recognises that, and I hope more organisations follow suit.”