Shān Nicholas, who has led 17 charities as an interim chief executive, has been appointed to take temporary charge of LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity akt.

At akt, which was formerly known as the Albert Kennedy Trust, she replaces Tim Spoor, who has left after 16 years.

Across her career Nicholas has been interim CEO at among other YWCA England and Wales, Child Poverty Action Group, Refugee Council, the Children’s Society, Parkinson’s UK and Drinkaware.

“I know Shān will be a real asset to akt as we look for a permanent CEO to lead the fight against youth homelessness, which disproportionately impacts LGBTQ+ youth,” said akt chair Rob Malcomson.

78% of the young people that akt works with said that familial abuse or rejection was the main reason for their homelessness

akt is here to support LGBTQ+ young people into safe, stable accommodation.

Help us bring young people in from the coldhttps://t.co/dhIKHiYNVf pic.twitter.com/GuY6GictiH

— akt (@aktcharity) January 25, 2024

Nicholas added: “I am passionate about the work of the organisations I join, all of which have a common thread: that of social exclusion, inequality, deprivation and a fundamental unfairness in the lives of the people these organisations exist to support.

“It is unacceptable that 24% of homeless youth currently identify as LGBTQ+ are made homeless because they face homophobia, transphobia, and abuse.”

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