We are delighted to announce the appointment of four new Trustees to Young Bristol's Board of Trustees- Cathy Dodsworth, Fahma Mohamed, Jay Nash and Shannon Ringland!
These appointments come at an exciting time for Young Bristol as we head towards our 100-year anniversary in 2028! Young Bristol were keen to recruit new Trustees who could complement the skills of our existing Board members; and who had the passion, desire and ability to help the charity achieve its ambitious future goals.
Young Bristol continues to prioritise the importance of our Board having a broad representation of skills, backgrounds and experiences; as well as a shared passion and experience of working with the youth sector.
Meet the Trustees:
Cathy Dodsworth
Cathy grew up near Blackpool, Lancashire, spending a great deal of her time at a local youth club. During this time, she enjoyed playing hockey, hiking in the Lake District and completing her Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award. When working in Plymouth, she assessed young people undertaking their DofE expedition across Dartmoor.
Now living in Bristol, Cathy is a Coach and Safeguarding Lead for her local rugby club. Her son also regularly attends boxing sessions at Broad Plain & Riverside Youth Project! Cathy has personally benefitted from, and is passionate about, the value that sport, outdoor activities and youth clubs bring to the lives of young people. Cathy is a HR Professional, with over 30 years experience across public and private sectors. She was delighted to take up the post of Trustee in January 2025, supporting the amazing things that Young Bristol achieves across the city.
Fahma Mohamed
Fahma is a passionate advocate for young people's rights and a leader in the youth sector. She currently serves as Project Manager at Girls Friendly Society, focusing on The Girls Rights Collective and the organisations 150th anniversary. Fahma's career has been defined by her work empowering young people, particularly in the areas of gender equality and social justice. She led a successful campaign against FGM as a teenager, securing over 250,000 signatures and contributing to a £35 million government initiatives to end FGM and forced marriage. This work earned her the Young Campaigner of the Year Award and an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of Bristol.
Fahma's previous experience includes working with young people to challenge harmful practices and support their personal development, particularly around issues of cultural identity and gender-based violence. As a Trustee at Young Bristol, Fahma hopes to bring her passion for youth advocacy, extensive experience and strategic insight to help shape the organisation's future and expand opportunities for young people across the city!
Jay Nash
Jay is the Director of People and Culture at Teach First, where he drives people strategy and execution to advance the charity's mission of tackling educational inequality. With over 17 years of experience in HR, business transformation and consulting, Jay brings deep expertise in people management, leadership and organisational development. Passionate about supporting young people, Jay understands the critical role organisations like Young Bristol play in fostering their growth and potential.
A keen outdoor enthusiast, he values the transformative power of nature and it's ability to build resilience. This year, Jay has completed the Cambrian Way, a challenging thru-hike that reflects his belief in personal growth through new and demanding experiences!
Shannon Ringland
Young Bristol holds a special place in Shannon's heart, as she had the privilege of attending the Outdoor Employment Programme 10 years ago, when she initially moved to Bristol. The programme was able to provide Shannon with invaluable skills and experiences that have shaped her professional journey.
Since leaving our Outdoor Employment Programme, Shannon has worked in many of the South West's top visitor attractions, and currently serves as HR and Operations Manager at Wake the Tiger. Her passion for the outdoors aligns with Young Bristol's mission to inspire and empower young people through outdoor activities and community programmes. Shannon has, first hand, seen the transformative power of these opportunities and is excited to contribute alongside fellow Trustees, staff and supporters to further our mission, ensuring more young people can benefit from the incredible work Young Bristol does.
You can find out more about our Board of Trustees, Patron and President here.
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