James Kenrick Consultancy
I am an experienced charity leader with 30 years’ experience of achieving impact across the advice, youth work and mental health sectors.The kinds of things I can help with include:• Strategy and organisational development – including conducting organisational or service reviews; supporting the development of business plans, strategies and theories of change.• Policy and research – including undertaking scoping reviews and needs assessments; conducting evaluations; writing reports and briefings; building the evidence base; making the case; analysing data and data systems; supporting campaigning activities.• Service design and development:- Developing new services and projects- Redesigning existing services to better meet needs, improve integration and enhance user participation• Interim programme management and CEO roles – filling gaps at critical times to keep your organisation on track.I am driven by my passion for social justice and my commitment to tackling inequality, disadvantage and discrimination. I use evidence and a deep understanding of user needs to pursue transformational change in services and systems. I have a particular interest in the links between social welfare and mental health issues.I am respected by colleagues and partners for my integrity, knowledge, evidence-based approach, hard work, deep thinking and consistently delivering above and beyond expectations, on time and within budget.After a successful few years as CEO of Youth Access, the national network of young people’s advice and counselling services, I went freelance in 2020. I am currently available for short or long-term commissions.
Current and recent clients include:• Association for Young People's Health – research and policy reports• Blagrave Trust – strategic lead for development of grant funder’s strategy• Citizens Advice Redbridge / Citizens Advice Barking & Dagenham – advising on the development of a new advice service• Inspire & Achieve Foundation – evaluation of youth mentoring programme• Kent Union – student advice service review• Mancroft Advice Project (MAP) – evaluation of youth voice and participation programmes, focussing on the impact on young participants’ mental health.• No Limits – youth advice service review• OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development) – international expert on child-friendly justice projects in Egypt and Latvia• Youth Access – ‘equity review’ to identify how youth advice, counselling and support services can better meet the needs of marginalised groups• Youth Legal – long-term strategic development consultancy
King's Fund Cascading Leadership Programme for voluntary sector leaders in healthLeading and Managing Youth Work and Youth ServicesDesignated Safeguarding Lead trainingCitizens Advice adviser trainingBA (Hons) 2:1 Geography with Italian – University of Sussex
I started my career working in various front-line and management roles in Law Centres and advice agencies for ten years, before leading the national development of youth advice services for many years.After a successful few years as CEO at Youth Access, the national membership organisation for youth advice and counselling services, I went freelance in 2020.I have extensive experience as a Trustee (Advice Services Alliance; Lasa) and as a member of expert groups (e.g. Children & Young People’s Mental Health Coalition Steering Group; Public Legal Education and Support Taskforce; Public Health England’s Integrated Services Advisory Group).I founded and coordinated JustRights, the campaign for fair access to justice for children and young people.Selected publications:Kenrick, J. and Woodhead, C. (2023) The impact of participation in decision-making on young people’s mental health and wellbeing: an evaluation of MAP’s youth voice programmes (Norwich: Mancroft Advice Project)Kenrick, J. (2023) Assessment of needs, service experiences and outcomes: Listening to the voices of youth advice service clients (London: Youth Legal)Kenrick, J. and Rigby, E. (2021) Children, young people and families’ experiences of chronic asthma management and care: Evidence from existing research (London: Association for Young People’s Health)Hagell, A. and Kenrick, J. (2021) Rethinking how we support the parents and carers of young people with mental health problems: policy and practice issues and emerging solutions (London: Association for Young People’s Health)Kenrick, J. (2009) Young people’s access to advice – the evidence (London: Youth Access)