Founder & CEO steps down from Youth Mental Health Charity

Founder & CEO steps down from Youth Mental Health Charity

FOUNDER, Damien Reynolds BEM is to step down as Chief Executive of The Wolfpack Project, the youth mental health charity announced recently.

He will leave following five successful years in the role, during which time he has overseen the launch of the charity, and led huge periods of change, including implementing a new purpose and strategy, growth in reach and impact and the charity’s staffing and volunteer numbers more than doubling.

Damien Reynolds BEM said:

“After a lot of careful consideration and an incredible five years, I have decided that now is the time to move on and make way for fresh leadership at The Wolfpack Project.

“I’m proud of the work I’ve been a part of since launching the charity in 2019. I leave safe in the knowledge that the charity is in a strong position with a committed Board and a truly fantastic operational team, as well as a hugely engaged group of young people and volunteers, to continue to increase our impact on young people, when it has never been more needed.”

Damien founded The Wolfpack Project in 2019 as a way to provide younger people with the support and opportunities that he and many others would have benefitted from growing up.

In that time he has steered the organisation through the pandemic, increasing impact in line with a rapidly increasing need for mental health support among young people. He has also helped the charity to navigate a challenging fundraising climate in light of a brutal cost of living crisis, securing significant investment and funding through the National Lottery and BBC Children in Need that will help safeguard the future of the charity.

Trustee of The Wolfpack Project Joe Foster said:

“The Wolfpack Project is in the strong position that it finds itself in today because of Damien. The charity is in a wonderful place where we are already making a huge difference to the lives of young people, and are well positioned to grow that footprint over the coming years.”

The Wolfpack Project reaches and supports thousands of young people across Nottinghamshire struggling with their mental health; through one-to-one support, group activities and campaign work that has seen the charity deliver hundreds of wellbeing packs throughout the pandemic and beyond.

Damien has been recognised with a Points of Light Award by the Prime Minister in 2020, named in the 2022 Honours List with a British Empire Medal and given a British Citizen Award in 2023 for his services to the youth sector.

The charity begins its search for a new Chief Executive who can build further on Damien’s incredible legacy.