David de Kretser - Trustee
David is a finance professional with a career spanning 30 years; he retired from the position of Head of Office with Brewin Dolphin Winchester and prior to that was a director of multiple private companies.
David is also a Member at a local, Southampton based school and has a particular focus on the youth education sector and social enterprise. David provides leadership and management support to the charity with the aim of making Oarsome Chance more effective in achieving their mission of supporting young people in Hampshire.
A passionate advocate for helping individuals find and fulfil their potential, David became a Trustee with Oarsome Chance in 2022.
Kate Mai - Trustee
Kate brings over 20 years of experience leading programmes and managing teams across the non-profit, public, and corporate sectors. She is passionate about helping people achieve their potential and has a strong background in creating projects that make a meaningful difference.
Kate currently manages programmes for Armed Forces families, leading remote teams to improve employability and social mobility.
As a parent of a daughter with special educational needs who spent time outside of formal education, Kate understands the challenges that many young people and their families face. This personal experience drives her dedication to ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to thrive.
Kate lives by the sea and enjoys rowing and sailing, activities that have given her a real appreciation for the teamwork, resilience, and confidence-building that adventure-based learning can bring. She is excited to bring her expertise and enthusiasm to support Oarsome Chance’s mission of transforming young lives.
Simon Mortimore - Trustee
After "not doing very well at school” and in the time before the Internet and mobile ‘phones, Simon started his career journey as a reservation agent in an airline call centre. This provided the opportunity for him to find his passion, which is helping organisations use information to make decisions to deliver what they do effectively and efficiently.
Built across many countries in both the public and private sectors, his experience has been in the airline, software, marketing, business services and healthcare industries. Before returning the world of self-employment his last role was as a member of the leadership team of one of England’s 11 ambulance services.
He has always been passionate about helping people find a path in life for them to achieve their potential when traditional routes do not work.
Simon met his partner over 36 years ago at evening school and has lived in East Hampshire for over 20 years. When time allows his other loves are: social history, flying (he holds a private pilot’s licence), and supporting Brentford FC where he has been a season ticket holder for many years.”
Lynn Power - Trustee and Safeguarding Lead
Lynn began working with young people as a youth worker in London back in 1975 before moving to Portsmouth to qualify as a full-time youth and community worker/teacher.
For over 20 years Lynn managed and delivered youth work in a variety of settings to include; youth centres, detached work, inclusion programmes, gender work, residentials, counselling services and staff training.
Lynn has always sought out opportunities to work with disadvantaged young people, those at risk of social and educational exclusion, possible harm and who at times may present with challenging behaviour.
Until her recent retirement Lynn developed and managed a full-time holistic educational provision for vulnerable young people with social, emotional and mental health learning needs for whom all other provision had broken down. Within a nurturing relational framework young people were supported to develop the social and emotional skills required for personal growth, learning and achieving their potential.
Retirement has afforded Lynn the opportunity to keep fitter, take longer walks with her dog, listen to more music, go to festivals and of course volunteer with Oarsome Chance.
Gil Robertson - Trustee
Gil is passionate about the power sport has to really make a difference to young people’s lives. She has been involved in the sport, and more recently sport for development sector for over 20 years and brings experience from different areas across the UK, including Havant, Portsmouth, Dundee, Birmingham and London.
Having worked alongside education and other teams supporting young people Gil has seen first hand how sport can enrich learning in a positive environment.
Having not attended university at a younger age, Gil has recently completed an MA in Sport Development & Management at Solent University.
Neill Young - Chair of Trustees
Neill brings a wealth of experience from his work in the voluntary sector to Oarsome Chance. During his career Neill has been in supporting a variety of beneficiaries including, children and young people, the victims of crime, those needing support with debt advice and people affected by cancer. He started his career as a journalist before moving into marketing and fundraising roles in the charity sector. For three years Neill was the Cabinet Member for Education and Children Services at Portsmouth City Council.
He is currently studying a MSc in Voluntary Sector Management at the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at Bayes Business School in London. Neill lives in Portchester with his partner.