London Youth chief to step down

Ferguson, who has been at the youth work network for 11 years – four of which have been as chief executive – said she had done everything she could at the organisation and believes it is time for somebody else to take over. She is due to leave next March.

Speaking to CYP Now, she said: “I feel like the organisation is in a really strong position for me to leave and know that someone else brilliant can come in and take it to the next level.

“It’s the right time for me and it’s the right time for London Youth. It’s an amazing organisation and I think I’ve done all I can do here.

“I think there is an opportunity for somebody else to come in and take it to the next level.”

London Youth has begun the search for Ferguson’s successor, and plans to fill the position by December for a “smooth handover”.

“The successful candidate will need to be genuinely committed to putting young people and our members at the heart of our strategy and communications; combining strategic ambition, pragmatism and rigour with great relationship-building skills,” a statement on the London Youth website said.

Ferguson said she is yet to decide what she will do once she leaves the organisation.

“I am going to have a few months off and then work out what I want to do next,” she said.

“I’ve got a lot to do before I leave in March and we’re focusing on how we develop an innovation capability so that we build on work we’ve been doing on evidence to make sure we’re responding to unmet need and really thinking about what young people and our members are going to need in five years' time.

“So we’re still continuing to do a lot of interesting thinking as well as just getting on with the usual delivery.”