Esther Horner set up Kinetic Youth alongside director of business management Gess Aird in 2018.
Announcing the move on social media, Horner said Kinetic Youth, which provides youth services within the youth secure estate, “flows through her veins”.
“The time has come for me to explore pastures new and work with our professional regulatory statutory body to develop and support our sector as we recover post pandemic,” she added.
“It has been a huge privilege to work with such passionate and dedicated colleagues over the years, when Gess and I set up Kinetic we envisaged a service that would make lasting positive changes to the youth justice sector and for young people.
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— Kinetic_Esther (She/Her) (@EstherHorner1) February 16, 2022
In April this year I will be standing down as Director of Policy and Performance for Kinetic Youth and moving across to the National Youth Agency as Deputy Director of Youth Work.
“We wanted to put youth work at the heart of everything within the secure estate and prove beyond doubt that youth work really does make a huge difference. We believe that we have gone some way to achieving that.
“Kinetic will continue to deliver award winning services to young people within the secure estate, in fact, Kinetic is continuing to grow and develop as a leading youth work provider within youth justice,” Horner said.
She added that Kinetic’s five-year strategy will be published “imminently” and said the organisation will continue to deliver award-winning services to youth people in the secure estate.
Kinetic previously won CYP Now’s Youth Word Award in 2017 for its work at Werrington YOI and was named as a finalist at the CYP Now Awards in both 2019 and 2020.
“It is proving to be a pivotal time in the youth work sector and I will make a personal pledge to work collaboratively with sector leaders, service providers and grass roots practitioners. We are far stronger as a united sector and I am excited for what may lay ahead,” Horner said.
Sector leaders congratulated her on her move, which will take place in April, on Twitter.
Congrats on your new role Esther. 👏👏👏
— SCVYS (@staffscvys) February 16, 2022
Look forward to working with you on how local youth infrastructure can partner with @natyouthagency to expand and develop youth provision and broaden available support for young people.
Bethia McNeil, chief executive of Youth Impact UK said: “So many congratulations Esther - the legacy of Kinetic is strong, and you will also bring your power, passion and empathy to your work with NYA.”
Congratulations Esther on both the legacy you leave behind @KineticYouthltd and for the exciting possibilities to come with @natyouthagency
— Ian Tannahill (@itannahill) February 16, 2022
Abbee McLatchie, director of youth work at NYA, said: "We are pleased to have appointed Esther to the NYA team as deputy director youth work. Her expertise, sector knowledge and insight will be invaluable in the work we do to support the youth sector.”
A tweet from NYA’s account said: “We can't wait for you to join the team.”
