Redthread chief John Poyton steps down
Fiona Simpson
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
John Poyton, chief executive of violence prevention charity Redthread, has announced plans to step down from the organisation after two decades.
Poyton will leave the organisation at the end of the month to “focus more fully on his passions for innovation, thought leadership and policy development”, he said.
Tracey Burley, current interim deputy chief executive of Redthread, which embeds trauma-informed youth workers in A&E departments across London and the Midlands to support young victims of knife crime, will take over as interim chief executive immediately.
Burley will lead the charity pending the recruitment of a new permanent chief executive to lead the charity through its next phase, the organisation has said.
Redthread launched its latest five year strategy last year which aims to create new projects to meet young people before they become victims of violence, exploitation or knife crime by 2026.
It also plans to deliver a three-year pilot scheme “which will enable young people to access tailored, trauma-informed support in whichever health setting they present”
Redthread won the youth work award at the Children and Young People Now Awards 2021 and the charity of the year award in 2013.
The organisation was also shortlisted for the Children and Young People Now Awards in 2017 and 2020.
Poyton said: “During my time at Redthread there has been tremendous growth, and the chief executive role has evolved in tandem. I feel incredibly privileged to have had the chance to work alongside so many wonderful colleagues at Redthread, in the NHS and with friends and partners across so many sectors throughout the UK and indeed the world. It has been a real joy of my life to explore and scale ideas that support young people, and it will be some of these areas that I am excited to develop further as I move forward.
“I am a firm believer in Redthread and all it stands for. I am really proud of everything it has accomplished and look forward to seeing Redthread go from strength to strength in the coming years. I wish the team every success and thank Tracey and all at Redthread for their support."
Miriam Bullock, Redthread’s interim chair of trustees, added: “During John's time at Redthread, the charity has grown enormously and has had a profound impact on the lives of so many young people, as well as on the systems that serve them.
“We would all like to thank John deeply for his commitment and dedication over so many years. He will be deservedly recognised as Redthread's founder and for having pioneered the charity’s innovative work in adolescent health and wellbeing and violence reduction.”
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Entries for the Children and Young People Now Awards 2022 close on 1 July. To enter visit: www.cypnawards.com/