Young Citizens appoints former Obama campaign member as new chief

Ashley Hodges has been appointed to lead the youth work charity which works to put citizenship education at the heart of primary and secondary education in the UK. 

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​Hodges worked as a Pennsylvania staff member during the successful election campaign.

She has since served as transitional chief executive at AccessEd, the global university access start-up serving under-represented young people after helping lead UK social mobility charity Speakers for Schools as their first chief executive between 2010 and 2019.

Hodges, who is also a trustee of Elizabeth House community centre and a governor of Welbourne Primary School, will lead a team of twenty and oversee the strategic development of Young Citizen’s work. 

She said: “Leading organisations with innovative education and social action programmes is my heartland and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the future strategy at Young Citizens and take us into our next phase of growth. Engaging with citizenship, democracy, community and participation in civil society has never been more important for young people. 

“I am committed to mobilising the next generation and empowering young people to play an active role in the society we are shaping. I am looking forward to working with our partners and championing our work to increase our reach and impact for young people nationally.”