With deep roots across all communities in Fife you can see why these outstanding people make the community a better, more active place!
Feel free to contact anyone in the office through our admin@youth1st.co.uk email address or via our Contact Us Page with any questions that you have.
Judith Allison
Chief Officer
Judith started her involvement in community based youth work at the age of 7 and hasn't looked back! She ran a youth work project in the Cowdenbeath area before joining the Youth 1st team in 2010. Judith is responsible for leading the organisation and being a champion for the Youth Work sector in Fife. Judith is particularly passionate about improving children and young people's emotional health and wellbeing. Outwith work, Judith enjoys spending time with her family and learning new ways to reduce plastic use!
Gayle Brown
Operations & Business Development Manager
Gayle has been with Youth 1st for nearly 25 years and is a firm believer that Youth Work does actually change lives. Gayle is responsible for the operations of the organisation. Her top priority is to make sure the staff team have the resources to support the increasing membership. Gayle is dedicated to ensuring that our services are of very high standard and is the first port of call for member groups, youth workers, volunteers and partners across the network. Gayle enjoys spending time with her family and friends especially if it involves coffee and cake.
Betty McDonald
Membership Support Worker
Betty has been involved in youth work in Fife for over 40yrs joining Youth 1st over 25yrs ago. She has enjoyed every minute of it. Many things have changed over the years but Youth 1st has developed into an organisation we should all be proud of. Betty is Senior Network Support Worker who enjoys meeting new youth workers, helping and encouraging them through the Youth 1st training programme to develop their skills. Betty works well with all age groups and finds the most rewarding part of the work is seeing the young people develop skills, helping them through a number of training courses which builds on their confidence and self-esteem. In her spare time Betty likes walking with friends and spending time with family.
Rachel Collins
Youth Work Manager
Rachel comes from a background in Education and Youth Work specialising in children and young people with additional support needs. She is currently studying a degree in Childhood and Youth Studies with The Open University. In her role at Youth 1st, she hopes to be able to promote the importance of living a healthy lifestyle to encourage good mental and physical health to children and young people. Outwith work, her passion is her three children, coffee and crocheting!
Marianne O’Neill
Project Worker
Marianne is passionate about giving young people the chance to learn and further their own abilities in different environments and feels Dynamic Youth Awards and learning through group work meets all the key criteria needed to encourage young people to reach their full potential enhancing their personal and social development through community involvement. She believes children and young people are our future and through grass roots youth work we will inspire them to grow!
In her spare time Marianne enjoys family time, especially in her happy place, Tiree, partaking in the active lifestyle, and music there. She loves kayaking and sand yachting, and is passionate about baking, which will be an advantage at future Youth 1st staff meetings!
Kristy Bain-Wyse
Youth Participation Worker
Kirsty’s passion for youth work began as a teenager, volunteering with various groups in Fife. These experiences, where she supported young people and saw the power of connection and community, planted the seeds for her career.
In 2023, Kirsty joined Youth Action Fife for an amazing trip to Orkney. At the time, the group had not yet been fully established, and none of the participants knew what to expect. This experience deepened her commitment to empowering young people, particularly in rural areas. Over a year of volunteering allowed her to develop her skills and inspired her to pursue formal training in youth work.
Now, as the Youth Participation Worker, Kirsty is excited to work across Fife, helping young people amplify their voices, realize their potential, and create opportunities that shape their communities. She’s especially passionate about fostering confidence and encouraging others to embrace their most authentic selves while continuing to grow her own skills and connections in the field.
Gemma has worked with young people and in the Youth Work sector for over 20 years in a variety of settings including Community based Youth Work and Residential Childcare. Currently working at Cupar YMCA-YWCA as Youth Café Coordinator for Cupar Youth Café, Gemma joined the Youth 1st Board in 2018 but has been involved with Youth 1st throughout her career via the membership scheme. Gemma is passionate about Youth Work and the life changing experiences this can bring to our young people’s lives. Gemma joined the Youth 1st Board to help represent third sector organisations and encourage value and depth to those working for young people.
Jodie has worked with children and young people for over 16 years in various settings. Jodie currently works at Fife Young Carers.
Jodie is passionate about ensuring children and young people are at the heart of services that are for them, giving them opportunities to reach their full potential and allowing them the chance to be children and young people first and foremost.
Jodie enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking her dog and researching her family history.
Kelly has a real passion for enhancing the lives and wellbeing of children and young people. She is the proud owner of Be you Mindfulness an organisation that provides, mindfulness and wellbeing training in a variety of settings throughout Scotland. Kelly has experience of working and collaborating with many different sectors from the third sector to private organisations. She is proud to be part of the Youth 1st board as the youth work sector is vital to the wellbeing and development of our children and young people. She is excited to being part of a team helping to drive forward opportunity and positive change across communities.
Emily has been involved in community and youth work for the past 10 years. Her journey started in 2012 when she was one of the founding members of LYPP, a group of young people creating a magazine. From there she started volunteering at MCCI’s youth club as part of the first group of Young Volunteers. Emily conintued her Youth Work journey by becoming a paid member of staff for MCCI supporting the youth work team.
Emily currently works with Active Schools Fife supporting local target groups to get re-engaged with physical activity and sports, and supporting local community groups to improve communication and collaboration.
Chris deals with communications for CVS Inverclyde, Inverclyde’s third sector interface. He enjoys his role as it allows him to be creative and tell stories about the incredible work happening in the third sector. He has taken on the role as a trustee with Youth 1st to offer his communications and digital skills to the team and also learn more about the role of a Charity Trustee. The passion and commitment of the team to supporting young people in Fife shines through and he is proud to be on the Board.
