Meet the Team

The charity is led by our Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Gray, who has responsibility for managing the charity and its activities.

Stephen Gray | CEO

Stephen has spent all his professional life in the education and social care sector. Following his graduation from Kingston University with a BSc Hons in Psychology and Sociology, he worked as a Youth Worker and Advocate for children in and leaving care. Gaining a post-graduate Diploma in Management Studies with the University of Kent, he took on more senior management responsibilities and co-founded YLF in 2007.

Stephen enabled the charity to achieve external accreditation’s, such as Investing in Volunteers, and stepped up as CEO with overall responsibility for the charity. Since then, Stephen has led the charity through a period of continuous development and improvement, managed the successful recommissioning of local authority contracts, launched new programmes and introduced a Fundraising and Development Strategy to ensure the charity is sustainable and enabling young people to thrive across the South-East.

Stephen has led the charity in achieving the Kent Children’s Charity of the Year Award and The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest accolade a voluntary organisation can receive.

Stephen sits on various boards, including Child Friendly Medway Partnership Board, Kent Corporate Parenting Panel and Kent Children & Young People Steering Group. He is also a Trustee of Kings Reach and was nominated as a Kent Ambassador.

Stephen is a FA registered Football Coach and continues to volunteer in youth football.