A former Director of Children’s Services and current Advisor to the Department for Education (DfE) has been appointed Chair of the North East Lincolnshire Youth Alliance.
Colin Pettigrew spent 3 years as Director of Children’s Services at Sefton Council before a 10-year stint as Executive Director of Children, Families, School and SEND at Nottinghamshire County Council.
Colin takes up the reigns as the voluntary chair of the NEL Youth Alliance, where he will collaborate with local youth providers, and represent the sector on the newly established Youth Partnership Board. As such, will play a key role in shaping and influencing North East Lincolnshire Council’s response to the National 10-year Youth Strategy.
Director of Children’s Services in North East Lincolnshire, Ann-Marie Matson, welcomed Colin’s appointment.
“Colin brings with him immense experience, and we’re incredibly lucky to have secured his agreement to take on the unpaid role.
“In June last year, Colin was appointed one of three National Safeguarding Partner Multi-Agency Facilitators. The fact that he was chosen to fill one of only three roles of their kind in the country speaks volumes about his experience and standing in the world of children’s services.
“Taking account of the National Youth Strategy, we are developing our NEL Youth Strategy which will set out how we will work together with partners to build on and further develop our local offer so that young people have places to go, things to do and people to talk to.”
Colin added that he was thrilled to have accepted the appointment.
“I am delighted to accept this unpaid role in my semi-retirement, to pay something back to a community that has been my adopted home for more than 50 years, where I attended school, where my children were born and raised and where I have lived, worked and played.
“This is an exciting time and there is a lot of positive things happening in the area. The opportunity to be part of this change is a great privilege and I often say that this community is like a huge village with many strong relationships, connections and identity, it takes a village to raise a child or young person and by working together we will be stronger, young people’s voices will be encouraged, heard and acted on.
“We will work better together to help our young people to have belief and a sense they belong, to build good relationships, realise their hopes and ambitions and be the best version of themselves.”
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