Nick.
Forty years in public service and youth intervention, from three decades in the Metropolitan Police to pioneering football-based work with hard-to-reach young people.
Supporting young offenders, victims of crime and families affected by violence.
Forty years of service
Nick brings a 40-year career in public service and youth intervention to Youth Unity, with unparalleled expertise in supporting young offenders, victims of crime and families affected by violence. His journey began with a distinguished 30-year tenure in the Metropolitan Police Service, where he developed a deep understanding of the challenges facing vulnerable young people and communities affected by crime.
Leading DIVERT
During his policing career, Nick became the national project lead for DIVERT, a pioneering custody intervention programme for 18 to 25 year olds. DIVERT provides tailored pathways into education, apprenticeships and employment with the aim of reducing re-offending. Supported by the Home Office and the Mayor’s Office, the programme places skilled intervention coaches in custody suites across London.
Under Nick’s leadership, those coaches consistently showed courage and dedication, engaging young adults at critical and often life-changing moments and continuing their support long after release.
Crime reduction through football
After leaving the police, Nick spent six influential years leading and expanding the crime reduction programme at the highly regarded Charlton Athletic Community Trust. The role, the first of its kind across the Premier League and Football League, redefined how professional football clubs work with hard-to-reach young people. Nick delivered and managed interventions funded by The Football Foundation and the Premier League Charitable Fund, and his work earned recognition from the Premier League Kicks management board and MOPAC, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime.
As part of the award-winning Kickz Management Team, a collaboration between The Football Foundation and the Metropolitan Police Service, Nick played a pivotal role in developing a football-based diversionary project for at-risk young people. His ability to combine criminal justice insight with sports-based engagement made him invaluable to the programme.
On the pitch
Nick holds the UEFA ‘A’ Football Coaching Licence and is an active member of the FA Coaches Association, with extensive coaching experience from his work with West Ham United and Charlton Athletic Youth. For many young people, the pitch is where the conversation starts.
Safer, stronger communities
Driven by a lifelong commitment to improving outcomes for young people, Nick’s depth of experience, innovative thinking and trusted partnerships make him a leading figure in tackling youth violence and creating safer, stronger communities.