Redthread's senior leadership team is to depart amid the youth work charity's merger with community support non-profit Catch 22.

Its chief executive Lucie Russell leaves this week to take on the same role at criminal justice advocacy organisation User Voice.

Also leaving are Redthread chief operating officer Tayo Salami and its director of services Garnet Johnson. They will depart within the next two months as the charity’s merger with Catch 22 progresses.

Merger plans were revealed during the summer with Redthread citing “major financial challenges in recent times” as a factor.

Catch 22’s young people, families and communities hub director Kate Wareham will lead Redthread as its director, supported by the community support non-profit’s chief officer group.

Governance of Redthread is being provided by a transition board of trustees including the charity’s current trustees and new members from Catch 22.

"Lucie has led Redthread with grit and determination over a period of many challenges,” said Redthread chair Paula McDonald.

“Her leadership and expertise have been pivotal in enabling us to reach a point, through our merger with Catch22, where we are better able to continue responding effectively to the ever-growing needs of the children and young people affected by violence and exploitation that we work with.

“Lucie, her executive, and our wider leadership team have together provided high quality strategic insight and selfless leadership - putting the interests of our young beneficiaries first and always, and the staff who support them. I also want to thank our fantastic Youth Workers who work alongside the clinical teams in our hospitals.

“Their tireless dedication and youth practitioner expertise has literally transformed thousands of young lives for the better and will continue to do so."

Redthread was set up over 20 years ago to support young people in hospitals impacted by violence and exploitation. According to the charities register its total spending for the financial year ending March 2023 was £3.88m but its income for the same period was £3.66m.

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