Notts YMCA boss steps down after 26 years

After a quarter of a century of service, Nottinghamshire YMCA’s joint CEO Will Wakefield has announced he is retiring to pave the way for the regional charity’s next chapter.

Having transitioned to share the title of joint CEO with Craig Berens in August, October marked Wakefield’s official last month heading the ship as leader of the not-for-profit children and young people’s charity, with a process of handover.

“My decision to retire has been long in the making,” said Wakefield, who first took up the CEO mantle at the charity in 1995. “With Nottinghamshire YMCA reaching a significant milestone by celebrating its 150th anniversary next year, I feel that now is the right time to step back and help our YMCA move forward by empowering exciting new leadership to take our charity into the post-COVID world. I have every confidence that Craig Berens will steer the movement in a direction of values-driven strength for the benefit of all in his new and very deserved role as Group CEO of Nottinghamshire YMCA.”

From November, Craig Berens will officially take the baton as sole CEO to lead Nottinghamshire YMCA

“The phenomenal legacy Will has created through his local and international initiatives alongside his imperishable community spirit will leave a lasting imprint on our charity’s heritage,” he said.

“I hope to honour this legacy by empowering transformational projects such as our new Community and Activity Village in Newark, the evolution of Malt Cross into a thriving community and events hub delivering training opportunities for NEET individuals and the expansion of services in East Riding of Yorkshire to support even more vulnerable people.

“Will’s people-centric style of leadership has educated the direction and very heartbeat of our movement. As I step into his enormously respected shoes, I feel deeply humbled to look to the future and build upon his pioneering vision to inspire meaningful community change.”