About us

SMASH has been mentoring children and young people in and around Swindon and North Wiltshire for over 20 years. We’re a small team of professional mentors working to provide safe spaces and practical support for young people.

Our mission
Our mission is to ensure young people get the support they need when they need it, no matter what. We will work with them to access support, amplify their voice and reach their potential.
Our vision
We exist to see a world where every young person’s struggles with their health, wellbeing and potential are rare, brief and non-recurring.
Our Values
We're generously collaborative
We always want to work together and will do whatever we can to make that a reality.
Caring is our expertise
Everything we do, we do because we care.
We put you first
Whoever you are, we welcome you and encourage you to be your true self.
We speak up when things aren't right
We know what needs to change, because young people tell us. If they raise their voices, so do we.
Our staff
Andy Malcolm, CEO of SMASH Youth Project

Andy Malcolm

CEO

I have worked with young people throughout my career in a variety of fabulous settings. Working with young people is fantastic: I love their enthusiasm, their energy and their belief that they can change and influence their future. I am proud to be part of the support system that enables them to do that. I have 15 years experience working in leadership positions in the voluntary sector and have seen the impact that good mentoring can have for all of us – so it is a delight to be able to lead such a fantastic organisation.

Ami Ford - Lead Mentor NEET for SMASH Youth Project

Ami Ford

Lead Mentor for 16+

I have nearly 20 years’ experience of working with children and young people in various settings – listening and ensuring they feel heard is at the heart of everything I do. I am committed to working with young people to raise aspirations and support them to grow into well-rounded and independent adults. I have a foundation degree in Hospital Play Specialism, a degree in Integrated Working with Children and Family and am always seeking ways to expand my skills further. I love making a difference!

Luke Jones

Wellbeing Project Lead

I have enjoyed working with young people in a variety of settings since 2013. I am a qualified youth worker who enjoys seeing those ‘light bulb’ moments when a young person notices their strengths and takes on new challenges. I believe that listening to young people and helping them find something they love doing that gives them a sense of belonging are the two most important skills needed to work at SMASH.

Rowan Kikke - Senior Youth Engagement Mentor for SMASH Youth Project

Rowan Kikke

Senior Youth Engagement Mentor

I have worked with young people across a myriad of settings as a teacher, mentor and youth worker. My passion as a practitioner stems from the belief that with young people, all behaviour is communication. I am driven by going on a journey with the young person and empowering them to learn more about themselves holistically. 

Amy Cox, SMASH Lead Mentor for Safer Streets

Amy Cox

Lead for Street-Based Mentoring

I have over 10 years experience of working with young people in Swindon in a variety of roles and settings. I have a passion for working with young people who are hard to reach and am incredibly excited to use my knowledge, skills and passion to work with SMASH and young people in Swindon.

Caroline Caboche

Finance Officer

I qualified as an accountant in 1992 and have worked as a finance manager in a wide variety of businesses, both private and charity sector, since then. I have specialised in the charity sector for the last 15 years and now work for three different charities. I enjoy applying my knowledge and experience to support the causes of the charities I work for. 

Ben Franklin

Head of Operations

I’m delighted to have joined SMASH after a long leadership career with the Fleet Air Arm and more recently the National Air Traffic Service. I have seen first-hand the positive impact that support, guidance and mentoring can have upon all of us.  It is privilege to be given the opportunity to help our young people recognise and realise their potential.

Gail Collins

Head of Business Development

I have worked in children’s services for over twenty years – the last seven as a strategic commissioner for Swindon LA. I am really passionate about early intervention and prevention and working collaboratively with other partners to achieve the best possible outcomes for young people to improve their future life chances.  It is great to be part of such a positive and passionate team!

Tiffany Smart

Sessional Youth Mentor

I have always wanted to work alongside Young People using my life experiences to help and empower them learn from their mistakes, take on challenges and progress towards realising their potential.  I am passionate about this work and my goals are to expand my knowledge and develop my skills as a mentor – I am delighted to have joined the SMASH team.

Our Trustees

Chris Etheridge

Chair of Trustees

Back in the day, I trained as a general nurse and then a children’s nurse, and consequently I spent my whole career working with children and young people. I have worked on numerous agendas such as mental and sexual health, teenage pregnancy, young parents, domestic abuse and young peoples cancer, amongst others. I have years of experience in senior leadership roles and children and young people safeguarding., the latter of which is crucial for an effective young people’s organisation. SMASH is a fantastic charity, and I work alongside an incredible team and committed and energised Trustees. What a team.

Lara Howlett

I have worked in data, insights and reporting roles for over 20 years spanning academia, financial services and technology. My responsibilities have included internal and regulatory reporting of financial risks and I am currently Treasurer for the SMASH trustee board. I have been a trustee for 2 years now having previously been a volunteer mentor. I am really passionate about Smash’s mission and the massive difference that mentoring can make to young people. 

Jill Ridley

Secretary

I worked in the marketing department of a multi-national company for 30 years and have experience in marketing, market research, strategy development, communications, branding and event management.  
I joined SMASH as a Trustee in 2015 and have enjoyed contributing behind the scenes to strategy development, fundraising and a number of other projects.   I’m passionate about our mission – to ensure young people get the support they need when they need it and work with a fantastic team to try and achieve this.  I’m proud to be part of SMASH’s journey.

Stuart Westley

I started my SMASH life as a volunteer supporting two young people with 1-2-1 mentoring sessions over nearly 3 years. Subsequently I became a Trustee and aim to use the skills from my professional life to support the amazing team to continue to deliver and innovate for the good of the young people we aim to help. I believe that people really can make a difference and the circumstances that young people find themselves in do not need to define who they are and how they progress through life

Ewan Young

I have a passion for helping children achieve their potential, and this is what drew me to SMASH just over 5 years ago. I initially I joined the mentor programme, before becoming a Trustee in 2020. Throughout my time here, I’ve seen for myself the amazing work that we do, as well witnessed first-hand the enthusiasm, passion and commitment displayed by everyone who works for the charity.

The Covid pandemic and ensuing cost of living crisis has highlighted the important role SMASH plays in being there at a time of real crisis for the young people we support. At the same time it also means that we need to ensure that we remain relevant and have a strategy that allows us to focus on the areas where we can make the biggest difference. I’m delighted to be involved during this pivotal time and I look forward to supporting SMASH on the next stage of our journey!

Polly Lu

I have had extensive experience working in education focusing on international marketing, sales and partnership development from the past 12 years as a practitioner and senior leader. As a former international student, I understand and appreciate how education can fundamentally change lives and their generations to come. With my meditation and career coaching background I am dedicated to connect to people through wellbeing and career support for life fulfilment. I have enjoyed contributing my knowhow at SMASH for partnership and market development to ensure the mentoring support opens to minorities and underrepresented groups for social advancement.  

Philip Marshman

I am a local business leader. After serving as a Royal Marines Commando, I created successful financial services and property businesses and over time moved into the technology sector and product management. In 2018 two seemingly unconnected events changed my life: a knock at the hotel door while in the bath! and my father’s growing loneliness. They sparked an idea that has grown into “Sentai” – a transformational in-home digital care companion. I am passionate about giving children the best possible start in life, which has led me to work with and support various children’s charities. I am delighted to have joined the SMASH team.

Make a referral

Children and young people can be referred by an adult who knows them well, for example a social worker, teacher or school nurse.

Make a referral