Depaul UK appoints new Chief Executive
Depaul UK, the largest youth homelessness charity in the UK, is delighted to announce it has appointed Martin Houghton-Brown as its new Chief Executive.
Martin joins Depaul UK from Missing People where he has been Chief Executive for the past three years. As Chief Executive, he led the organisation into a new phase of development and his lobbying work resulted in the establishment of a Home Office Taskforce and first government strategy for missing persons.
Prior to Missing People, Martin was a Deputy Director at The Children’s Society and here his work on young runaways led to the "Young Runaways Action Plan". In 2011, his expertise was recognised by his appointment to the Office of the Children’s Commissioner’s inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups (CSEGG). Subsequently he was also elected as Vice President of Missing Children Europe.
Starting his working life as a qualified teacher, Martin went on to work in communities, supporting young people living with complex problems and managed a number of social care initiatives.
Jonathan Wilkes, Chair of Depaul UK’s Trustees, said: "We are delighted to appoint Martin Houghton-Brown to the role of Depaul UK’s Chief Executive. Martin impressed all of us – including the Depaul residents involved in the interview process – with his wealth of experience and his passion for supporting young vulnerable people. He possesses an admiration for what Depaul UK has achieved and a strong desire to help us grow and further develop our work serving homeless young people and we look forward to working with him.
On behalf of the Trustees I would also like to thank Paul Marriott for all that he has given over these last eight years at Depaul UK. His leadership, dedication and skill has been an inspiration for which we are extremely grateful."
Martin Houghton-Brown said: "Being invited to take on the responsibility as Chief Executive of Depaul UK is a dream come true. Since starting my work with young runaways I have believed that no young person should be at risk on our streets without a safe place to go. Depaul UK is leading the way at working with those young people in greatest need and providing them with the safe places they so desperately need. Having worked with a very special team at Missing People I am looking forward to working with the skilled and talented staff and volunteers of Depaul UK to make the UK a place where no young person ever has to sleep in an unsafe place again".
Martin will join Depaul UK gradually over the autumn and early winter, taking up the role full time on the 1st of January 2013. He replaces Paul Marriott who leaves the organisation after eight years at the helm to join St Cuthbert’s Hospice in Durham as Chief Executive.
