A career devoted to making a positive impact on young people’s lives

After almost 35 years working for the YMCA, Gillian Sewell recently announced her intention to retire. The outgoing chief executive of YMCA Derbyshire has made a huge impact on the lives of young people in the city and county – and leaves behind a lasting legacy. Here, in her own words, Gillian reflects on her career – and what the future holds.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your organisation.

My name is Gillian Sewell, and I am the soon-to-be-retired CEO of YMCA Derbyshire.

When did you join the YMCA and why?

I joined Leicester YMCA in 1992 as a youth and community student and part-time receptionist.

From the outset, I knew it was a very special place to work for the world’s largest non-uniformed Christian youth organisation.

People may not realise that although YMCA Derbyshire is locally governed, funded and managed, it is part of a global movement operating in over 120 countries and serving more than 40 million people.

Little did I know that I would work my way up from receptionist to programme and membership manager, housing and sports centre manager, and deputy CEO at Leicester YMCA, before moving to Derbyshire as CEO in 2020.

Alongside this, I have also volunteered globally in several countries as a youth advisor, devotions coordinator and representative of YMCA England & Wales.

How has the charity’s mission changed or evolved over the years?

I wouldn’t say the charity has changed over the years; I would say it has evolved and expanded while remaining true to its founding mission of ensuring young people have the opportunity to grow in body, mind and spirit, and can belong, contribute and thrive.

YMCA Derbyshire achieves its mission through housing, youth and community work, family support, poverty relief and lifelong learning programmes, including early years development, children’s programmes, vocational training and education.

Looking back over your career, what would you say are your greatest achievements?

Alongside building an incredible team at YMCA Derbyshire, which was recognised as YMCA of the Year in 2022, the achievements that mean the most to me are:

1. The development of a residential campus for young people on London Road, integrating housing with employment, education and training opportunities.
2. Developing a vocational college that now operates across multiple sites, responding directly to the employment needs of the city and county.
3. Coordinating devotions for the YMCA World Council in Thailand, attended by more than 1,000 delegates and translated into multiple languages.
4. Recently establishing, with incredible support, direction and guidance from business, community and council leaders, Tale of Two Cities: Early Years.

What would you say is the most rewarding aspect of the job?

Seeing and knowing that young lives are being positively impacted because of our work.

Having young people come back with their own families to say thank you is immense.

Some have become lawyers, HR specialists and soon-to-be doctors; others are managers at Rolls-Royce and Toyota, operatives with EMR, chefs across the region, and some are now our very own employees. The list goes on.

But honestly, it is when a young person feels they have arrived at the YMCA and not ended up there.

When they are met at the door – or sometimes even in the car park – by their housing navigator, tutor or support worker, and you just know they are on their way to better things.

As someone who came to Derby from Scotland, what were your initial impressions of Derby — and how has it changed?

Despite the Scottish accent and my absolute passion for Scotland, I actually grew up in England, moving to Leicester in 1976 before relocating to Derby in 2020.

I absolutely love Derby. Although it is a city, it still has the ability to feel connected, grounded and community-focused.

It has a proud heritage, incredible people and a growing sense of ambition and opportunity.

I have also seen significant investment and regeneration in recent years, particularly in the city centre, alongside a real commitment from businesses, community organisations and civic leaders to work together for the future of the city.

Why are you retiring?

There are really two reasons. Firstly, I have served the YMCA for almost 35 years and feel it is now time for someone else to take the organisation forward in partnership with the board and leadership team.

Secondly, I am retiring — or perhaps more accurately, beginning a new chapter — as I have the absolute honour of being High Sheriff in nomination for 2027.

What will you miss most about the job?

The people – 100% the people. Who they are, what they do, what they achieve and the barriers they overcome.

I will seriously miss that interaction across the entire organisation and with our partner organisations.

Working for the YMCA is not just a job; it is a way of life – a life I now need to adapt from as I move into the next chapter.

What advice would you have for your successor?

Don’t be a lone wolf. Recognise the power of partnership and collaboration.

Also, be humbled by the fact that a CEO can be away for a period and very few people may notice, but if a housekeeper, maintenance operative or receptionist is absent for even an hour, the whole place can come to a standstill.

Going forward, what ‘new adventures’ do you have planned?

I’m looking forward to having a bit more space to breathe – to spend more time with my family and friends, to travel, to reflect, and to continue to develop The Lewis Sewell Trust.

I also feel very fortunate to be stepping into a new chapter that keeps me closely connected to people and community, but in a different way as High Sheriff in 2027 and as a Deputy Lieutenant.

Both are a real privilege and offer a chance to continue to support people and communities within Derbyshire.

I will state another Marathon is not on the cards despite Dean Jackson’s greatest efforts. Mind you he can be very persuasive!

Earlier this year you launched Tale of Two Cities. Tell us a bit more about the campaign, the motivation behind it, its aims and its progress so far.

Earlier this year we launched in partnership with Marketing Derby Bondholders – which includes business, civic and voluntary sector organisations – Tale of Two Cities: Early Years Derby to highlight the stark contrast that exists within our city.

Derby is often seen as a successful and prosperous place – in fact, it has some of the highest salaries outside of London – yet at the same time, we also have some of the highest levels of child poverty.

Those two realities existing side by side became the driving force behind a campaign to create an improved life chances fund.

The motivation from the outset was to start an honest conversation about inequality and the impact it has on children and families in their earliest years.

We know that the early years are critical in shaping a child’s future health, wellbeing, confidence, and opportunities, and we wanted to shine a light on the fact that too many children in Derby are starting life at a disadvantage.

For example, children living in poverty by the time they start school are already five months behind in their formative years and 15 months behind by the time they tun 16.

The campaign is bringing together businesses, public services, charities, community organisations and residents to recognise both the challenge and the opportunity we have as a city.

It is about creating a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children, supporting families earlier and ensuring that prosperity in Derby is something all communities can benefit from.

So far, the campaign has generated important conversations across the city and encouraged organisations to think differently about their role in supporting children and families.

We have seen growing engagement, stronger partnerships and a real willingness from people to work together to tackle the inequalities highlighted through the campaign.

There is still a long way to go, but the response so far has been incredibly positive and encouraging.

To date we have received: £4,530 in individual donations per year, £30,000 per year in corporate donations with several Bondholder businesses also preparing to come on board.

What is important to highlight this is not about charity, this is about a collective response as a city ensuring no child is left behind purely because they started their lives in poverty.

All we ask to enable a life changing fund is for employees of organisations in Derby to give £1 a week to be the difference.

If people are interested in donating or getting involved, I would love to hear from you. For more information click here.

In April you took part in the London Marathon in aid of YMCA Derbyshire. How was that?

Taking part in the London Marathon for YMCA Derbyshire after months of training was, without doubt, one of the best things I have ever done in my life.

The atmosphere was incredible, and the sheer level of support from local communities and visitors lining the streets was truly overwhelming – including encouragement from our very own leader of Derby City Council, Councillor Nadine Peatfield.

It was definitely a daunting challenge to take on at first, but I was incredibly fortunate to have amazing support around me.

A huge thank you must go to Dean Jackson from HUUB for his guidance, running plan, knowledge, and experience, all of which played a significant part in making sure I over the finishing line.

Having Dean run alongside me was an absolute joy and without doubt gave me the ability to keep going.

It was also very special to share the experience with my son Matt and supporter Rachel Fulton, who were also running the marathon (both of whom I couldn’t see for dust!) and to be supported throughout by husband Ian, family and friends.

If you had one message for Derby, what would it be?

If I had one message for Derby, it would be this: never underestimate the power and potential of this city and its people.

Derby has incredible talent, resilience, kindness and innovation. I have seen businesses, communities, charities, public services and individuals come together time and time again to support one another and create opportunities for future generations.

My hope for Derby is that it continues to be ambitious but never loses its sense of community and humanity along the way.

If we continue to invest in young people, work collaboratively and believe in what this city can achieve, then Derby’s best years are still ahead of it.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I cannot thank YMCA Derbyshire president Liz Fothergill, chair Julian Smith, trustees, leadership team and colleagues enough for their incredible support and for the privilege of being their CEO.

I would also like to thank my husband, Ian, for his unwavering support, knowing none of this would have been possible without him.

I am also immensely proud of my son, Matt, who remains a Youth Ambassador for YMCA England & Wales.

I truly believe working for the YMCA is a privilege – a privilege inherited from my predecessor.

Right now, the people at YMCA Derbyshire are the custodians of their time, custodians who will hand the YMCA over to its successors knowing they have continuously improved, strengthened and delivered the mission with vision, belief and faith in its people.

I think that is why YMCA Derbyshire with its strong heritage of remembering its past, renewing its present and risking for its future is in a position to begin to celebrate its 180th year this autumn.