Principal Ashley Wheaton appointed Chair of Trustees at Young Citizens

Posted on: 16 March, 2023

The appointment further solidifies UCEM’s commitment to engaging the next generation with the future sustainability of our planet.


We are delighted with the news that Ashley Wheaton has been appointed as the new Chair of Trustees at charity Young Citizens. This is a testament to his expertise and commitment to promoting education.

Young Citizens has been engaging young people with citizenship since the 1960s. They provide educational resources and training to help young people to become active and engaged in society. Their aim is to equip the next generation with the knowledge, skills and confidence to participate in society and make a positive contribution to their communities. As Chair, Ashley will play a key role in producing a new five-year strategy for the charity.

On his appointment, Ashley said: “It is an honour to join one of the UK’s biggest and best education charities as its new Chair of Trustees. I am passionate about how education can help children and young people feel connected to issues in the real world. It is clear that Young Citizens’ resources and programmes support this special type of learning, lighting the spark of active citizenship at all stages of education. I am excited to work with the team to build to be ambitious as we work with our funders and partners to achieve more impact in the future’”

Young Citizens’ Chief Executive, Ashley Hodges, said: “On behalf of everyone at Young Citizens, I am thrilled to welcome Ashley as our new Chair. With his wealth of experience in supporting organisational success, he is a fantastic leader to guide our charity through an exciting time of change and development, helping us see that even more young people can benefit from our services. Trustees and staff members are looking forward to working with Ashley as we implement a new five-year strategy focused on making inspiring, relevant citizenship learning a part of every child and young person’s educational journey.”

In his new role at Young Citizens, Ashley will bring his considerable knowledge and expertise to the charity, helping to guide its strategy and ensure that its programmes are effective and impactful. This aligns with UCEM’s commitment to promote social responsibility and education that leads to a more sustainable built environment. He will work closely with his fellow trustees and the executive team to see that the charity continues to deliver high-quality education and training to young people across the country.

This new partnership opens new prospects for both UCEM and Young Citizens, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact that Ashley will have in his new role.