David Chantler OBE announced his resignation as Chair of YSS. David joined YSS as a trustee in April 2015 after taking  early retirement from his role as Chief Probation Officer for West Mercia. David was elected as Chair in November 2018.  As Probation Chief he had forged strong ties with YSS and together the two organisations had developed a series of innovative interventions with offenders, most notably perhaps Connect, providing services for short sentence prisoners pre and post release and our joint work with Transition to Adulthood generously funded by The Barrow Cadbury Foundation. Recently David was diagnosed with bowel cancer and stood down as Chair and as a Trustee. He has wanted to be entirely open about this, both to reassure everyone of his continued commitment to YSS and to use the opportunity to urge people to take advantage of medical screening, without which his condition would not have come to light at an early stage. David has asked us the pass on this message:

 

“These developments have come entirely out of the blue, but once I had got over the shock I know I had to stand aside, both to let YSS re-organise and to let me concentrate on getting better through what is likely to be some pretty radical surgery. I have worked very closely with YSS for over 20 years and the manner of my departure does not do justice to my affection and respect for the organisation, its values and work. I want to wish Catherine our CEO, the Board and the Staff all the very best; I know YSS will go from strength to strength”.

 

We all wish David a speedy recovery and continued good health. At YSS, we are all grateful for his contribution and support.