Membership renewals can now be processed for the upcoming year

NFYFC Staff

Senior Management Team

James Eckley

Chief Officer

James leads the national office and works with the Board and the NFYFC Council to deliver plans and projects that meet the needs of the membership. James has been involved in YFC for more than 15 years and was a former YFC member.

E: james.eckley@nfyfc.org.uk

T: 02476 857200

James Eckley

Rachael Astley

Head of Organisational Development

E: rachael.astley@nfyfc.org.uk

T: 02476 857218

Rachael Astley

Val Wright

Head of Safeguarding

Val leads on all of NFYFC’s safeguarding work, reviewing and developing safeguarding policies and procedures, supporting County staff to implement these within clubs and dealing with concerns.

With a background in development and safeguarding in sport organisations, charities and the Police, Val has worked with several governing bodies of sport to develop robust policies and procedures to promote best practice to create safe environments for young people’s participation, as well as dealing with cases and concerns reported within sports clubs.

E: val.wright@nfyfc.org.uk

T: 07541 626855

Val Wright

Administration and Support Services

Sandra Bromley

PA to the Chief Officer & Administration Manager (job share)

Sandra joined NFYFC in 2008 and her role at the YFC Centre includes supporting the Chief Officer, NFYFC team, NFYFC Board of Management, National Officers and County Federations on all aspects of administration.

E: sandra.bromley@nfyfc.org.uk

T: 02476 857217

Sandra Bromley

Caryn May

PA to the Chief Officer & Administration Manager

Caryn joined NFYFC in 1995 as Field Services Administrator before joining the HOPS team in 2000; working with farmers for over 20 years. She returned to the NFYFC staff team to support the Chief Officer, NFYFC team, NFYFC Board of Management, National Officers and County Federations on all aspects of administration.

E: caryn.may@nfyfc.org.uk

T: 02476 857207

Caryn May

Rachel Nemukovhani

Finance Manager

Rachel joined NFYFC in January 2016 as Accounts assistant for NFYFC & HOPS, she is now responsible for managing NFYFC accounts.

E: rachel.nemukovhani@nfyfc.org.uk

T: 02476 857215

Rachel Nemukovhani

Digital

Marty Bibby

Digital Manager

Marty joined NFYFC in late 2022 and is responsible for overseeing NFYFC’s digital transformation, with a particular focus on the redesign of the main website and development of the online membership system.

Marty has no prior connection with farming or YFC but has 10 years’ experience in similar youth membership organisations, with a background in marketing, design, IT and branding.

E: marty.bibby@nfyfc.org.uk

T: 02476 857203

Marty Bibby

Competitions and Travel

Margaret Bennett

Competitions Officer

Margaret has worked with NFYFC for the past 11 years and helps organise NFYFC’s Competitions programme – coordinating the rules, arranging venues, judges and stewards. Margaret supports the Competitions Steering Group to ensure YFC members’ achievements are recognised at the national competition finals.

Margaret is also responsible for the YFC Travel programme – and as a former member has many happy memories of her own time travelling to Canada with YFC.

Margaret, who lives on a farm in Staffordshire, has also held many YFC roles including County Chairman, County Organiser and County President.

E: margaret.bennett@nfyfc.org.uk

T: 02476 857216

Margaret Bennett

Safeguarding

Lauren Hancox

Safeguarding and Behaviour Case Manager

Lauren works in the NFYFC Safeguarding Department and offers support and advice on safeguarding concerns. As a former member, Lauren has travelled with YFC and competed in many competitions – Floral Art being a favourite. She lives in rural Warwickshire and studied at the Royal Agricultural University.

E: lauren.hancox@nfyfc.org.uk

T: 02476 857225

Lauren Hancox

Ally Sellar

Safeguarding and Behaviour Case Manager

Ally works in the NFYFC Safeguarding Department and offers support and advice on safeguarding concerns. With a background in the Police, primarily in Child and Adult Protection work Ally has experience of working with multiple agencies to keep people safe and address safeguarding concerns.

E: ally.sellar@nfyfc.org.uk

T: 07561 806439

Ally Sellar

Agriculture and Rural Issues

Sarah Palmer

Agriculture and Rural Issues Manager

Sarah studied at agricultural college and the University of Warwick.  As well as practical farm experience she has worked in London and the Midlands for political and agriculture-related organisations and charities including GJW Government Relations, the Royal Agriculture Society of England, Farm Energy Centre and Town and Country PR.  She first worked for the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) between 2002 and 2013.

Whilst working within the University of Warwick’s Business School Executive Education department in 2014-15, she completed a postgraduate award in strategic leadership.

Sarah returned to NFYFC in 2015 to help ensure that YFC members’ agricultural and rural concerns were represented nationally. She negotiates an annual discretionary Defra grant and develops and delivers a range of Defra-supported projects, as well as collaborating with organisations to create or update YFC resources, events and training and opportunities.  Sarah works closely with the YFC AGRI national steering group which comprises a range of regional and county YFC members to ensure opinions and challenges are heard.

Sarah Palmer

Fundraising and Sponsorship

Sophie Willingale

Fundraising and Partnerships Manager

Sophie has worked with NFYFC since 2017, supporting NFYFC's fundraising and developing partnerships with organisations wishing to sponsor and support NFYFC's work with rural young people. Sophie is also the point of contact for advertising and offers to members.

Sophie started working as a fundraiser in 2008 and part of her role is to assist the YFC County Federations with fundraising advice.

Sophie grew up in rural Wiltshire and is part of the English wine revolution as she manages the family vineyard that her father planted in ’93. Her experience of YFC before joining NFYFC was through attending YFC social events and she wishes she'd known more about all the opportunities YFC offered when she was growing up.

E: sophie.willingale@nfyfc.org.uk

T: 02476 857227

Sophie Willingale

Training and Development

Natasha Dennis

Training Manager

Natasha is focused on providing training for counties to support them in their work. She also helps counties deliver training to members so they have an opportunity to gain new skills and develops and supports them with their charity’s governance.

Natasha is a former YFC member and was a vice chair and secretary of her local club in Gloucestershire. She made friends for life throughout YFC and is passionate about the countryside and rural affairs.

E: natasha.dennis@nfyfc.org.uk

T: 02476 857220

Natasha Dennis

Flossie Littlefair-Vernon

Field Officer

Flossie's role involves building and maintaining strong relationships with county staff and county officers to provide a first line of support.

Flossie joined her local YFC after seeing a poster advertising the club, which she says was one of the best things she ever did. She made the most of her YFC journey and had various club and county roles. She was also lucky enough to travel with NFYFC to Costa Rica. Flossie believes there is something for everyone in young farmers – farming background or not!

E: flossie.littlefair-vernon@nfyfc.org.uk

Flossie Littlefair-Vernon

Linda Bealey

Field Officer

E: linda.bealey@nfyfc.org.uk

Linda Bealey