Bolton Lads and Girls Chief Exec to step down after 31 years

Chief Executive of the renowned Bolton Lads and Girls Club Jeremy Glover MBE is to step down from his position after 31 years in charge.

He is now set to fully focus his time on being Chief Executive of OnSide North West, a position he has held part-time for over two years. He will be succeeded by current Deputy Chief Executive Karen Edwards.

OnSide is a relatively new charity that emerged from the Bolton Lads and Girls Club, with the aim of creating similar youth centres in the north west of England. It has already raised £25m, with the help of myplace, will soon see clubs open in Carlisle, Oldham, Blackburn, Wigan and Manchester.

Jerry started work at Bolton Lads and Girls Club in 1978 and since then it has gone from strength to strength, and in 2002 moved to a new £5m purpose built premises, the first of its type and scale in the country.

It is considered one of the most successful clubs in the country and its excellent model of practice has been used for other centres and programmes, including myplace.

During his time at the Club, Jerry was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship, an MBE in 1999 and became an Honorary Fellow of Bolton University in 2003.

The success of the Club, which is used by over 3,000 children and young people every week, is based on the partnership of local businesses (over 200 actively involved, contributing over £600k each year); local community volunteers (currently the club has 392 active volunteers) and the local council.  Together they ensure that the Club opens long hours providing a range of top quality, affordable services for all young people.

Despite admitting it will be strange to leave, Jerry believes the club is in safe hands. He said: "It will certainly feel strange to be working anywhere else other than at the Club.  It has become my life for the past 30 years.  I am immensely proud of everything we achieved, young people deserve the best and in Bolton we have tried to do just that.  Whatever you do for young people, it is always appreciated.  A small investment of time and resources in young people always has fantastic results.

"I am delighted that Karen will take over.  I am certain that under her leadership, the club will go on to be even more successful.  It also sums up everything that the Club stands for... i.e. giving people opportunities.  Karen started as a volunteer 15 years ago, she has worked through a range of jobs including setting up and establishing the award winning Mentoring Project.  She now has the top job... perfect.

He also paid respect to those he has worked with over the years adding: "It has been a privilege to work here; all the people I have worked with have been brilliant and inspirational."

Mike Peers, Chairman of the Lads and Girls Club, believes Jerry has done great things, not just for the club but the community.

He said: "Jerry has devoted nearly all his working life to the Club and making sure that we offer the very best of youth services and opportunities for the young people of Bolton and surrounding areas. Having worked closely with Jerry in recent times it will be sad to see him leave, but our relationship will continue on joint initiatives and we wish him well in his new career.

"We are fortunate to have Karen Edwards as our new Chief Executive, she is committed to continuing and developing the Club from where Jerry has taken it and we know that there is a bright future for the Club."