Dave King MBE – Director

Dave worked as a church community worker in Maidstone for 25 years before establishing King’s Reach in 2003 with his fellow Directors. Dave has worked in a number of different settings within the community, helping to support those who are most vulnerable. He has pioneered many different community initiatives in the Maidstone area including Beacon Furniture, Oasis Café, family outreach work and supporting addicts and recovering addicts. Dave’s vision was to create sustainable projects within the community and he has managed to achieve this by encouraging those involved to take on the responsibility of running these projects.

Dave’s work with young people stemmed from his community work and his many interactions with local teenagers. One of Dave’s first ideas was to set-up a youth club for those young people he often met hanging around on the streets. Dave’s passion and involvement with young people continued to grow and in 1999 he received an MBE for his dedicated work. Dave continues to develop youth work for King’s Reach, namely through one-to-one work with children in schools who are at risk of exclusion.

Stewart King – Director

Stewart has a passion for providing the best possible care for vulnerable young people and especially those often excluded by society. He has over 15 years’ experience of working with young people and believes strongly that building trusting relationships is an essential part of youth work. Stewart initially worked in a local authority and private care home environment and this later extended to work in the community. Examples of Stewart’s community involvement include giving support to the homeless, working with vulnerable families and mentoring young people experiencing severe educational difficulties and at of risk exclusion from mainstream schooling.

Stewart has a passion for sport and has consequently setup clubs and events for members of the Maidstone community. He continues this involvement by providing a football club which train or play every Saturday morning. Stewart is currently speaking with local councillors regarding reclaiming land to build a sports stadium for the Maidstone area. His prime intention for the stadium is to give those from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to succeed through sport as well as provide the local area with a much needed sports facility. 

Andy Sparrow – Director

Andy is responsible for the financial operation and development of King's Reach. After running his own successful business for several years, followed by 10 years with a nationwide retailer in a regional management role, he now works for the Beacon Church, managing their extensive community work. He is also a trustee and member of the Church leadership team.

Richard King – Secretary

Richard is King's Reach secretary and takes responsibility for the administration and accounts. He is a qualified Structural Engineer and also a member of the Beacon Church Leadership Team.

Gary Morley – Development Manager

Gary has been working with children, teenagers and adults for over 20 years with his initial involvement being as a volunteer within church based settings. This later developed to Gary working as a youth worker and then as a Children’s, Youth and Community Worker. In 2000 Gary became the Manager of a Detached and Outreach team where he concentrated on working with the disaffected and disadvantaged from two estates in Maidstone.  During this time he developed a crime awareness course which he continues to deliver at local primary and secondary schools.  Gary was the Shepway Community Development manager for 3 years, working primarily as a coordinator of a multi-agency initiative working to improve the Shepway area.

Gary is trained in emotional and behavioural difficulties in young people and is a qualified training officer which enables him to assist in the delivery of the varied and challenging work of Kings Reach.  Gary’s commitment to disadvantaged communities was recognised with a Millennium Award for his outstanding dedication to his work. Gary’s primary role with King’s Reach is to develop schools programmes in the Maidstone area.

Claire Geddis – Family Services Development Manager

Claire has five years experience in residential therapeutic child care and has worked as a deputy manager in this setting. Claire has worked for King’s Reach for two years and her roles have included behaviour management for King’s Reach Training Centre and family support work. Claire has recently taken on the role of Development Manager for Family Services and is helping King’s Reach expand and develop new and existing services to support families/carers and young people.

Mark Burr – King’s Reach Training Centre Manager

Mark has nearly 20 years experience of working with children and young people, both professionally and voluntarily.  He joined Kings Reach Training Centre in October 2007 having worked for nearly 10 years with juvenile offenders in a Secure Training Centre as youth worker, unit manager and duty operations manager.  Mark has a degree in Public Administration and Management, the Professional Certificate in Effective Practice (Youth Justice Board), is a qualified training officer, a first aid instructor, a Duke of Edinburgh Award instructor and holds National Governing Body coaching qualifications in archery and air-rifle shooting.  Mark oversees the Centre administratively and also leads and develops the outward bound and outdoor pursuit’s aspects of the curriculum. 

Barbara Faulkner – Education Manager

Barbara is a qualified teacher with ten years of experience in mainstream school and Alternative Curriculum. She is responsible for special needs within King’s Reach and maintains statements of special educational needs for current pupils.  Barbara is committed to tailoring a programme for individual students according to their abilities and needs. Barbara further ensures that the King's Reach Training Centre meets educational standards set by Government and the Kent Local Authority.