Paul Hanmore

Paul Hanmore is a passionate advocate for young people's mental health, wellbeing and resilience, with a commitment to ensuring that young people have the confidence, skills and opportunities to thrive.

Paul is the founder of YouthShoots, which partners with schools and Multi-Academy Trusts across the UK to deliver innovative, engaging programmes that empower young people to take an active role in supporting their own wellbeing and that of others.

At the heart of his work is a belief that young people should not simply be recipients of wellbeing education, but active participants in shaping positive change. Through YouthShoots' flagship Resilience Reps programme, he helps pupils develop the knowledge, confidence and leadership skills to become positive influences within their school communities.

As a Trustee of Spark UK, Paul shares the charity's belief in the power of youth voice, lived experience and honest conversations to transform attitudes towards mental health. He brings his 30 years of experience of working directly with young people and educators, alongside a commitment to ensuring that young people's perspectives are not only heard but genuinely influence the support and opportunities available to them.

Inspired by Spark UK's journey from one young person's vision to a national movement, Paul believes that age should never be a barrier to creating meaningful change. He is passionate about helping Spark UK continue to amplify young people's voices, challenge stigma and build a future where every young person feels listened to, understood and empowered to look after their mental wellbeing.