Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC), Include Youth and their shared social enterprise, VIable Corporate Services, have announced the appointment of three new Chairpersons to their respective boards.
Welcomed at the organisations’ joint head office in Belfast, the new leadership will support the next phase of development across all three organisations, with a focus on collaboration, sustainability and the continued delivery of high-quality corporate service supports. Alicia Toal, Chief Executive of VOYPIC, said, “This is an exciting time for our organisations, our appointments reinforce a shared commitment to strong governance, meaningful collaboration and sustainability”.
The appointments mark an important step in strengthening governance across both charities and their social enterprise. The three Chairpersons will work together to advance a shared vision that brings together social impact and operational excellence, supporting each organisation to expand its reach, build resilience and deliver greater value for young people and communities.
Diane Hill, CEO of Include Youth shared that, “By strengthening the way we work together, we are ultimately strengthening the services that matter most. This collaboration allows us to invest more time, resources and expertise into supporting young people, ensuring they receive the consistent, high-quality support they deserve to thrive and reach their full potential.”
VIable Corporate Services remains central to this collaborative model, providing professional support across areas including bookkeeping, payroll, human resources, governance and management training. As a shared social enterprise, VIable enables a more efficient and sustainable operating structure for both VOYPIC and Include Youth. By working together through shared services, the organisations benefit from economies of scale, reduced duplication and the ability to reinvest resources into frontline services. Annette Greer, CEO VIable Corporate Services added that, “Our new leadership will play a key role in ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality services while maximising social value for our shareholders”.
This joined-up approach is designed to strengthen leadership and governance while improving efficiency and long-term sustainability. It also ensures that income generated through social enterprise activity is reinvested to support programmes for children and young people. With the new leadership in place, VOYPIC, Include Youth and VIable Corporate Services are well positioned to build on their shared strengths. The partnership will continue to promote innovation, sustainability and high-quality support services, with a focus on creating lasting social impact for children and young people in our communities.
About VIable Corporate Services
VIable Corporate Services is a social enterprise based in Northern Ireland that has been operating since 2015. The organization focuses on providing professional corporate services support across various areas, including bookkeeping, payroll, human resources, governance and management training. VIable’s profits support youth programming for young people in care and those from disadvantaged backgrounds through their shareholders charities VOYPIC and Include Youth.
Contact: Annette Greer, CEO VIable Corporate Services annette@viablecs.org
About Colin Coffey, Chair of VIable Corporate Services
Colin’s professional career was within the Agri-Food sector where he held many senior Board positions with UK Companies. Colin is an experienced Chair and currently holds a portfolio of Non-Executive Chair and Director positions in both the public and private sectors. He is currently Chair of the Public Health Agency. Previous public sector roles include Chair at the AgriFood & BioSciences Institute and Non-Executive Director at Invest NI where he was Chair of their Business Funding Committee and a member of their Audit & Risk Committee.
He is also Chair at Natural World Products, an organics company targeting sustainable climate-focused solutions that will address key structural problems within Northern Ireland to deliver positive outcomes for our environment. Colin has extensive experience of increasing Shareholder value and better governance using a mix of leadership skills, practical experience, risk management as well as acting as a mentor to the board members. He is particularly interested in the development of leadership skills that will lead to more effective and sustainable organisations.
Colin is a Chartered Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors and is an experienced assessor for the IoD in their Chartered Director programme.
About VOYPIC
VOYPIC (Voice of Young People in Care) is the only charity in Northern Ireland dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people living in and leaving care. Established in 1993, VOYPIC provides help and advice through independent advocacy services; connects children and young people through participative forums and programmes, and builds young people’s leadership capacity so they can be positive influencers for change in the care system.
About Edel Doherty, Chair of Voice of Young People in Care
Edel Doherty is Chair of VOYPIC and a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader with a strong track record of building high-performing businesses, teams, and partnerships. Passionate about people, purpose, and creating meaningful impact, she brings extensive experience in strategic growth, business development, and leadership.
For over 14 years, Edel led Beyond Business Travel, where she built innovative travel solutions, developed long-standing client relationships, and drove business growth through a strong focus on technology, strategy, and connection. Following the successful sale of the business, she continues to work in a strategic consultancy capacity during its transition and growth phase.
Edel was named Businesswoman of the Year by Women in Business in 2019 and served on both the CBI SME Council and the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry Council. Prior to joining the Board at VOYPIC, she was a Board member of NOW Group, supporting social enterprise and inclusive employment initiatives across Northern Ireland.
About Include Youth
Include Youth is a rights-based charity with a strong purpose to empower children and young people to thrive. Operating for over 45 years, we have grown to now have 10 locations on the island of Ireland. We support young people in or leaving care, from disadvantaged communities, or whose rights are unmet, by enhancing employability, personal development, and social inclusion while ensuring their voices are heard. Through skills training, qualifications, mentoring, and wraparound support, we help young people build independence, transition into adult life, and break the cycle of unemployment.
About David Clements, Chair of Include Youth
David Clements’ was appointment Chair of the Board of Include Youth in November 2025. With 40 years’ experience in the IT industry, joint industry and public sector initiatives, he has extensive experience of working in the Northern Ireland region. He is committed to supporting children and young people in our society and understands both the challenges and opportunities facing the charity sector today. His extensive skillset will drive the purpose of Include Youth to help create positive outcomes in our society.